Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

As used in this chapter unless the context indicates otherwise:

(1) "Public agency" means:

(a) Any state board, commission, committee, department, educational institution, or other state agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, other than courts and the legislature. This does not include a comprehensive cancer center participating in a collaborative arrangement as defined in RCW 28B.10.930 that is operated in conformance with RCW 28B.10.930;

(b) Any county, city, school district, special purpose district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington;

(c) Any subagency of a public agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, ordinance, or other legislative act, including but not limited to planning commissions, library or park boards, commissions, and agencies;

(d) Any policy group whose membership includes representatives of publicly owned utilities formed by or pursuant to the laws of this state when meeting together as or on behalf of participants who have contracted for the output of generating plants being planned or built by an operating agency.

(2) "Governing body" means the multimember board, commission, committee, council, or other policy or rule-making body of a public agency, or any committee thereof when the committee acts on behalf of the governing body, conducts hearings, or takes testimony or public comment.

(3) "Action" means the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, and final actions. "Final action" means a collective positive or negative decision, or an actual vote by a majority of the members of a governing body when sitting as a body or entity, upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance.

(4) "Meeting" means meetings at which action is taken.

[ 2022 c 71 s 11; 1985 c 366 s 1; 1983 c 155 s 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 43 s 10; 1971 ex.s. c 250 s 2.]

Notes:

Findings—Intent—2022 c 71: See note following RCW 28B.10.930.

Severability—Savings—1982 1st ex.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.52.374.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 61 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: Citizens All. for Prop. Rights Legal Fund v. San Juan Cnty., 359 P.3d 753 (Wash. 2015).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Citizens All. for Prop. Rights Legal Fund v. San Juan Cnty., 359 P.3d 753 (Wash. 2015). · cites it 13× “RCW 42.30.020 (emphasis added). Unfortunately, while subsection (4) purports to define “meeting,” it actually does no more than specify when meetings are subject to the OPMA without clarifying what a “meeting” itself is.”

Miller v. City of Tacoma, 979 P.2d 429 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 18× “110(1)(g) is inapplicable because applicants for appointment to the planning commission are not "applicant[s] for public employment." Therefore, while I depart from the analysis of the majority, I concur in its result.”

Miller v. City of Tacoma, 138 Wash. 2d 318 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 17× “…when the committee acts on behalf of the governing body, conducts hearings, or takes testimony or pubbc comment.” RCW 42.30.020(2).”

Loeffelholz v. Citizens for Leaders With Ethics & Acct. Now, 82 P.3d 1199 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 8× “RCW 42.30.020(1). See RCW 42.30.030 (“All meetings of the governing body of a public agency shall be open and public .”

West v. Washington Ass'n of Cnty. Officials, 162 Wash. App. 120 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 8× “Under RCW 42.30.020, 7 a governing body subject to the OPMA may be a policy-making body and ‘WACO policy is determined by an 18-member Board of Trustees made up of county officials from throughout the state” who “meet four to five times a year.”

Wood v. Battle Ground Sch. Dist., 27 P.3d 1208 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 5× “" RCW 42.30.020(2). The OPMA defines "action" as "the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, and final actions.”

Citizens All. v. San Juan Cnty., 326 P.3d 730 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 13× “” RCW 42.30.020(2). A “public agency” is “[a]ny county, city, school district, special purpose district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington.”

Wood v. Battle Ground Sch. Dist., 107 Wash. App. 550 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 5× “” RCW 42.30.020(2). The OPMA defines “action” as “the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, and final actions.”

Teaford v. Howard, 707 P.2d 1327 (Wash. 1985). · cites it 6× “" RCW 42.30.020(3) states that "[a]ction" means the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to a collective decision made by a majority of the members of a governing body, a collective commitment or promise by a…”

Estey v. Dempsey, 707 P.2d 1338 (Wash. 1985). · cites it 10× “"Action" means the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body, RCW 42.30.020(3), and does not automatically occur when a majority of the members of a governing body gather together, RCW 42.”

Beauregard v. Wash. State Bar Ass'n, 480 P.3d 410 (Wash. 2021). · cites it 8× “RCW 42.30.020(1). Even if it did not, this court should exercise its authority as leaders of the judicial branch to hold WSBA subject to the same transparency requirements as other governing entities.”

