Rep. Shelley Kloba

Maddy summaryHB 1721 allows qualified zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) manufacturers - those with no existing dealership agreements - to sell directly to consumers in Washington, provided they establish at least two service centers and offer mobile repair services in the state. It supports traditional auto dealers by creating a grant program for EV technician training and charging infrastructure, with dealers selling at least 50% of their vehicles as ZEVs qualifying for additional funding. The bill requires ZEV manufacturers to honor warranties at designated service centers and mandates annual reports starting in 2026 to evaluate the program’s effectiveness, with a final review scheduled for 2034. These changes aim to expand ZEV access while balancing dealer transitions and consumer protections.

Maddy summaryHB 1080 requires hotels and short-term rentals to disclose all mandatory fees, except for government taxes and special district assessments, within their advertised room rates. Before a consumer reserves a stay, the total price presented must include all government taxes and assessment fees. These rules apply to advertising displayed in or from Washington state. Businesses found in violation may face civil penalties up to $10,000 per infraction, with enforcement handled by city, county, or state attorneys.

Maddy summaryHB 1653 creates a state program to reimburse registered tow truck operators for releasing vehicles owned by indigent citizens who cannot afford towing costs. It applies to vehicles impounded on private property or by law enforcement (excluding those impounded after an arrest), requiring applicants to self-certify as indigent and owners, and operators to verify eligibility before submitting forms to the Department of Licensing. Reimbursement uses existing funds from towing service payments, with priority given to applications based on submission order if funds are limited. The bill requires annual reporting on program usage and prohibits tow operators from claiming liens on released vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 1547 creates a coordinated statewide network to improve school-based mental and behavioral health services for Washington K-12 students. It directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to lead strategic planning and coordination with state agencies, school districts, and regional programs, replacing fragmented existing efforts. Key provisions include establishing regional student assistance programs to provide evidence-based screening, prevention, and intervention services - especially in underserved areas - and requiring schools to align with the Washington Integrated Student Supports protocol. The bill aims to streamline access to mental health resources, reduce barriers to care, and support school staff through technical assistance, without creating new standalone programs. This directly affects all public school students and districts across Washington, particularly those in communities with limited behavioral health access.

Maddy summaryHB 1566 requires health insurance companies in Washington to improve transparency in prior authorization decisions for medical treatments and drugs. It sets strict time limits: insurers must decide on electronic standard requests within 3 days and expedited requests within 1 day, with clear communication if more information is needed. The bill mandates that insurers provide evidence-based clinical criteria (updated annually to address health disparities) and include provider credentials when denying requests. It also restricts insurers from changing prior authorization policies more than quarterly, requiring 45 days' notice to providers for most updates. This directly affects insurers, healthcare providers, and patients receiving covered care.

Maddy summaryHB 1199 strengthens consumer protections by increasing penalties for insurance companies that violate Washington's insurance code. It amends statutes to allow the Insurance Commissioner to impose fines of $250-$10,000 per violation (up from $250), require insurers to pay restitution with 8% interest within 30 days, and issue cease-and-desist orders. The bill directly affects insurers found liable for code violations, mandating financial accountability for harms caused to policyholders. Key provisions include streamlined restitution orders for funds owed to consumers and automatic certificate revocation for unpaid fines.

Maddy summaryHB 1093 amends Washington state law to require medical assistance plans (Medicaid) to cover massage therapy as a "related service" under existing coverage for physical and occupational therapy. This change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who need massage therapy for medical conditions, such as chronic pain or injury rehabilitation. The bill updates RCW 74.09.520 to explicitly include massage therapy within covered services, aligning it with other therapeutic treatments. Coverage remains subject to available funding, as specified in other sections of the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1569 requires Washington state to include tax exemptions and preferences in the regular biennial budget process, ending their automatic continuation without legislative review. The bill mandates that all tax exemptions without expiration dates must be reviewed, assigned performance measures, and reauthorized every two years or expire, with a maximum 10-year term for new exemptions. It also requires the Department of Revenue to estimate the annual revenue impact of each exemption and include these details in the budget. This affects all taxpayers by ensuring tax preferences are transparently evaluated for their revenue impact, rather than reducing state funds for services like education without oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1694 modifies how Washington cities and counties can use revenues from local real estate transaction taxes (up to 0.25% of sale price). It requires local governments to specify in budgets how these funds finance capital projects like roads, parks, or infrastructure, and mandates that tax revenues must be used solely for those purposes (with limited exceptions for operations until 2023). The bill explicitly allows using funds for homelessness and affordable housing projects through interlocal collaborations, while restricting new spending to 25% of available funds annually (capped at $1 million) for such projects. It also requires documentation of future funding plans for traditional capital projects and temporarily suspends tax authority if local governments fail to comply with reporting rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2027 increases real estate transfer taxes on property sales above specific thresholds to fund affordable housing programs. The tax applies at 1.1% for sales under $500,000, 1.28% for $500,000-$1.5 million, 2.75% for $1.5-$3 million, and 3% for sales over $3 million. Revenue from these taxes will support state housing programs targeting low- and middle-income households, including seniors, veterans, farmworkers, and others facing housing insecurity. The bill aims to build over 500,000 new affordable homes for residents earning under 50% of area median income by addressing supply shortages.