WA HB2705

Candidates and elected officials may use surplus campaign funds to pay legal expenses for responding to ethics complaints, investigations, or hearings under chapter 42.52 RCW or applicable local ethics codes

Legal expenses for petitioning for protection orders related to ethics complaints are also eligible for payment from campaign funds

Campaign contributions may be used to directly reimburse candidates or elected officials for out-of-pocket legal expenses incurred in ethics proceedings

Eligible legal fees include those incurred after January 1, 2025, with written documentation required showing the amount, date, and description of each expense

Surplus funds used for ethics-related legal expenses must be held in a separate account designated for nonreimbursed public office-related expenses