Rulemaking

Below is information about rulemaking the Commission has undertaken to help implement state laws regarding campaign finance and lobbying reporting, financial affairs disclosure and other provisions of RCW 42.17A. Comments regarding rules "in progress" can be sent to pdc@pdc.wa.gov

2025 Rule Making

In Progress

Past Rule Making

Completed

Rulemaking regarding the PDC's enforcement process and penalty schedules used for both full commission proceedings and brief adjudicatory proceedings, including aggravating and mitigating factors.

CR-101 filed Oct. 28, 2024 | CR-102 filed June 5, 2025 | CR-103 filed July 28, 2025

Emergency rulemaking regarding slate cards and sample ballots

CR-103E filed June 26, 2025

Rulemaking regarding exemptions to sponsor identification and other disclaimers required on political advertising, including implementation of HB 2032

CR-101 filed Aug. 27, 2024 | CR-102 filed Oct. 28, 2024 | CR-103P filed Dec. 16, 2024

Emergency rulemaking process regarding sponsor identification of yard signs and implementation of HB 2032 (2024)

Draft rules | Adopted rules | More Information | CR-103E filed Sept. 11, 2024

Rules regarding the use of synthetic media in electioneering communications and the implementation of SB 5152 (2023).

CR-101 filed Jan. 18, 2024 | CR-102 filed April 17, 2024 | CR-103 filed May 24, 2024

Revisions to lobbying reporting requirements, including direct and indirect (grassroots) lobbying activity

CR-101 filed May 24, 2023 | CR-102 filed Oct. 17, 2023 | CR-103 filed Dec. 8, 2023

Updating the references in the rules to reflect the inflationary adjustments made to the campaign finance laws.

CR-105 filed March 17, 2023 | CR-103P filed May 30, 2023

Making inflationary adjustments to the contribution limits and reporting values in the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA)

CR-101 filed June 22, 2022 | CR-102 filed Dec. 20, 2022 | CR-103P filed March 1. 2023

Raising the threshold for last-minute contribution (LMC) reporting

CR-105 filed March 31, 2022 | CR-103P filed June 24,2022

Amending rules for the public inspection of commercial advertiser books of account

CR-101 filed July 15, 2021 | CR-102 filed Oct. 15, 2021 | CR-103P filed Feb. 4, 2022

Make changes required by SSB 6152

Updating F-1 filing requirements and clarifying process for reporting modification requests

CR-101 filed Oct. 1, 2020 | CR-102 filed Nov. 24, 2020 More information here.| CR-103P filed Jan. 29, 2021

Make changes required by ESHB 1195

Adding the Treasurers Report (T-1) to the penalty schedule found under WAC 390-37-143

CR-101 filed Dec. 15, 2017 | CR-102 filed Feb. 7, 2018 | CR-103P filed May 1, 2018

Technical change - Recodification of two incorrect WAC citations

CR - 105 filed Nov. 6, 2017 | CR-103P filed April 2, 2018

Provide more clarity for public inspection of campaign books

CR-101 filed Dec. 27, 2017

Forms - Removal of images of filer forms from various sections of Title 390 WAC

CR-101 filed July 10, 2017 | CR-102 filed Sept. 2, 2017 | Public Hearing Oct 10, 2017 | CR-103P filed Oct. 26, 2017

Public records - Implementation of new Public Records Act fee schedule

CR - 103E filed Aug. 30, 2017 | CR-103E filed Dec. 15, 2017 | CR-102 filed Nov. 7, 2017 |Public Hearing Dec 27, 2017 | CR-103P filed Feb. 6, 2018

Contribution Limits - 2016 Inflationary Adjustments

CR-103 filed January 29, 2016 | CR-102 filed December 1, 2015 | CR-101 filed September 18, 2015

Contribution Limits - Aggregating Contributions Made To Multiple Committees Established, Maintained Or Controlled By A Candidate Submit To Limits

