1. (1) A title company may conduct educational programs at no charge only if the content of the program consists solely of education regarding title insurance, title to real property, and escrow topics.

   1. (a) A title company must spend no more than $15 per person for refreshments at any one educational program.
   2. (b) Any materials that the title company provides to attendees must be directly related to the topic of the program or are self-promotional advertising of the title company.

2. (2) A title company may provide a speaker at no charge for an educational program conducted or presented by other persons, only if the following conditions are met:

   1. (a) The speaker is an employee of the title company;
   2. (b) If a title insurance agent is providing the speaker, the speaker may be an employee of the title insurer for whom the title insurance agent has been properly appointed;
   3. (c) The topic of the presentation by the employee is solely related to title insurance, escrow, or real property law; and
   4. (d) Any materials that the speaker provides to attendees are directly related to the topic of the speaker or are self-promotional advertising of the title company of the employee.

3. (3) A title company may sponsor or conduct an educational program on topics other than title insurance, title to real property, and escrow only if:

   1. (a) The educational program is open to all producers; and

   2. (b) The attendees actually pay to attend the program the greater of:

      1. (i) All expenses and costs associated with the delivery of the educational program by the title company; or

      2. (ii) What the attendee would pay to attend a similar educational program sponsored by entities other than title companies on the open market.

         The calculation by the title company of the expenses and costs associated with the delivery of the educational program must include, but not be limited to, all travel, refreshments, speaker fees or wages of the speaker, facility rental, preparation of materials distributed at the educational program, parking, advertisement, and wages of arranging and planning for the program.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060 (3)(a), 48.29.005, and 48.29.210(2). WSR 26-01-160 (Matter R 2025-08), s 284-29-235, filed 12/19/25, effective 1/19/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.29.005 and 48.29.210. WSR 09-05-077 (Matter No. R 2008-21), § 284-29-235, filed 2/17/09, effective 3/20/09.]