Local elected official oaths

AN ACT Relating to timing of the oath of office for local elected 1
officials; and amending RCW 29A.60.280. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 29A.60.280 and 2003 c 111 s 504 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) The legislature finds that certain laws are in conflict 6
governing the assumption of office of various local officials. The 7
purpose of this section is to provide a common date for the 8
assumption of office for all the elected officials of counties, 9
cities, towns, and special purpose districts other than school 10
districts where the ownership of property is not a prerequisite of 11
voting. A person elected to the office of school director begins his 12
or her term of office at the first official meeting of the board of 13
directors after certification of the election results. It is also the 14
purpose of this section to remove these conflicts and delete old 15
statutory language concerning such elections which is no longer 16
necessary. 17
(2) For elective offices of counties, cities, towns, and special 18
purpose districts other than school districts where the ownership of 19
property is not a prerequisite of voting, the term of incumbents ends 20
and the term of successors begins after the successor is elected and 21
H-0554.1
HOUSE BILL 1761
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Volz, Schmidt, and Chase
Read first time 01/31/25. Referred to Committee on State Government
& Tribal Relations.
p. 1 HB 1761
qualified, and the term commences immediately after December 31st 1
following the election, except as follows: 2
(a) Where the term of office varies from this standard according 3
to statute; and 4
(b) If the election results have not been certified prior to 5
January 1st after the election, in which event the time of 6
commencement for the new term occurs when the successor becomes 7
qualified in accordance with RCW 29A.04.133. 8
(3) For elective offices governed by this section, the oath of 9
office must be taken as the last step of qualification as defined in 10
RCW 29A.04.133 but may be taken either: 11
(a) ((Up to ten days prior to the scheduled date of assuming 12
office)) Any time after the last regular meeting of the governing 13
body of the applicable county, city, town, or special district held 14
before the winner is to assume office; or 15
(b) At the last regular meeting of the governing body of the 16
applicable county, city, town, or special district held before the 17
winner is to assume office. 18
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p. 2 HB 1761