SHB 2123
In CommitteeHouse
Foreign nationals/elections
Concerning foreign national participation in Washington state elections.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill strengthens transparency around foreign influence in Washington elections by requiring detailed certifications and reporting in campaign finance filings, specifically confirming that contributions, expenditures, and political ads are not funded or influenced by foreign nationals. It updates reporting rules for various types of political activity and repeals redundant or outdated laws.
- Requires all campaign finance reports (including for candidates, committees, and out-of-state groups) to include a certification that contributions or expenditures are not financed or influenced by foreign nationals.
- Adds new reporting requirements for large contributions ($1,000+) during special periods (e.g., 21 days before a general election), with 24–48 hour filing deadlines and foreign national certifications.
- Expands reporting for independent expenditures ($100+), electioneering communications ($1,000+), and political advertising, including mandatory foreign national certification statements.
- Requires out-of-state political committees to report contributions and expenditures in Washington state if they exceed $255 (adjusted annually for inflation), including foreign national certifications.
- Repeals outdated statutes that previously prohibited foreign national contributions and required separate certification forms, integrating those requirements directly into existing reporting rules.
Who is affected
- Campaign treasurers and political committees — Must now provide certifications confirming that contributions or expenditures are not funded or influenced by foreign nationals, and must report such certifications in campaign finance filings.
- Candidates and their campaign finance officers — Must file special reports (within 24–48 hours) for large contributions received or made during specific election periods, and must include foreign national certification statements.
- Organizations and individuals running political ads (e.g., PACs, advocacy groups) — Must file detailed reports when making large independent expenditures or electioneering communications, including certifications about foreign national involvement.
- Sponsors of electioneering communications (e.g., TV/radio ad creators) — Must disclose the source of funds used for electioneering communications, including individual donors who contributed over $250, and must include foreign national certification.
- Out-of-state political committees — May be required to report out-of-state political activity if they spend over $255 (adjusted annually) supporting or opposing Washington candidates or ballot measures.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Enhances election integrity by requiring mandatory, verifiable certifications that contributions, expenditures, and ads are not funded or influenced by foreign nationals—reducing covert foreign interference in Washington elections and increasing public confidence.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(11), Sec. 3(5)(d), Sec. 4(1)(a)(ii), Sec. 5(7)(e), Sec. 6(1)(b)(iii)Accelerates transparency during critical election windows (e.g., 21 days before a general election) by requiring 24–48 hour reporting of large political ads and independent expenditures, enabling voters and watchdogs to quickly identify who is influencing the race.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 5(1), Sec. 5(2), Sec. 4(1), Sec. 6(2)Requires disclosure of out-of-state committee donors and individual contributors over thresholds, helping Washington voters understand the true source of political messaging—including foreign-sourced or foreign-influenced funding—thereby strengthening informed consent.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(f), Sec. 2(1)(g), Sec. 6(1)(b)(ii)Standardizes and integrates foreign national certification requirements across all report types (campaign, independent expenditure, electioneering, out-of-state committees), reducing confusion and improving consistency in enforcement.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 5(5), Sec. 5(6), Sec. 5(7), Sec. 6(4)Includes automatic inflation adjustment for out-of-state committee reporting thresholds, ensuring long-term relevance of the $255/$2,550 reporting triggers without requiring future legislative action.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(g) (annual inflation adjustment of $2,550 threshold)
Potential Concerns (4)
Increases administrative burden and costs for the State Auditor’s office (acting as campaign finance commission) to develop, maintain, and staff electronic reporting systems and process additional special reports, with no specified funding source.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (multiple subsections requiring foreign national certifications)Imposes time-sensitive reporting obligations (24–48 hour deadlines) and detailed donor/sponsor disclosures for small groups, PACs, and independent advertisers—particularly burdensome for volunteer-run or under-resourced organizations with limited staff or technical capacity.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 5(6)(a) and (b), Sec. 1(2)(d), Sec. 2(1)(f) and (g), Sec. 4(1)(a)(ii), Sec. 6(1)(b)(ii)Mandates public disclosure of individual donors contributing over $250 (for electioneering) or $2,550+ (for out-of-state committees), potentially chilling participation due to privacy and safety concerns, especially for small-dollar donors or politically vulnerable individuals.
Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(g), Sec. 5(7)(e), Sec. 6(1)(b)(ii)Repeals outdated statutory provisions and consolidates foreign national prohibitions into existing reporting requirements, reducing redundancy—but eliminates a standalone criminal prohibition, potentially weakening deterrence if enforcement relies solely on civil reporting violations.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 7 repealing RCW 29B.10.250, 29B.40.050, 29B.40.060
Who Is Most Affected
Campaign treasurers and committees face increased reporting burdens and liability risk if certifications are inaccurate—especially small or volunteer-run committees lacking legal or compliance staff.
Candidates benefit from increased voter trust in election integrity, but must comply with tighter reporting deadlines and certification obligations during critical election periods.
Advocacy groups and PACs face new 24–48 hour reporting for large ads and mandatory donor/source disclosures, which may deter rapid-response messaging but improve transparency.
Out-of-state committees must now register and report if spending over $255 in Washington, increasing compliance costs for national groups but improving accountability for foreign-influenced spending.
Voters gain greater transparency about the source of political messaging, especially during the final stretch of elections—enhancing informed participation and reducing covert foreign influence.