Rep. Gloria Mendoza

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 summaryThis is a ceremonial House Resolution (not a bill with policy changes), adopted on January 16, 2026. It formally recognizes Washington's joint operating agencies (JOAs) for their role in developing clean energy infrastructure, including renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as new projects like small modular reactors. The resolution highlights JOAs' contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring affordable energy access, and supporting economic growth in Washington State. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or impose requirements - its sole purpose is to acknowledge these agencies' historical and ongoing work.

Maddy summaryHB 2093 would remove precious metals and bullion from taxable sales under Washington's business and occupation tax code. It specifically excludes "precious metal bullion" (refined gold, silver, platinum, etc.) and "monetized bullion" (coins used as currency) from definitions of taxable "retail" or "wholesale" sales. Businesses selling these items would no longer pay tax on the full sale amount, though tax would still apply to commissions earned. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects dealers and sellers of precious metals.

Maddy summaryHB 2101 exempts services involving live animals, birds, and insects from Washington's retail sales tax. This directly affects businesses like petting zoos, animal shows, and educational programs that provide live animal demonstrations. The bill amends the state tax code to explicitly exclude these services from the definition of "retail sale" under RCW 82.04.050. As a result, businesses offering such services will no longer be required to charge customers sales tax on these specific activities.

Maddy summaryHB 2187 creates a tax credit for Washington employers who provide child care assistance to their employees. It allows businesses to claim a 50% credit against their business and occupation tax for costs paid to registered child care providers, with key limits: a $50,000 annual cap per business and a $5 million statewide annual cap. The credit initially targets small businesses (under 100 full-time employees) and those joining child care consortiums (grouped businesses pooling resources) through 2028, then expands to all qualifying employers starting in 2029. The program expires on January 1, 2033, and requires electronic filing without separate applications.

Maddy summaryHB 2130 repeals specific tax provisions from Senate Bill 5814 (2025 session) that imposed new taxes. It removes sections of Chapter 422, Laws of 2025 (including codified sections 101, 201, 301 and uncodified sections 1, 401-404) that affected taxpayers. The repeal takes effect April 1, 2026, and is declared an emergency to preserve public finances. This bill directly reverses the tax changes enacted by ESSB 5814.

Maddy summaryHB 1920 requires law enforcement in Washington to provide juveniles (under 18) with immediate access to an attorney before questioning or during specific interactions, including custodial interrogations, detentions based on probable cause, or requests for consent to searches. This applies to all law enforcement officers, including school resource officers, and ensures juveniles cannot waive their right to counsel without legal consultation. The bill prohibits using statements obtained without attorney access in court, except in limited exemptions like imminent life threats or trafficking victim situations. It also mandates that any assertion of rights through an attorney must be treated as coming directly from the juvenile. The law aims to protect minors' constitutional rights during police contact by making attorney access mandatory before rights can be waived.

Maddy summaryHB 2010 creates a state grant program to help public water systems in economically distressed communities fix unsafe drinking water infrastructure. Eligible systems must be located in distressed areas and fail to meet current state drinking water standards. The program provides grants covering capital costs for building, repairing, or redesigning water systems, requiring applicants to first secure a planning grant or submit construction documents. Projects will be prioritized based on water quality issues and financial need, with applications due by 2026 and funding requests starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1363 modifies Washington state licensing requirements for child care and early learning providers. It establishes specific staff-to-child ratios (21 children to 1 staff member for preschoolers, 31 to 1 for school-age children) and sets a minimum 34 square feet of indoor space per child. The bill also clarifies that private schools operating early learning programs without state subsidies are exempt from certain state-mandated educational requirements, though they must still meet basic health and safety standards. Additionally, it creates professional development support for providers to meet new training standards, including scholarships and specialized trainings on topics like inclusion and infant care. These changes directly affect licensed child care centers, family providers, and early learning programs operating under state licensing.

Maddy summaryHB 2067 changes Washington state's document recording fee from a tax to a true cost-recovery charge. It requires county auditors to charge no more than $30 per document or their actual $21 cost per document, whichever is lower, instead of higher fees that previously funded unrelated programs. The bill repeals six existing surcharges (like those for historical preservation, mortgage fraud prosecution, and library accounts) that had transformed the fee into a tax. This change takes effect June 30, 2026, directly affecting people recording deeds, mortgages, and other legal documents in Washington counties.