Rep. Kevin Waters

Maddy summaryHB 1406 requires associate development organizations (regional economic development groups) contracting with Washington’s Department of Commerce to submit detailed annual reports tracking employment impact, business services, and funding use. These reports must include metrics like net employment changes, small business outcomes, and regional economic data, all input into a shared web system. The bill establishes performance targets for these organizations, with consequences for failure - including remediation plans and potential one-year funding termination - to ensure accountability. It also adjusts funding allocations, providing urban organizations up to $300,000 annually (90 cents per capita) and rural organizations up to $40,000 plus matching funds. The bill directly affects regional economic development groups receiving state contracts, focusing on measurable outcomes rather than program creation.

Maddy summaryHB 2036 prohibits individuals convicted of violent offenses involving a firearm from earning early release credits under Washington's sentencing laws. It directly affects people serving sentences for violent crimes where a firearm was used or involved, as defined by existing law. The bill amends RCW 9.94A.729 to explicitly deny all "good time credits or earned release time" for sentences tied to such offenses. This change modifies current early release eligibility rules, ensuring offenders convicted of firearm-related violent crimes cannot reduce their sentences through earned credits. The policy focuses on restricting sentence reductions for specific high-risk offenses, not altering general sentencing guidelines.

Maddy summaryHB 1746 adjusts how Washington state provides supplemental funding to public schools based on local property tax levies. It calculates state assistance by comparing a school district's actual levy rate (per $1,000 assessed value) to a $1.50 threshold, with full funding for districts meeting or exceeding that rate. The bill extends this formula to tribal schools (starting 2022) and charter schools (starting 2025), capping per-student assistance at $2,000 (adjusted for inflation) based on prior-year levy data. This funding is separate from the state's basic education program and directly affects school districts, tribal education compact schools, and charter schools that rely on local levies.

Maddy summaryHB 1559 updates Washington state law to authorize tolls on the existing and replacement Interstate 5 bridges crossing the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon, while explicitly excluding the Washington portion of Interstate 205 from tolling. It clarifies that toll revenue from these bridges must be spent only on designated transportation projects under state law. The bill repeals outdated provisions related to previous agreements about the Columbia River crossing project and the I-5 bridge replacement, streamlining the legal framework for toll collection on this specific corridor. This affects drivers using the I-5 bridges and ensures toll funds are directed to eligible transportation uses.

Maddy summaryHB 1624 directs Washington's Department of Revenue to study the state's current alcohol tax and fee system, focusing on taxes based on sales price, volume, or alcohol content. The study will analyze tax types, historical rates, 25 years of sales and revenue data (by product category), and comparisons with other states and countries on taxation methods. The report must be submitted to the legislature by December 31, 2025, and does not change existing tax policies. This study affects state agencies (Department of Revenue and Liquor Board) responsible for data collection and reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 1555 changes how Washington state pays nursing homes for services starting July 1, 2025. It replaces the current system with a new three-part payment structure: direct care (covering staffing and therapy), indirect care (administrative and maintenance costs), and capital (facility costs). Payment rates will be adjusted annually based on the most recent cost data, with specific caps limiting how much rates can increase compared to previous years (e.g., a 142% cap for 2025). The bill directly affects nursing home providers receiving state Medicaid payments across Washington, aiming to better align payments with actual operating costs while maintaining minimum staffing standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1323 makes it a crime to intentionally block state highways with three or more people without a permit, particularly when the action creates safety risks like impeding ambulances or causing injury. Organizers face class C felony charges with a minimum 30-day jail sentence and $5,000 fine (non-reducible below $1,000), while participants could face serious misdemeanor penalties. The law specifically targets dangerous blockades that endanger public safety or obstruct emergency response, not peaceful protests. It requires courts to impose minimum penalties for violations, including prior offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1585 requires Washington counties to verify that registered voters have proof of U.S. citizenship by July 1, 2025. It directs county election offices to check if voters have submitted acceptable documentation (like a passport, naturalization certificate, or specific certified U.S. birth certificate) and to send notices if they lack it. Voters without proof face registration cancellation 14 days before the 2025 general election unless they provide documentation. The law expires January 1, 2027, and explicitly rejects birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued before July 2010 and Washington wallet-sized birth registrations as valid proof.

Maddy summaryHB 1362 creates a pilot program allowing courts in Washington to divert eligible individuals with gambling addiction from traditional sentencing. It requires courts to hold hearings before sentencing to determine if a crime was committed due to gambling addiction, and if so, to place the person in a treatment program supervised by mental health professionals. The program mandates restitution payments, regular progress reports, and referrals to community resources, with costs covered by the participant or through community service if they cannot pay. It excludes individuals convicted of violent crimes (like assault or domestic violence) or with prior convictions for similar offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1525 exempts sales and use tax on motor vehicles purchased by federally recognized tribes or enrolled tribal members in Washington State. It requires sellers to verify tribal membership using a tribal card, enrollment certificate, or official letter, but does not mandate delivery within Indian country. The exemption applies to all such vehicle purchases and expires January 1, 2037, with a provision to potentially extend it if vehicle sales to tribal members increase by 20% by 2034. This policy change directly affects tribal members and tribes purchasing vehicles in Washington, removing a sales tax burden for these transactions.