Rep. Dave Paul

Maddy summaryHB 1836 establishes a state grant program to support local news journalism in Washington. It provides funding to eligible news organizations (including digital platforms meeting specific criteria) that employ at least three journalists per quarter in underserved communities, with grants proportional to reported journalist hours. The program aims to sustain local news coverage of civic affairs by requiring grantees to submit biennial progress reports. This directly affects struggling local news outlets facing staff declines (44% over 10 years) and ethnic media providers, as defined in the bill. The Washington Department of Commerce administers the program, collaborating with the Employment Security Department to verify journalist hours.

Maddy summaryHB 1280 amends Washington's school funding formula to require a 23:1 student-to-teacher ratio for career and technical education (CTE) programs in middle and high schools. This specifically affects sixth-grade students in middle school CTE programs by establishing a funding standard for class sizes. School districts receiving state basic education funds must allocate resources to maintain this ratio for CTE instruction. The bill modifies existing funding rules under RCW 28A.150.260 to include CTE class size requirements in the allocation formula. It does not mandate new CTE programs but sets parameters for funding existing or expanded middle school CTE offerings.

Maddy summaryHB 1004 increases Washington State's personal property tax exemption from $15,000 to $50,000 for individual taxpayers. It directly affects residents owning personal property (like furniture, jewelry, or equipment) valued under $50,000, excluding private vehicles and mobile homes. To claim the exemption, taxpayers must attest under penalty of perjury that their total personal property value is below $50,000 and they are claiming only one exemption statewide. The bill amends existing tax code sections to reflect this change and requires county assessors to verify claims. The exemption would take effect January 1, 2026, contingent on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment.

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 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 1448 establishes statewide rules for local governments adopting ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections. It allows counties, cities, school districts, fire districts, and port districts to use RCV for local offices, requiring ballots to let voters rank candidates in order of preference (with at least five rankings per office) and setting clear counting rules for single-winner (instant runoff) and multi-winner (single transferable vote) contests. The bill mandates that single-winner RCV elections must first hold a traditional primary to narrow candidates to five, while multi-winner contests skip primaries. It also requires local governments to implement RCV within two years of adoption and directs the Secretary of State to create rules for ballot design and vote tabulation by May 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1312 changes how Washington state retirement benefits are handled when a retiree or beneficiary dies mid-month. Currently, if someone dies on the 25th of a 30-day month, their estate must repay five days of benefits already received that month. The bill requires the Department of Retirement Systems to pay benefits through the end of the death month (e.g., until the 30th), with survivor benefits starting the first day of the next month. This applies only to future cases starting January 1, 2026, and does not affect past repayments made before that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1108 proposed establishing a legislative task force on housing cost driver analysis in Washington state. This task force would have included legislators, economists, and representatives from various housing sectors, such as developers, landlords, tenants, realtors, and city/county officials. Its main purpose was to research and identify the primary factors contributing to the cost of homeownership and rental housing. The task force was intended to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. However, the Governor vetoed this bill on May 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1902 establishes a temporary work group to develop recommendations for making the permitting process for transportation projects more efficient. This group will involve various state agencies, local government representatives, industry groups, and tribal representatives. The work group's main goal is to identify ways to reduce project costs and completion times by aligning permitting requirements and processes, while ensuring environmental and regulatory protections are maintained. The group must submit an interim report by January 1, 2026, and a final report, including any legislative recommendations, by November 1, 2026, after which the group will expire.