Refai v. Cent. Washington Univ., 742 P.2d 137 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 10× “) *11 The terms "governing body" and "public agency" are defined in former RCW 42.30.020, in effect at the time of the meetings in question, as follows: (1) "Public agency" means: (a) Any state board, commission, committee, department, educational institution, or other state…”

Show all 61 citing cases →

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(1) — 9 cases

Loeffelholz v. Citizens for Leaders With Ethics & Acct. Now, 82 P.3d 1199 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “RCW 42.30.020(1). See RCW 42.30.030 (“All meetings of the governing body of a public agency shall be open and public .”

Washington Pub. Trust Advocates v. City of Spokane, 86 P.3d 835 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).

Beauregard v. Wash. State Bar Ass'n, 480 P.3d 410 (Wash. 2021). “RCW 42.30.020(1). Even if it did not, this court should exercise its authority as leaders of the judicial branch to hold WSBA subject to the same transparency requirements as other governing entities.”

Cascade Brigade v. Econ. Dev. Bd., 811 P.2d 697 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991).

Refai v. Cent. Washington Univ., 742 P.2d 137 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987). “) *11 The terms "governing body" and "public agency" are defined in former RCW 42.30.020, in effect at the time of the meetings in question, as follows: (1) "Public agency" means: (a) Any state board, commission, committee, department, educational institution, or other state…”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(1)(a) — 4 cases

West v. State, Ass'n of Cnty. Officials, 252 P.3d 406 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).

Salmon for All v. Dep't of Fisheries, 821 P.2d 1211 (Wash. 1992).

Arthur West, V. Lower Duwamish Waterway Grp. (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(1)(b) — 4 cases

Miller v. City of Tacoma, 979 P.2d 429 (Wash. 1999). “110(1)(g) is inapplicable because applicants for appointment to the planning commission are not "applicant[s] for public employment." Therefore, while I depart from the analysis of the majority, I concur in its result.”

R.L. McFarland v. Gregory A. Tompkins, 567 P.3d 1128 (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).

Lincoln Cnty. v. Pub. Emp. Relations Comm'n (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).

Donna Zink & Jeff Zink v. City of Mesa (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(1)(c) — 1 case

State v. Hardgrove, 225 P.3d 357 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(2) — 23 cases

Citizens All. for Prop. Rights Legal Fund v. San Juan Cnty., 359 P.3d 753 (Wash. 2015). “RCW 42.30.020 (emphasis added). Unfortunately, while subsection (4) purports to define “meeting,” it actually does no more than specify when meetings are subject to the OPMA without clarifying what a “meeting” itself is.”

Citizens All. v. San Juan Cnty., 326 P.3d 730 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “” RCW 42.30.020(2). A “public agency” is “[a]ny county, city, school district, special purpose district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington.”

Wood v. Battle Ground Sch. Dist., 27 P.3d 1208 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “" RCW 42.30.020(2). The OPMA defines "action" as "the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, and final actions.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(3) — 43 cases

Miller v. City of Tacoma, 138 Wash. 2d 318 (Wash. 1999). “…when the committee acts on behalf of the governing body, conducts hearings, or takes testimony or pubbc comment.” RCW 42.30.020(2).”

Wood v. Battle Ground Sch. Dist., 107 Wash. App. 550 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “” RCW 42.30.020(2). The OPMA defines “action” as “the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations, and final actions.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(4) — 30 cases

Teaford v. Howard, 707 P.2d 1327 (Wash. 1985). “" RCW 42.30.020(3) states that "[a]ction" means the transaction of the official business of a public agency by a governing body including but not limited to a collective decision made by a majority of the members of a governing body, a collective commitment or promise by a…”

Miller v. City of Tacoma, 138 Wash. 2d 318 (Wash. 1999). “…when the committee acts on behalf of the governing body, conducts hearings, or takes testimony or pubbc comment.” RCW 42.30.020(2).”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(l)(a) — 1 case

West v. Washington Ass'n of Cnty. Officials, 162 Wash. App. 120 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). “Under RCW 42.30.020, 7 a governing body subject to the OPMA may be a policy-making body and ‘WACO policy is determined by an 18-member Board of Trustees made up of county officials from throughout the state” who “meet four to five times a year.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.020(l)(b) — 2 cases

Miller v. City of Tacoma, 138 Wash. 2d 318 (Wash. 1999). “…when the committee acts on behalf of the governing body, conducts hearings, or takes testimony or pubbc comment.” RCW 42.30.020(2).”

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.