Rep. Kevin Waters

Maddy summaryHB 1726 requires state agencies, school districts, and municipalities to prioritize purchasing lumber from Washington state (then Oregon, then U.S.) for public works projects costing over $500,000 with state funding covering more than half the cost. The bill mandates this procurement order unless a waiver is granted for reasons like public interest concerns, insufficient local supply, or cost increases exceeding 10%. Waivers require 30 days of public notice and comment, with a published justification. It applies to new bids after enactment and includes a provision ensuring compliance with federal funding requirements. This bill directly affects public construction projects funded significantly by the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1765 exempts email addresses provided by individuals to subscribe to regular communications (like newsletters) from local agencies' public records. It directly affects residents who sign up for updates from city, county, or other local government services. The bill adds these email addresses to existing privacy exemptions in Washington state law, preventing them from being disclosed under public records requests. This change ensures that people who voluntarily provide their email for non-transactional updates cannot have those addresses made publicly available. The policy applies to standard agency communications, not emails used for official transactions or services.

Maddy summaryHB 1348 allows cannabis businesses in Washington to be fully or partially owned by employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), enabling employees to gain ownership stakes. It directly affects cannabis businesses seeking licenses and employees participating in ESOPs by changing who must undergo licensing vetting. The key provision revises licensing rules to require only corporate officers/directors of ESOP-owned businesses to be vetted - employees, ESOP administrators, and trustees are exempt from criminal background checks, residency requirements, and other owner-level screenings. This simplifies the licensing process while maintaining oversight of business control. The bill aims to align cannabis business ownership with other industries that use ESOPs for employee engagement and wealth-building.

Maddy summaryHB 1433 would establish a regulated system in Washington for adults 21+ to access psychedelic substances for therapeutic use under licensed professionals. It directs the Department of Health to license facilitators and service centers, and the Liquor & Cannabis Board to oversee manufacturers and testing, requiring sessions in controlled environments with trained guides. The bill emphasizes reducing costs to improve equity, particularly for historically disadvantaged communities, while explicitly stating it does not require insurance coverage or override federal law. This would create a legal framework for safe, supervised use and research, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1712 amends Washington state law to allow utilities to count electricity from qualified biomass facilities in the Pacific Northwest toward their renewable energy requirements under the Energy Independence Act. The bill defines "qualified biomass energy" as electricity generated from specific organic sources like wood byproducts, agricultural waste, and dedicated energy crops - excluding treated wood or municipal waste - provided the facility began operations before March 31, 1999, and is located in the Pacific Northwest. This change directly affects utilities required to meet renewable portfolio standards, expanding their eligible resource options. By including qualified biomass energy as a valid renewable source, the bill provides utilities with additional compliance pathways for state-mandated renewable energy goals.

Maddy summaryHB 1625 creates a grant program to provide funding for back country search and rescue (SAR) organizations and volunteers in Washington state. The program directly supports groups that respond to emergencies in remote, rugged terrain, where specialized skills and equipment are required to locate and rescue individuals. The bill amends state law to establish this grant mechanism, enabling these organizations to maintain operations and services. This policy change offers concrete financial resources to enhance SAR capabilities in backcountry areas.

Maddy summaryHB 1978 requires election equipment vendors to provide source code for ballot tabulation machines, hardware, and software to county auditors as part of their contracts. County auditors must then make this source code available for public inspection and copying, unless it is legally protected as confidential. The bill directly affects election vendors, county auditors, and the public by mandating transparency in the technology used to count votes. It aims to increase public confidence in election accuracy by allowing anyone to review how vote-counting systems operate, without altering the voting process itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1366 allows owners of military surplus vehicles (like decommissioned military trucks) to operate them on Washington public highways for specific purposes, including parades, veterans' events, car club activities, and exhibitions. The bill requires these vehicles to pass a safety inspection verifying original or equivalent safety equipment (headlamps, brakes, seat belts, etc.), carry liability insurance meeting minimum standards, and not be used for daily commuting. Owners must obtain a special collector license plate and comply with restrictions limiting use to occasional event participation. This modifies existing vehicle laws to create a defined exception for military surplus vehicles while maintaining safety and insurance requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1860 creates a new state program to fund infrastructure projects that improve supply chain efficiency for Washington's ports and tribal governments with port operations. It establishes a dedicated account in the state treasury to provide grants and loans for projects like upgrading transportation facilities, warehouses, and maritime infrastructure. The program requires projects to align with specific goals, including supporting agricultural and industrial product movement, reducing community impacts from freight traffic, and enhancing international trade connections. Funding will be administered by the Department of Commerce in collaboration with port authorities and other stakeholders, with projects needing to be included in existing port freight development plans.

Maddy summaryHB 1369 creates a new "Working forests" special license plate for Washington vehicle owners. The plate requires a $40 initial registration fee and a $30 annual renewal fee. Revenue from these fees will directly support working forests in the state, as specified by the bill's title and description. The plate will display an image representing working forests and is available for purchase by any vehicle owner who chooses to contribute.