Wash. Rev. Code » Title 42 · Chapter 42.30
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.080 (2026)

Special meetings

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A special meeting may be called at any time by the presiding officer of the governing body of a public agency or by a majority of the members of the governing body by delivering written notice personally, by mail, by fax, or by email to each member of the governing body. Written notice shall be deemed waived in the following circumstances:
(a) A member submits a written waiver of notice with the clerk or secretary of the governing body at or prior to the time the meeting convenes. A written waiver may be given by telegram, fax, or email; or
(b) A member is actually present at the time the meeting convenes.
(2) Notice of a special meeting called under subsection (1) of this section shall be:
(a) Delivered to each local newspaper of general circulation and local radio or television station that has on file with the governing body a written request to be notified of such special meeting or of all special meetings;
(b) Posted on the agency's website. An agency is not required to post a special meeting notice on its website if it does not have a website or share a website with another agency. Except in the case of a remote meeting or a meeting at which the physical attendance by some or all members of the public is limited due to a declared emergency as provided for in this chapter, an agency is not required to post a special meeting notice on its website if it employs no full-time equivalent employees, or does not employ personnel whose duty, as defined by a job description or existing contract, is to maintain or update the website; and
(c) Prominently displayed at the main entrance of the agency's principal location and the meeting site if it is not held at the agency's principal location and is not held as a remote meeting; except that during a declared emergency which prevents a meeting from being held in-person with reasonable safety an agency that hosts a website or shares a website with another agency may instead post notice of a remote meeting without a physical location on the website hosted or shared by the agency.
Such notice must be delivered or posted, as applicable, at least 24 hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice.
(3) The call and notices required under subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. Final disposition shall not be taken on any other matter at such meetings by the governing body.
(4) The notices provided in this section may be dispensed with in the event a special meeting is called to deal with an emergency involving injury or damage to persons or property or the likelihood of such injury or damage, when time requirements of such notice would make notice impractical and increase the likelihood of such injury or damage, or when the required notice cannot be posted or displayed with reasonable safety, including but not limited to declared emergencies in which travel to physically post notice is barred or advised against.
[ 2022 c 115 s 10; 2012 c 188 s 1; 2005 c 273 s 1; 1971 ex.s. c 250 s 8.]

Notes:

Effective date—2022 c 115 ss 5-11: See note following RCW 42.30.230.
Findings—Intent—2022 c 115: See note following RCW 42.30.230.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: Estey v. Dempsey, 707 P.2d 1338 (Wash. 1985).
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Estey v. Dempsey, 707 P.2d 1338 (Wash. 1985). · cites it 8× “RCW 42.30.080. It is not alleged that any local media had requested notification of special meetings.”
Mead Sch. Dist. No. 354 v. Mead Educ. Ass'n, 530 P.2d 302 (Wash. 1975). · cites it 8× “The meeting of April 29 was not scheduled, its date was not previously fixed by law or rule, and it was therefore a “special meeting” within RCW 42.30.080, part of the Open Public Meetings Act of 1971.”
Hartman v. Washington State Game Comm'n, 532 P.2d 614 (Wash. 1975). · cites it 4× “060), and RCW 42.30.080, which applies to special meetings, requires only that various news media be notified of the nature of business to be transacted at a special meeting and that such notice be given 24 hours in advance of the meeting.”
Refai v. Cent. Washington Univ., 742 P.2d 137 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “" Special notice requirements are provided for special meetings in RCW 42.30.080; written notice must be given to each member of the governing body and to each newspaper, radio station or television station which has on file with the governing body a written request to be…”
R.L. McFarland v. Gregory A. Tompkins, 567 P.3d 1128 (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 10× “In turn, the superior court ruled that: (1) the WWBOC’s January 5 notice for the January 7, 2021 meeting violated RCW 42.30.080 because the notice insufficiently described the business to be transacted at the special meeting, (2) McFarland lacked standing against Walla Walla…”
Dorsten v. Port of Skagit Cnty., 650 P.2d 220 (Wash. Ct. App. 1982). “RCW 42.30.080. The resolution increasing the moorage rates was passed at the *790 regularly scheduled meeting on April 22, 1980.”
Concerned Citizens of Hosp. Dist. No. 304 v. Bd. of Commissioners of Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 304, 897 P.2d 1267 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “See RCW 42.30.080. 2 The record simply does not support Concerned Citizens’ contention that the notice given by the hospital boards failed to include the nature and purpose of the meetings.”
Kirk v. Pierce Cnty. Fire Prot. Dist. No. 21, 630 P.2d 930 (Wash. 1981). · cites it 3× “RCW 42.30.080. RCW 42.30.110 provides that Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a governing body from holding executive sessions during a regular or special meeting .”
Arthur West V. Walla Walla City Council, 567 P.3d 634 (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 9× “They maintain that the November 18 meeting was legally convened because the City properly gave public notice on November 16 that the Council would hold a special meeting and executive session on that date, in compliance with RCW 42.30.080(2). Thus, they contend that penalties…”
Jimmy Hilliard, Et Ux. v. Lewis Cnty. Water & Sewer Dist. 5 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 12× “Legal Principles RCW 42.30.080 addresses special meetings, and states that notice must be displayed at the agency’s principal location at least 24 hours before the time of such special meeting.”
Scott Sundean v. Town of Wilbur (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 4× “February 17, 2019 Request Sundean’s complaint alleged that he submitted a records request on February 17, 2019, with the following language: “Regarding, RCW 42.30.080, please provide all emails and documentation regarding compliance with RCW 42.”
Lutz v. Spokane Reg'l Health Dist. (E.D. Wash. 2025). “Special meetings may be called by the Chair at his/her discretion, 8 at the request of the Executive Secretary, or on the written request of a majority of the members, provided that written notice is given each 9 member and the media at least twenty-four hours prior to the…”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.080(2) — 1 case
Arthur West V. Walla Walla City Council, 567 P.3d 634 (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “They maintain that the November 18 meeting was legally convened because the City properly gave public notice on November 16 that the Council would hold a special meeting and executive session on that date, in compliance with RCW 42.30.080(2). Thus, they contend that penalties…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.080(2)(c) — 1 case
Jimmy Hilliard, Et Ux. v. Lewis Cnty. Water & Sewer Dist. 5 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “Legal Principles RCW 42.30.080 addresses special meetings, and states that notice must be displayed at the agency’s principal location at least 24 hours before the time of such special meeting.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.080(3) — 2 cases
Arthur West V. Walla Walla City Council, 567 P.3d 634 (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “They maintain that the November 18 meeting was legally convened because the City properly gave public notice on November 16 that the Council would hold a special meeting and executive session on that date, in compliance with RCW 42.30.080(2). Thus, they contend that penalties…”
R.L. McFarland v. Gregory A. Tompkins, 567 P.3d 1128 (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “In turn, the superior court ruled that: (1) the WWBOC’s January 5 notice for the January 7, 2021 meeting violated RCW 42.30.080 because the notice insufficiently described the business to be transacted at the special meeting, (2) McFarland lacked standing against Walla Walla…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.30.080(4) — 1 case
Jimmy Hilliard, Et Ux. v. Lewis Cnty. Water & Sewer Dist. 5 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “Legal Principles RCW 42.30.080 addresses special meetings, and states that notice must be displayed at the agency’s principal location at least 24 hours before the time of such special meeting.”
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