SB 5291 strengthens the WA Cares long-term care program by implementing recommendations from the long-term services and supports trust commission. The bill allows individuals who have paid into the program for at least three years while working in Washington to continue their participation and eligibility for benefits even if they move out of state. It also establishes a clear process for how the program's benefit unit, currently up to $100, will be adjusted annually for inflation using a specific consumer price index. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of approved services to explicitly include long-term services and supports provided in nursing homes.
House Bill 2077 establishes a new tax on certain vehicle manufacturers. This tax applies to profits generated from surplus zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) credits, which are earned when a manufacturer exceeds the state's ZEV sales requirements. The bill requires the Department of Ecology to share manufacturers' ZEV credit activity with the Department of Revenue, and manufacturers must report the prices of ZEV credit transactions. The collected tax revenue is intended to be reinvested into programs that further promote cleaner vehicles.
SB 5721 enhances consumer protections for automobile insurance policyholders in Washington state. Beginning January 1, 2026, all new or renewed auto insurance policies that cover physical damage must include a provision for an appraisal process. This allows either the policyholder or the insurer to demand an appraisal to resolve disputes over the actual cash value and amount of loss for a damaged vehicle. The bill outlines a specific procedure for selecting independent appraisers and, if necessary, an umpire to settle disagreements, with costs for the umpire shared equally. This creates a standardized mechanism for resolving certain vehicle damage claims.
HB 1119 modifies the rules for offenders to earn supervision compliance credit while under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. The bill simplifies the criteria, allowing offenders to earn 10 days of credit per month based solely on compliance with their supervision terms, as determined by the department. It also establishes that offenders will lose the ability to earn future supervision compliance credits if sanctioned by a court for noncompliance with community custody requirements. Additionally, the bill expands the categories of offenders who are not eligible for this credit, such as those with indeterminate sentences subject to parole.
SB 5083 aims to ensure access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services for public employees and their dependents in Washington state. It sets caps on how much health carriers can reimburse in-network hospitals for inpatient and outpatient services, generally limiting them to 200% of Medicare rates in 2027 and 190% in 2029, with higher limits for children's specialty hospitals. The bill also mandates minimum reimbursement rates for in-network primary care and non-facility-based behavioral health services (150% of Medicare) and for rural critical access hospitals. Additionally, it requires certain hospitals to contract with health carriers serving public employees and mandates data sharing with the Health Care Authority for monitoring.
SB 5314 modifies Washington's capital gains tax by updating several provisions. It replaces an expiring business and occupation tax credit with a new, nonrefundable capital gains tax credit, designed to prevent double taxation on the same sale or exchange. The bill also clarifies definitions related to capital gains and losses, ensures consistent treatment for spouses and domestic partners, and establishes a late payment penalty waiver. Additionally, it introduces new reporting requirements for brokers and barter exchanges. These modifications are not estimated to change overall state or local tax collections.
HB 2061 establishes a new concession fee for duty-free sales enterprises operating within Washington state. These businesses will pay a fee equal to 0.10 (10%) of their gross proceeds from merchandise sales. The revenue collected from this fee will be split, with half directed to the statewide tourism marketing account and the other half deposited into a new sustainable aviation fuel account. The sustainable aviation fuel account is designated to support research, development, and infrastructure for sustainable aviation fuel.
House Bill 2050 updates the system for providing state local effort assistance funding to K-12 public school districts in Washington. This funding helps supplement local school district levies for educational enrichment programs. The bill modifies how this assistance is calculated, including updating financial thresholds and refining definitions for terms like "eligible school district" and "student enrollment." It also removes temporary provisions related to how student enrollment from prior school years was considered for funding calculations. These changes affect how much state funding school districts receive to support their local education efforts, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.
SB 5579 prohibits health carriers, facilities, and providers from making public statements about potential or planned contract terminations until 45 days before the termination date, unless legally required. This aims to provide consistent policies for communicating with health plan enrollees and affected communities during contract negotiations. The bill directs the Insurance Commissioner to develop standard templates for patient notices, which must include information on affected facilities, appointment guidance, and continuity of care rights. Violations by carriers can result in monetary penalties, while violations by providers or facilities can be referred to relevant licensing or disciplinary authorities.
HB 1131 updates state laws regarding clemency, pardons, and the supervision of individuals by the Department of Corrections. The bill clarifies the department's responsibilities for supervising individuals on probation or community custody, including those convicted of specific offenses or identified as high-risk. It explicitly mandates departmental supervision for individuals granted conditional clemency by the governor, provided a term of community custody is included in the commutation conditions. Additionally, the legislation consistently replaces the term "offenders" with "individuals" throughout the relevant statutes governing supervision.
House Bill 2040 amends the state's aged, blind, or disabled assistance program, which provides financial grants to eligible individuals. The bill clarifies the definitions of "aged," "blind," and "disabled" for program eligibility and outlines specific reasons for ineligibility, such as being primarily incapacitated by a substance use disorder. Most significantly, it changes the policy regarding the recovery of state benefits when a recipient also receives federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the same period. Effective October 1, 2028, state cash assistance that duplicates federal SSI payments will no longer be considered a debt owed to the state and will not be subject to recovery.
HB 2049 aims to enhance funding for K-12 education and communities by modifying state and local property tax authority and adjusting the school funding formula. The bill revises the maximum dollar amount school districts can levy for enrichment, setting it as the lesser of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value or a per-pupil limit. This per-pupil limit is updated with specific "inflation enhancements" through 2030 and establishes a new base amount starting in 2031, impacting funding based on student enrollment. Additionally, it adjusts how the state provides local effort assistance funding to supplement these school district enrichment levies.