CR-103 filed May 3, 2016 | CR-102 filed February 29, 2016 | CR-101 filed October 22, 2014

Executive Director - Duties

CR-103 filed February 4, 2016 | CR-102 filed November 7, 2015 | CR-101 filed January 25, 2013

Session Freeze - Officials Participating In Fund Raising Benefitting A Candidate Not Subject To The Freeze Or A Political Party

CR-103 filed January 29, 2016 | CR-102 filed November 7, 2015 | CR-101 filed August 19, 2015

Eliminating Signature Card Requirements For E-filers & Updating PDC Forms With Website Address (expedited)

CR-103 filed January 25, 2016 | CR-105 filed November 7, 2015

Enforcement - Alternative Resolutions For Complaints & Amending Penalty Schedules

CR-103 filed December 4, 2015 | Supplemental CR-102 filed October 21, 2015 & Initial CR-102 filed August 19, 2015 | CR-101 filed April 20 19, 2015

Removing Candidates' Implied Incumbency Restrictions From Political Advertising Rules

CR-105 filed August 19, 2016 | CR-103 filed October 28, 2016

Repealing Procedures For County Elections Administrators Who Received Copies Of Campaign Finance Reports

CR-105 filed August 19, 2016 | CR-103 filed October 28, 2016

Clarifying Terms "Day" and "Business Day" in Title 390 WAC

CR-105 filed October 31, 2016 | CR-103 filed January 6, 2017

Surplus Funds Accounts - Disclosure - Reporting Deadlines

CR-101 filed August 8, 2016 | December 8, 2016 Hearing - CR-102 filed October 11, 2016 | CR-103 Filed December 8, 2016

Candidates' Joint Campaign Expenses - Transferring Campaign Contributions From One Candidate To Another

CR-101 filed August 8, 2016 | December 8, 2016 Hearing - CR-102 filed October 11, 2016 |CR-103 Filed December 8, 2016

Operations And Procedures - Received Date For Mailed Reports

CR-101 filed August 8, 2016 | December 8 Hearing - CR-102 filed October 28, 2016 |CR-103 Filed December 8, 2016

Enforcement Procedures

CR-101 filed August 8, 2016 | December 8, 2016 Hearing - CR-102 filed October 31, 2016 | CR-103 Filed December 8, 2016 |

How to Participate in the Rule Making Process

Standard Rule Making

Rule making is a very public process that happens in three stages. The Commission's rule making occurs during regular meetings and the public has an opportunity to participate in each of the three stages. The staff also takes comments during the entire process and shares them with the Commission. The three stages are announced through Code Reviser filings that are published in the State Register:

The Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (CR 101) announces that the Commission is going to begin the rule making process and describes the topic the rule will address. The CR 101 also says when the Commission will likely consider draft language.
Once the Commission approves draft language, the proposal is scheduled for public hearing by filing the CR 102 Proposed Rule Making form. The CR 102 provides notice of the hearing date and location, how comments can be submitted, and a copy of the proposed rule.
The rule is adopted following a public hearing. The newly adopted rule is filed with the Rule-Making Order (CR 103) and takes effect 31 days later.

Expedited Rule Making

Expected rule making is limited to "housekeeping" revisions that do not result in substantive interpretive changes. It starts with the Commission filing a proposal and a CR-105 Expedited Rule Making form. A 45-day comment period replaces the hearing process. If no objections are received at the end of the 45 days, the Commission files the final rule with the CR 103. When objections are received, the Commission must schedule a hearing for the rule making to continue.

Emergency Rule Making

When the Commission feels a rule is necessary before the standard process allows, it can adopt an emergency rule that remains in place up to 120 days. Neither notice nor a hearing is required. The Commission simply approves the language for the rule and it takes effect upon filing a CR 103E Emergency Rule Adoption form.

Planning

Twice a year, the Commission must publish its rule-making plans in the State Register. These reports are due at the end of January and July and include planned and current rule making.

View all State Register Filings