Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2223: Irrigation dist. directors
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Concerning irrigation district director beneficial interests in contracts.
What the bill says
An act Relating to irrigation district director beneficial interests in contracts; amending RCW 42.23.030; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to irrigation district director beneficial interests in contracts; amending RCW 42.23.030; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the current statute pertaining to municipal officers' beneficial interest in contracts has resulted in inadvertent impacts especially in rural communities, by reaching too far and inadvertently precluding otherwise qualified individuals from serving as irrigation district directors. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to clarify the statutes pertaining to irrigation district directors and contracts to ensure reasonable protections against inappropriate conflicts of interest exist, while acknowledging the challenges such laws may present in small rural communities. Sec. 2. RCW 42.23.030 and 2023 c 153 s 1 are each amended to read as follows: No municipal officer shall be beneficially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract which may be made by, through or under the supervision of such officer, in whole or in part, or which may be made for the benefit of his or her office, or accept, directly or indirectly, any compensation, gratuity or reward in connection with such contract from any other person beneficially interested therein. This section shall not apply in the following (2) The designation of public depositaries for municipal funds; (3) The publication of legal notices required by law to be published by any municipality, upon …
Sponsors
- Mark Klicker (R) · primary sponsor
- Janice Zahn (D)
- Stephanie Barnard (R)
- Suzanne Schmidt (R)
- David Stuebe (R)
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
- : Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
- : First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 2.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : LG - Majority; do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 8:00 AM.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 12, 2026): 93 yea, 3 nay, passed
- House Committee on Local Government: Do pass (February 3, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT
Common questions
- What is HB2223?
- HB2223 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Irrigation dist. directors.
- What does HB2223 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to irrigation district director beneficial interests in contracts; amending RCW 42.23.030; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2223?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2223?
- Mark Klicker (R), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2223?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2223&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.