Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2352: Conflict of interest
Status: In committee, February 4, 2026
Holding state officers and state employees to the same conflict of interest standard that is required of municipal officers.
What the bill says
An act Relating to holding state officers and state employees to the same conflict of interest standard that is required of municipal officers; amending RCW 42.52.010; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to holding state officers and state employees to the same conflict of interest standard that is required of municipal officers; amending RCW 42.52.010; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that Article II, section 30 of the state Constitution requires legislators who have a private interest in any bill or measure proposed or pending before the legislature to disclose that fact and not vote on that measure. This constitutional requirement imposes a clear and strict standard for disclosure and recusal for legislators. The legislature finds that this high ethical standard also imposes a duty on legislators to ensure trust, openness, and honesty in their actions. However, the legislative record does not reflect any discussion of this paramount duty when the legislature amended statutory ethics provisions in 2025 to hold state officers and municipal officers to different ethical standards concerning conflicts of interests. The legislature further finds that prior to 2025, state officers and employees were held to a similar standard as municipal officers in terms of the prohibition on having beneficial interests in contracts and certain other transactions made by, through, or under their supervision. In 2025, while the standard for municipal officers remained the same, prohibiting more than a remote interest, meaning one percent or more, in contracts, state ethics laws …
Sponsors
- Gerry Pollet (D) · primary sponsor
- Janice Zahn (D)
- Amy Walen (D)
- Alicia Rule (D)
- Jeremie Dufault (R)
- Greg Nance (D)
- Hall, Zach (D)
- Joel McEntire (R)
- Osman Salahuddin (D)
- Adam Bernbaum (D)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : Minority; without recommendation.
- : SGOV - Majority; do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.
- : First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.
- : Prefiled for introduction.
Votes
- House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations: Do pass (February 4, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT
Common questions
- What is HB2352?
- HB2352 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Conflict of interest.
- What does HB2352 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to holding state officers and state employees to the same conflict of interest standard that is required of municipal officers; amending RCW 42.52.010; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2352?
- In committee as of February 4, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Rules 2 Review. (February 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2352?
- Gerry Pollet (D), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2352?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2352&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.