Sen. Jeff Golden

Appropriates moneys to be used for funding outreach regarding federal earned income tax credits and other tax benefits and to provide tax navigation and preparation to low-income individuals. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Increases the amount of the earned income tax credit. [ Provides that a credit is available to all adults, including childless adults, over 18. ] Provides that the credit may be paid quarterly, in advance, and is not subject to garnishment. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Extends the sunset for the credit. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires transportation network companies to pay minimum compensation rates to drivers. [ Directs transportation network companies to establish written policies concerning account deactivations and provides requirements for such policies. Requires that such policies include an appeals process that meets certain minimum requirements by which drivers may appeal an account deactivation. ] Prohibits transportation network companies from issuing an account deactivation absent just cause. [ Directs the Bureau of Labor and Industries to contract with a nonprofit organization to operate a driver resource center. ] Establishes minimum paid sick time requirements for transportation network companies. Requires transportation network companies to provide dispatched trip information and receipt information to drivers and passengers. Imposes recordkeeping requirements for transportation network companies [ and requires the companies to compile data to submit reports to the bureau. Directs the bureau to report to the Legislative Assembly on the information received from the transportation network companies ]. [ Establishes the Task Force on the Ensuring Meaningful Access to Benefits for Transportation Network Company Drivers. ] Requires transportation network companies to comply with notice requirements to apprise drivers of certain information regarding the rights and protections afforded to drivers. Provides the Bureau of Labor and Industries with enforcement authority over the provisions of the Act. Provides remedies for drivers alleging unlawful practices. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Establishes the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund. Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to distribute moneys from the fund to community colleges and public and private universities in this state for purposes of expanding the training, employment and retention of behavioral health professionals. Appropriates moneys to the fund. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Requires the Energy Facility Siting Council to conclude a contested case and issue a final order within 12 months from the date of a proposed order. [ Provides that any final order issued by the council is appealable directly to the Supreme Court. ] Requires the council to include in all final orders approving or rejecting an application for a site certificate or amended site certificate any decisions related to or arising from a contested case on the application. Requires a petitioner to establish individual or associational standing to appeal a final order. Provides that the council's approval or rejection of an application or request for an amendment, including decisions related to or arising from a contested case on the application or request, is conferred upon the Supreme Court. [ Allows a holder of a site certificate to file a notice for minor changes to the site boundaries of an energy facility. Allows a holder of a site certificate for certain energy facilities to file a request to extend by up to three years the deadlines by which construction of a facility must begin or be completed as specified in the site certificate. ] [ Narrows the criteria by which the Public Utility Commission reviews a petition for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for overhead transmission lines. Directs the commission to review a petition for a certificate of public convenience and necessity without requiring a petitioner to first obtain any required land use approvals. ] [ Allows the use of a site certificate for a high voltage transmission line as conclusive evidence of public use and necessity for any proceeding for condemnation of land or an interest therein. Allows a high voltage transmission line that has been designated as having statewide significance by a regional transmission authority that is established under state law to be placed in areas zoned for exclusive farm use. ] Allows a person who holds a site certificate to request to add area to the approved site boundary without the council requiring an amendment to the site certificate.

] Requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill located in Benton County to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

] [ Requires a public utility to obtain authorization from the Public Utility Commission to develop or carry out a project that involves the production or use of hydrogen in this state. Provides criteria that the commission shall use to evaluate a proposed project. ] Requires a natural gas utility to provide notice to each customer of the utility and the Public Utility Commission if the utility plans to increase the amount of hydrogen that the utility blends with natural gas and the ratio of the volume of hydrogen to the volume of natural gas will, for the first time, be greater than 2.5 percent. Requires a natural gas utility that has a program for blending hydrogen with natural gas to maintain on the utility's website information regarding the utility's program and how a customer may communicate with the utility about the utility's program. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Prohibits discrimination when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum. Prescribes requirements for the removal of library materials, textbooks and instructional materials. Directs the Department of Education to provide technical assistance for school library programs. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Requires the Governor to appoint a United States Senator when a vacancy in the office occurs. Requires that the appointed Senator be of the same political party as the elected Senator who vacated the office. Prohibits the Governor from appointing the Governor to fill the vacancy. Requires the Governor to call a special election within a specified period after the vacancy occurs. Requires the appointment to end when a replacement is elected.

Adds electric wheelchairs and complex rehabilitation technology to the type of consumer equipment for which an original equipment manufacturer must make available to an owner or independent repair provider a tool, part or other device or implement that the original equipment manufacturer makes available to an authorized service provider for the purpose of diagnosing, maintaining, repairing or updating consumer equipment.