Rep. Steve Bergquist

Maddy summaryHB 1338 revises Washington state's formula for distributing basic education funding to school districts. It establishes specific per-pupil funding levels based on "prototypical" school models (e.g., 600 students for high schools, 432 for middle schools, 400 for elementary schools), setting minimum class size requirements (like 17 students per teacher in K-3) and staff ratios for roles including teachers, librarians, paraeducators, and support staff. The bill mandates transparency by requiring the superintendent to publish per-pupil funding data online and school districts to link to it on their websites. This directly affects all public school districts in Washington, determining how state funds are allocated for core instructional programs and operational costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1257 extends special education services for students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which they turn 22, instead of ending at age 21. This change directly affects students with disabilities aged 16-22 who require transition planning to move from school to postsecondary life. The bill amends state education statutes to align with a federal court ruling finding Washington’s prior policy violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It also requires state agencies to update transition planning by October 2026, ensuring services supplement rather than replace other support programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1532 allows specific cities (with populations over 120,000, located in high-population counties, and where industrial/warehousing makes up over 25% of property valuation) to add a 0.3% sales tax to offset fiscal challenges caused by current sales tax laws. This supplemental tax, collected on taxable transactions within the city, must fund community improvements like infrastructure or services to boost local vitality. Cities using this authority must hold public meetings, maintain a budget transparency webpage, and survey residents before each biennial budget. The bill replaces an expiring state funding program set to end in July 2026.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1349 concerns how members of certain public pension systems, such as law enforcement and firefighters, can earn or purchase service credit for authorized leaves of absence. It clarifies that members on paid leave continue to receive credit and allows members on unpaid leave, including part-time leave for law enforcement, to purchase up to two years of service credit by making required contributions within specific timeframes. The bill also details provisions for members who take leave for uniformed military service, enabling them to receive up to five years of service credit, with specific conditions for contributions or proof of wartime service, and extends these provisions to surviving spouses or children of members who die in service.

Maddy summaryHB 1111 allows individuals convicted of crimes before age 18 to petition the indeterminate sentence review board for early release after turning 24, provided they have no recent convictions or serious infractions. The bill requires a department assessment 5 years before eligibility, a dangerousness evaluation within 180 days of petition, and sets conditions for release, including victim input and potential rental assistance. It limits annual petitions to 70, prioritizing those under 25 or recently transferred from juvenile custody, and expires July 2035. The policy aims to align with brain development science by creating rehabilitation incentives for youth offenders.

Maddy summaryHB 1032 lowers the voter approval threshold for school district bond measures in Washington. It changes the requirement from a three-fifths (60%) majority to a simple majority (50%+1) of votes cast in school district elections on bond issues. This directly affects all Washington school districts seeking to borrow funds for capital projects like building repairs or new facilities. The bill amends existing laws (RCW 28A.535.020, 28A.535.050, and 39.36.020) to reflect this voting change, while keeping the overall debt limit at 2.5% of taxable property value.

Maddy summaryHB 1310 eliminates the enrollment cap on students eligible for state special education funding in Washington, directly affecting all public school districts and students with disabilities. The bill increases funding multipliers for districts serving students with disabilities in inclusive settings (80%+ time in general education), raising the multiplier from 1.12 to 1.5289 for those students, while lowering it to 1.447 for less inclusive placements. It also requires the state superintendent to monitor racial disproportionality in special education identification and provide technical assistance to districts. These changes aim to ensure equitable state funding without requiring local district contributions and support inclusive educational practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1527 prevents settlement offers in health care claims from expiring before mandatory mediation occurs. It requires that any settlement demand made by a patient or health care provider before mediation must remain valid until the parties attend the mediation session. This applies to cases where mediation is legally required under Washington law, affecting both patients seeking compensation and health care providers facing claims. The law aims to encourage earlier resolutions by ensuring settlement offers stay open during the mediation process, rather than lapsing before parties meet.

Maddy summaryHB 1865 expands Washington state's Working Connections Child Care program to specifically include employees of small businesses (defined as entities with 50 or fewer employees). It gradually increases income eligibility thresholds: households earning up to 75% of state median income become eligible starting July 2029, and up to 85% starting July 2031 (if funding is available). The bill also extends eligibility to parents enrolled in state-registered apprenticeship programs for the first 12 months of their participation. These changes aim to make child care benefits more accessible for low- and middle-income working families in small businesses and apprenticeships.

Maddy summaryHB 1623 prohibits employers from deducting credit card processing fees from employee tips. It requires that when customers pay tips via credit card, employees receive the full amount indicated on the credit card slip, without any reduction for transaction fees charged by the credit card company. This law directly affects tipped workers in Washington, such as servers and bartenders, and applies to all employers accepting credit card tips. The bill amends state law to ensure tips paid by credit card are paid in full to employees, eliminating employer deductions for processing costs.