Rep. Shelley Kloba

Maddy summaryHB 1540 expands eligibility for the "students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program" to include accredited public tribal colleges in Washington. This program, previously available only at public four-year institutions, provides assistance to students experiencing homelessness and those who were in the foster care system when they graduated high school. Support services can include access to laundry, storage, reduced-price meals, technology, housing assistance, and case management. Participating institutions are also enabled to develop affordable housing from surplus property and are required to submit annual reports to the legislature on the program's impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 amends the Public Records Act to expand the categories of proprietary financial and security information submitted to the Gambling Commission that are exempt from public disclosure. The bill specifically protects sensitive financial statements, internal operational procedures, gaming facility security details, and gaming equipment information from public inspection and copying. This measure directly affects gambling license applicants, licensees, gaming facilities, and tribes with approved compacts by limiting public access to these specific business and security records.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1081 establishes consumer protections for owners of real property who are actively solicited to sell their homes by a potential buyer, rather than listing it themselves. For transactions executed on or after January 1, 2026, these homeowners gain the right to an independent appraisal, paid for by the potential buyer, and the right to cancel the purchase contract without penalty. Owners can cancel within four business days of receiving an appraisal or within ten business days if they forgo an appraisal. Purchase contracts must clearly inform sellers of these appraisal and cancellation rights, which do not apply if both parties are represented by a real estate broker. Violations of these provisions are considered unfair or deceptive acts under the Consumer Protection Act.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1105 exempts certain exclusive bargaining representatives for Department of Corrections (DOC) employees from specific state rules regarding collective bargaining. Specifically, unions representing most DOC employees with interest arbitration rights will no longer be required to participate in coalition bargaining, a process often mandated for smaller unions. Instead, these individual DOC employee unions will directly negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement with the governor or their designee. This change does not apply to exclusive bargaining representatives for marine department employees at the DOC.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1631 designates bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) forests as the official state marine forest of Washington. This designation aims to raise awareness of bull kelp's vital role in the state's marine ecosystems, culture, and economy, and its deep cultural significance for tribal nations.

Maddy summarySubstitute House Bill 1205 creates new provisions under the crime of criminal impersonation in the second degree. It prohibits the knowing distribution of a "forged digital likeness" of another person. A forged digital likeness is defined as a digitally altered visual or audio representation of an identifiable individual that misrepresents their appearance or speech and is likely to deceive. This applies when the distribution is done with intent to defraud, harass, threaten, intimidate, or for any other unlawful purpose. The bill includes exemptions for uses such as art, commentary, satire, news, and other matters of public interest, and protects online service providers from liability for content provided by others.

Maddy summaryHB 1556 expands tuition waivers at Washington community and technical colleges for students who need to complete high school while attending college. It directly affects high school completers (including nonresidents), children and surviving spouses of fallen or disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, or state patrol officers, and up to 40% of students in deaf education programs. Key provisions require colleges to waive all tuition and fees for eligible high school completers and first responder families (with a 10-year enrollment window), and allow partial waivers for nonresidents in high school completion programs. The law, effective July 2025, also mandates annual reporting on waiver costs to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 1553 extends Washington's dairy inspection program funding until June 30, 2031, by amending RCW 15.36.551 to update the program's expiration date. It requires milk processing plants to pay a fee of 54 cents per hundredweight of milk processed (with a $20 monthly minimum exemption for small processors) to fund inspections ensuring compliance with national milk safety standards. The collected fees are deposited into a dedicated dairy inspection account within the agricultural fund, used solely for inspection services. This extension maintains the existing fee structure and program operations without creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic House resolution (HR 4651) honoring the East County Citizens' Alliance (ECCA), a community group founded in 2022. It recognizes ECCA's specific work, including organizing a cleanup of State Route 14 that removed tens of thousands of pounds of trash, planting native wildflowers along the highway, and creating a school partnership program connecting community volunteers with struggling students at Washougal High School. The resolution formally commends ECCA for its environmental stewardship, educational initiatives, and role in strengthening community engagement in East Clark County. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but serves as a public expression of appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution honoring Hollywood screenwriter Tab Murphy for his career contributions. It recognizes his work on films like *Gorillas in the Mist* (1988, with an Oscar nomination), Disney's *Tarzan* and *Brother Bear*, and his recent Emmy-nominated documentary *Kangaroo Valley*. The resolution specifically celebrates his Olympia roots, education in Washington state, and decades-long impact on film storytelling. As a symbolic gesture, it has no policy effects or direct impact on constituents.