The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has confirmed that, as of January 1, 2026, all statutory citations governing campaign‑finance reporting, disclosure requirements, and related enforcement have been moved from RCW 42.17A into the newly created Title 29B RCW. According to a statement published by the agency at the PDC’s official website, the change is administrative in nature and does not alter the substance of Washington’s campaign‑finance law.

The recodification stems from 2024 Washington State Senate Bill 5857, which the Legislature approved in 2024 and which took effect on January 1, 2026. Legislative records linked by the PDC, including the bill summary available through the Washington State Legislature at the SB 5857 bill page, show that lawmakers enacted the measure to reorganize the statutory framework rather than revise underlying requirements.

According to the PDC, staff are in the process of updating all references across the agency’s website. In the interim, the agency has published a cross‑reference tool that allows users to compare former RCW 42.17A citations with their new locations in Title 29B RCW. That resource is accessible through the PDC at its interactive recodification tool. The full text of the new title is available from the Legislature at Title 29B RCW.

For Cowlitz County candidates, campaign treasurers, political committees, and local governments, the shift means that familiar statutory obligations—such as reporting deadlines, contribution limits, and disclosure rules—now correspond to new citation numbers. Because the PDC has stated that the changes affect organization only, existing practices and compliance requirements remain in place. The most immediate impact for local campaigns is expected to be clerical, including updating reference materials, adjusting internal compliance guides, and ensuring new filings cite the correct title.

Why this matters

Campaign‑finance law affects every level of local government, including city council, port district, school board, assessor, and county‑level offices. Clear statutory organization contributes to accessible compliance for small campaigns operating without professional staff—a common reality across Longview, Kelso, and the broader Cowlitz County region. The Legislature’s restructuring of these statutes places all election‑related finance rules into a consolidated title, which may make it easier for local campaigns to navigate requirements once the transition is complete.

The PDC has emphasized that its online materials will be updated over time. Until then, the agency’s crosswalk tool and the Legislature’s online RCW database remain the primary sources for confirming the applicable statutory citations during the 2026 election cycle.

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