Sec. 24.45.161. - Exemptions.
(a) This chapter does not apply to
(1) an individual
(A) who lobbies without payment of compensation or other consideration and makes no disbursement or expenditure for or on behalf of a public official to influence legislative or administrative action other than to pay the individual's reasonable personal travel and living expenses; and
(B) who limits lobbying activities to appearances before public sessions of the legislature, or its committees or subcommittees, or to public hearings or other public proceedings of state agencies;
(2) an elected or appointed state or municipal public officer or an employee of the state or a municipality acting in an official capacity or within the scope of employment;
(3) any newspaper or other periodical of general circulation, book publisher, radio or television station (including an individual who owns, publishes, or is employed by that newspaper or periodical, radio or television station) that publishes news items, editorials, or other comments, or paid advertisements, that directly or indirectly urge legislative or administrative action if the newspaper, periodical, book publisher, radio or television station, or individual engages in no further or other activities in connection with urging or advocating legislative or administrative action other than to appear before public sessions of the legislature, or its committees or subcommittees, or public hearings or other public proceedings of state agencies;
(4) a person who appears before the legislature or either house, or standing, special, or interim committee, in response to an invitation issued under (c) of this section.
(b) Nothing in this chapter may be construed as prohibiting or affecting the rendering of professional services in drafting legislative measures or in advising clients and in rendering opinions as to the construction or effect of proposed or pending legislative or administrative action when these professional services are not otherwise connected with influencing or attempting to influence legislative or administrative action. Nor does anything in this chapter prevent members of the legislature from discussing with constituents the advisability of passing legislation then pending before, or proposed to be presented to, the legislature.
(c) Either house of the legislature by resolution, or both houses of the legislature by concurrent resolution, may invite a person to appear to speak before the legislature or either house with reference to any pending matter. A standing, special, or interim committee of either house of the legislature may, upon the concurrence of a majority of its members, extend an invitation to any person to appear before the committee to give information in regard to, or explain, any matter pending before the committee.
(d) An individual exempt from this chapter under (a)(1) of this section may, at the individual's option, register and report under this chapter.