Rep. Shelley Kloba

Maddy summaryHB 1034 requires health insurance plans in Washington to cover nonopioid pain treatments equally with opioid drugs starting January 1, 2026. It prohibits plans from designating nonopioid drugs as "nonpreferred" when opioids are preferred or imposing stricter requirements (like prior authorization) on nonopioid options compared to opioids. The bill also mandates the state to create and publish an educational pamphlet about nonopioid pain treatment alternatives by 2026, detailing available options and their pros and cons. This applies to all health plans, managed care organizations, and public health programs covered under the law. The legislation directly affects insurers and patients by changing coverage rules for pain management.

Maddy summaryHB 1751 exempts required course materials (like textbooks and digital resources) from Washington state sales and use taxes for students enrolled at public colleges and universities. It requires students to show valid enrollment proof at approved vendors (campus bookstores or institution-designated online sellers) to qualify for the exemption. Public institutions must inform students about this tax break via their websites and course syllabi. The bill directly affects all students at Washington’s public higher education institutions by reducing out-of-pocket costs for essential learning materials, which the legislature notes are increasingly unaffordable (65% of students skip buying textbooks due to cost).

Maddy summaryHB 1555 changes how Washington state pays nursing homes for services starting July 1, 2025. It replaces the current system with a new three-part payment structure: direct care (covering staffing and therapy), indirect care (administrative and maintenance costs), and capital (facility costs). Payment rates will be adjusted annually based on the most recent cost data, with specific caps limiting how much rates can increase compared to previous years (e.g., a 142% cap for 2025). The bill directly affects nursing home providers receiving state Medicaid payments across Washington, aiming to better align payments with actual operating costs while maintaining minimum staffing standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1204 requires manufactured home park landlords to include specific written disclosures in rental agreements for all tenants, including clear closure notices in bold text and historical rent data. It directly affects seniors aged 55+ by prohibiting park rules that block them from having roommates in shared housing arrangements - such as exchanges of services for room and board - while banning entrance/exit fees. The bill also restricts rent increases during closure periods to no more than 1% above the U.S. consumer price index and prohibits fees for guest parking or towing without prior notice. These changes aim to increase housing stability and affordability for seniors in manufactured home communities by standardizing tenant protections.

Maddy summaryHB 1040 allows people eligible for Washington’s property tax exemption programs (for seniors or disabled residents) to exclude up to $6,000 annually in rental income from their primary residence when calculating income eligibility for the exemption. This applies only to long-term rentals (not short-term rentals like Airbnb, which must still be reported as taxable income). The bill amends existing tax code to include rental income as part of "combined disposable income" calculations, adjusting how income thresholds are applied. It directly affects low-income homeowners in qualifying exemption programs who rent out space in their primary home.

Maddy summaryHB 1449 legalizes home cultivation of cannabis for Washington residents aged 21 and older. The bill allows individuals to grow up to six cannabis plants per household (with a maximum of 15 plants total per residence) and possess cannabis products within state-set limits, including up to 1/2 ounce of useable cannabis. It prohibits visible cultivation from public view or neighboring properties and restricts non-commercial sharing to no more than 1/2 ounce per 24 hours among adults 21+. The law does not apply to minors, commercial activity, or public consumption.

Maddy summaryHB 1560 imposes a 7.5% tax on the portion of annual compensation exceeding 10 times the state's average wage for the five highest-paid hospital employees without direct patient care, plus the hospital's lead administrator if not included. It directly affects nonprofit hospitals in Washington that pay certain executives excessive compensation, as defined by the bill. The tax revenue will fund programs to improve healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable populations and reproductive care. The tax applies to compensation reported under state health reporting rules, beginning in 2027 for the 2026 tax year.

Maddy summaryHB 1241 requires Washington school districts to improve transparency and timeliness in special education evaluations for students with disabilities. It mandates that districts provide parents with clear, translated information about evaluation processes and timelines (including a 22-day decision window after referrals and a 60-day evaluation window after consent), track and publicly report processing times by disability category, and use standardized templates for parent communications. The bill also ensures parents receive language-accessible materials and quarterly service reports for quantifiable special education services, while prohibiting multitiered systems from delaying evaluations. These changes directly affect students with disabilities, their families, and school districts across Washington State.

Maddy summaryHB 1015 requires cities and counties in Washington to mandate home energy performance reports before residential properties (like single-family homes and townhouses) are advertised for sale. The reports, valid for eight years, must include a U.S. Department of Energy home energy score, annual energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions estimates, and efficiency improvement recommendations. Local governments must first assess financial impacts on low-income sellers and implement cost-mitigation programs before enforcing the requirement. The bill also directs the Department of Commerce to create a standardized report format by November 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1581 increases a tax on communication services to fund Washington's 988 behavioral health crisis line. It raises the tax rate to 70 cents per month for radio access lines, VoIP services, and switched access lines starting in 2026, up from current rates of 40 cents (2023-2025). The tax applies to subscribers and providers of these services within Washington, with proceeds deposited into a dedicated crisis response account. The funding supports suicide prevention and crisis care services, aiming to reduce reliance on emergency rooms and law enforcement for mental health emergencies. The bill does not change existing services but adjusts tax rates to sustain and expand the 988 system.