1. (1) This section applies to legislators and employees under the jurisdiction of the legislative ethics board.

2. (2) Legislative nexus means activities by legislators and staff having a reasonably objective connection to the legislator's or staff's official duties or to the policy or programmatic prerogatives of the legislature, or the legislative institution. In cases where legislative nexus is required for the use of state resources, activities with a per se tangible legislative nexus also include the following:

   1. (a) Communications directly pertaining to any legislative proposal which has been introduced in either chamber of the legislature; and

   2. (b) Posting information to an official legislative website or social media account about:

      1. (i) Emergencies;
      2. (ii) Federal holidays, state holidays recognized under RCW 1.16.050, religious holidays, and generally recognized days or months of note;
      3. (iii) Information originally provided or published by other government entities which provide information about government resources;
      4. (iv) Achievements, honors, or awards of extraordinary distinction received by a constituent who has granted permission to post about the achievement, honor, or award;
      5. (v) A legislator if the information posted has a direct and tangible relationship to a legislative proposal or policy introduced in the legislature; and
      6. (vi) Commemorations or celebrations of Washington state historical events, holidays, or persons who are not current legislators.

[ 2025 c 377 s 12.]