Rep. Davina Duerr

Maddy summaryHB 2184 requires Washington State occupational therapists to obtain a special "intramuscular needling endorsement" before performing this specific pain treatment technique. To qualify, therapists must complete 325 hours of training (including 100 hours of anatomy/pain management education, 75 hours of hands-on technique practice, and 150 supervised patient sessions) plus one year of full-time clinical experience. The endorsement process involves documentation of training and a clinical review by a qualified provider (such as a physician or licensed physical therapist). This bill directly affects occupational therapists seeking to offer intramuscular needling as part of their practice. It does not change other occupational therapy services but adds specific requirements for this technique.

Maddy summaryHB 2169 strengthens financial independence for Washington youth aged 18-21 in the care of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). It prohibits DCYF from using personal benefits (like Social Security) paid to these youth to reimburse care costs starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires DCYF to help eligible youth apply for Social Security benefits, assist in setting up managed financial accounts (such as ABLE accounts), and provide support for managing funds. If needed, DCYF must help identify an authorized representative to manage benefits, though it clarifies the department owes no fiduciary duty to youth or third parties managing these accounts.

Maddy summaryHB 1017 designates November 22nd as "Kimchi Day" in Washington State, recognizing the cultural significance of kimchi and aligning with similar observances in South Korea and other U.S. states. The bill amends state law to add "The twenty-second day of November, recognized as kimchi day" to a list of non-holiday cultural observances. It does not create a legal holiday or affect work schedules, as these recognized days are explicitly stated to not qualify as paid or unpaid legal holidays under state law. The measure aims to celebrate kimchi’s heritage, citing its UNESCO-recognized preparation process ("kimjang") and health benefits, but has no direct policy impact on residents or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 1434 amends Washington State law to officially recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state legal holidays, adding them to the existing list of recognized days. These Islamic holidays, which shift annually based on the lunar calendar, will now be included in the state's holiday schedule alongside established dates like New Year's Day and Thanksgiving. The bill affects state employees, who will be entitled to paid time off for these holidays under existing provisions for state legal holidays, as outlined in RCW 1.16.050. This change makes Washington the first U.S. state to formally recognize both Eid holidays as official state observances.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Memorial 4003 is a non-binding resolution from the Washington State Legislature urging the U.S. government to join international efforts in developing a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. It calls for ending new fossil fuel exploration and expansion, phasing out existing production in line with climate science, and prioritizing worker and community support during the transition. The memorial aligns with Washington’s existing climate laws, including the Climate Commitment Act and the HEAL Act, which aim to reduce emissions and address environmental health disparities. It directly addresses the U.S. President, Congress, and the United Nations to advance global climate action.

Maddy summaryHB 1416 increases taxes on tobacco and vapor products in Washington State. It adds a $0.015 tax per cigarette and establishes new per-milliliter tax rates for vapor products: $0.30 per ml for most products and $0.10 per ml for containers over 5 ml. The bill requires distributors to collect these taxes at the point of sale or distribution and directs 50% of the revenue to cancer research and 50% to public health services. These changes apply to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers of tobacco and vapor products, with the tax taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryWashington State's HB 1862 limits the maximum length of freight, passenger, and work trains operating within the state to 8,500 feet, directly affecting all railroad carriers (including those operating through Washington) that transport freight or passengers. The bill requires trains exceeding this length to obtain specific approval from the Utilities and Transportation Commission, which may allow trains up to 10,000 feet only if equipped with additional safety measures: extra crew members, accessible air brake valves, and emergency communication systems. Violations carry fines starting at $25,000 for the first offense, doubling with each subsequent violation. The law aims to address safety risks from excessively long trains on Washington's varied terrain, particularly regarding emergency response and infrastructure safety.

Maddy summaryHB 1338 revises Washington state's formula for distributing basic education funding to school districts. It establishes specific per-pupil funding levels based on "prototypical" school models (e.g., 600 students for high schools, 432 for middle schools, 400 for elementary schools), setting minimum class size requirements (like 17 students per teacher in K-3) and staff ratios for roles including teachers, librarians, paraeducators, and support staff. The bill mandates transparency by requiring the superintendent to publish per-pupil funding data online and school districts to link to it on their websites. This directly affects all public school districts in Washington, determining how state funds are allocated for core instructional programs and operational costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1752 allows local courts of limited jurisdiction (like justice courts) to handle certain misdemeanor cases involving juveniles, instead of juvenile court, when the county authorizes it and the offense doesn't require confinement in the standard sentence. It directly affects juveniles charged with less serious misdemeanors who would otherwise be processed in juvenile court. The key provision requires that the alleged offense be a misdemeanor with a standard disposition excluding confinement, and that the county legislative authority approves the concurrent jurisdiction. This aims to speed up processing for minor cases while keeping juvenile court for more serious offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1870 allows Washington counties to levy an additional property tax of up to five cents per $1,000 of assessed value specifically for public health clinics. This tax can only fund the operation, maintenance, and capital expenses of clinics providing services like primary care, dental care, disease prevention, reproductive health, and behavioral health. The bill amends existing tax laws to exempt this new levy from standard county tax limits (like the $1.80 cap), ensuring it doesn’t count toward other spending restrictions. It directly affects counties and public health clinics, which would use the funds for low-barrier health services to underserved communities.