Despite highly publicized criticism of a Washington law allowing legislators to accept meals from lobbyists on “infrequent occasions”, the Washington State Legislature failed to pass any bills addressing the ambiguity before its adjournment in March. Senate Bill 6414 contained a provision requiring the Legislative Ethics Board to define “infrequent occasions” and further required the development of an electronic reporting system enabling lobbyist reports to be searched electronically by the public.

This bill and others did not make it out of committee before the legislature adjourned and will not carryover to the next session. As a result of the legislature’s failure to pass any pertinent legislation, the Legislative Ethics Board has independently taken on the task of defining “infrequent occasions”.

The Board will hold a public meeting Tuesday, April 15 at 12 p.m. in Hearing Room 3 of the John A. Cherberg Building, 298 15th Avenue SW, Olympia, Washington. Board Chair Kristine Hoover set the meeting to listen and gather information from the public and to get public feedback on what the word “infrequent” should mean.