Rep. Shelley Kloba

Maddy summaryHB 2612 protects revenues from specific state surcharges by mandating their direct deposit into Washington's workforce education investment account. The bill requires all funds from the workforce investment surcharge (RCW 82.04.299) and specified revenues (RCW 82.04.290(2)(c)) to be placed solely in this account, with spending limited to higher education programs, workforce development, and student aid. Crucially, it prohibits using these funds to replace or reduce existing state, federal, or local education funding - ensuring they provide supplemental support only. This directly affects state higher education institutions and workforce programs that rely on these designated funds.

Maddy summaryHB 2260 requires signature gatherers (people collecting signatures for ballot initiatives) to sign a declaration on each petition sheet confirming they verified each signer's identity, address, and that no one was paid to sign. It also mandates matching petitioners' addresses to their voter registration records to prevent fraud. These changes aim to improve signature verification accuracy by ensuring addresses on petitions match registration data, reducing errors in validating signatures. The bill aligns with requirements in other states like Idaho and California and responds to issues where unsigned declarations and missing addresses led to potential signature validation errors.

Maddy summaryHB 2602 establishes protections against immigration enforcement in Washington's early learning centers, schools, health care facilities, and colleges. The bill prohibits these institutions from collecting immigration or citizenship status information from students or patients and requires immigration officers to present a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or court order to enter nonpublic areas like classrooms or patient treatment rooms. It also mandates that facilities designate nonpublic areas and document denials of access to immigration officers. These provisions apply to all Washington residents using these public accommodations, aiming to safeguard privacy and safety during essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 2332 regulates how Washington state and local agencies use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems to protect driver privacy. It requires all agencies using ALPRs to register systems with the Attorney General, limits their use to specific purposes (like checking stolen vehicles or missing persons), and prohibits collecting data near healthcare facilities, schools, or places of worship. The bill mandates detailed audit trails tracking every system access and explicitly bans using ALPRs for immigration enforcement or stopping vehicles based solely on a system match. Agencies must develop policies for ALPR use and obtain independent reasonable suspicion before stopping a vehicle, ensuring privacy rights under state and federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 2373 requires Washington electric utilities serving 25,000+ customers to offer a monthly bill discount program for low-income households by January 1, 2028, with smaller utilities required to provide at least one such program. The bill mandates income-tiered discounts (minimum five tiers) based on third-party assessments, prioritizing households with higher energy burdens, and requires accessible enrollment options via phone, in-person, and online. Utilities must also provide multilingual materials, streamline eligibility, and report participation data to the state department biennially. This directly affects low-income households and all electric utilities in Washington, aiming to reduce energy burden through structured, ongoing financial assistance.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial House resolution (not a policy bill) introduced on January 19, 2026, by multiple Washington State Representatives. It formally recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, legacy of nonviolent activism, and contributions to civil rights, including his role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution expresses the House's commitment to upholding Dr. King's ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity for all. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any specific individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryHB 2137 expands the definition of "uniformed personnel" under Washington state law to include correctional officers working in specific facilities (jails in counties over 70,000 population, correctional facilities under RCW 70.48.095, or detention facilities in counties over 1.5 million population). This change directly affects correctional officers in those facilities by granting them eligibility for interest arbitration - a process where unions and employers negotiate terms like wages and working conditions. The bill amends RCW 41.56.030 to add correctional employees to the existing list of personnel covered under "uniformed personnel," which previously included law enforcement officers, firefighters, and security forces. This is a technical policy change to align correctional officer bargaining rights with other public safety roles.

Maddy summaryWashington State's HB 2233 prohibits retail stores from providing single-use plastic carryout bags made of film plastic (under 10 mils thick) starting January 1, 2021. Instead, stores must offer compliant paper bags containing recycled content or nonwood renewable fiber (like wheat straw), with a pass-through charge for these bags to encourage reusable bag use - exempting customers using state assistance programs. The bill directly affects retail establishments (including grocery stores, farmers markets, and online vendors) and their customers who purchase bags. Its goal is to reduce plastic waste, litter, marine pollution, and resource burdens by shifting to more sustainable bag options.

Maddy summaryHB 2504 prepares Washington for a future legal interstate cannabis market by establishing requirements that would apply once federal law allows interstate cannabis trade. It mandates that cannabis entering Washington from other states or countries must be distributed through state-licensed processors and undergo third-party testing before retail sale. The bill also specifies that Washington cannot accept out-of-state cannabis until federal law changes and the state’s cannabis board authorizes such transactions. This legislation affects licensed cannabis processors and retailers, setting a framework for compliance if and when interstate commerce becomes legal. The bill does not change current state laws but creates a pathway for future implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2518 prohibits vehicle manufacturers from discriminating against dealers in pricing, allocation, or service fees. It bans practices like charging different prices for identical vehicles or parts to different dealers, using unfair promotion plans, or preventing dealers from requesting service fees on certain programs. The law also restricts manufacturers from competing with dealers by owning or operating dealerships, except in limited cases like temporary transitions (up to 2 years), diversity partnerships with capital investment requirements, or heavy-truck dealerships. This bill directly affects Washington-based vehicle manufacturers and their new vehicle dealers by requiring fair treatment under state law.