LONGVIEW — The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has refined a proposed bill for the 2026 legislative session that would significantly change how political campaigns and committees report their spending, according to the Commission’s October meeting summary published on its official site at Commission meeting highlights: October 2025.

The proposal, presented by PDC General Counsel Sean Flynn, would require all candidates and political committees to file monthly C‑4 expenditure reports by the 10th of each month, eliminating the current monetary thresholds that determine filing frequency. From July through October, campaigns would also be required to submit an additional C‑4 on the 25th of each month. Under the plan, all political action committees would need to file a “statement of participation” every January to declare whether they intend to be active in that year’s elections. The full proposal is detailed in a memo available at Reporting schedule bill — Memo 10.16.25.

Flynn told commissioners that staff had begun outreach to legislators in both chambers to secure sponsors for the bill ahead of the 2026 session.

In addition to the reporting‑schedule proposal, the PDC outlined two rulemaking efforts connected to the upcoming recodification of Washington’s disclosure laws. The agency plans to use the expedited rulemaking process under RCW 34.05.353 to update references in WAC 390 to align with the migration of RCW 42.17A to its new location in RCW 29B beginning January 1. Staff are updating references across the website, electronic filing systems, and printed materials to reflect the change.

The Commission is also using the emergency rulemaking authority under RCW 34.05.350 to extend temporary rules governing how political parties may include ballot propositions on slate cards. Those rules—adopted earlier in 2025—allow party‑funded slate cards to state a position on ballot measures without being classified as political advertising, provided they meet specific criteria. Because exempt party accounts may fund slate cards but not political advertising, the temporary rules preserve how party committees may communicate their endorsements while staff prepare a permanent rule proposal.

The Commission also received an enforcement update reflecting a predictable rise in complaints ahead of Washington’s November 2025 general election. Between September 17 and October 15, the agency received 99 new complaints; by October 23, that number had increased by nearly 50. The PDC reported encountering a growing number of AI‑generated complaints, some reaching 30 pages, which have required additional review time.

As of October 15, the agency had 228 active cases: 125 under initial review, 97 under formal investigation, four resolved through statements of understanding, one awaiting a brief enforcement hearing, and one pending deferred enforcement. During the same period, the PDC closed 35 cases involving local candidates, political committees, a commercial advertiser, a public agency or employee, and a grassroots lobbying campaign. Outcomes ranged from reminders and warnings to a single formal violation.

Among the highlighted cases was number 174537, a complaint filed in June 2025 against the Governor’s Office. The complaint alleged misuse of public facilities to promote a ballot measure under RCW 42.17A.555. After review, staff determined the matter was more appropriately evaluated under RCW 42.17A.635, relating to lobbying with public resources. Staff issued a warning after determining that the social‑media post in question met the “de minimis use” exception permitted under RCW 42.52.180(2)(e).

PDC Deputy Director Kim Bradford told commissioners that roughly 40 cases with past‑due penalties had been referred by the agency’s contracted collections firm to credit bureaus. The agency has spent the past year tightening its processes for pursuing unpaid fines.

While the PDC’s rulemaking work may seem technical, the impacts reach local campaigns across Cowlitz County. Standardized disclosure schedules could affect how campaigns in Longview, Kelso, and surrounding communities plan their operations in future election cycles, while the increase in enforcement activity signals a busy period for compliance ahead of statewide races.