Rep. John Ley

Maddy summaryHB 1637 requires Washington public schools to implement nonfirearm safety measures, directly affecting all public schools and school districts in the state. Key provisions include creating a public school safety dashboard to track and rate incidents by severity (e.g., bullying, violence), establishing security grants for physical improvements like keycard access and panic buttons, and mandating a full-time school resource officer at every public school. The bill also requires an evaluation of prior school safety reforms enacted in 2019. These changes aim to improve transparency, fund physical security upgrades, and ensure consistent safety staffing to address reported safety concerns among students and staff.

Maddy summaryHB 1221 changes how Washington's state of emergency declarations end. It requires that any emergency proclamation automatically terminate 60 days after the governor signs it unless the legislature passes a concurrent resolution extending it. If the legislature isn't in session, only the top four legislative leaders (senate majority/minority leaders and house speaker/minority leader) can temporarily extend the emergency for up to 60 days until the legislature acts. The bill also prevents the governor from redeclaring the same emergency after it's terminated without legislative approval. This directly affects governors' emergency powers and requires legislative action to maintain long-term emergency declarations.

Maddy summaryHB 1656 allows Washington electrical companies to recover wildfire-related costs through special bonds (securitization) instead of immediate rate increases. If approved by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, companies could spread these costs over time, potentially lowering long-term rates for customers. The bill defines eligible costs as those from disasters like wildfires (excluding fines or penalties) and includes safeguards to prevent state debt or impairment of customer rates. This policy aims to stabilize utility rates while covering emergency expenses tied to climate events.

Maddy summaryHB 2076 creates the Washington Department of Government Efficiency (WADOGE) to review state agency operations and identify inefficient or unnecessary policies, rules, and expenditures. Each state agency must form a team by March 2026 to assess its rules and statutes, reporting obsolete or unnecessary items to WADOGE for analysis. WADOGE will then compile recommendations and submit a final report to the legislature by January 2028, aiming to improve government efficiency and ensure agencies operate within their statutory authority. This bill directly affects all state agencies through mandatory reviews and reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1851 prohibits public colleges and universities in Washington from using state funds or tuition/fee revenue to repair property damaged during demonstrations, riots, or other disruptive activities that disrupt campus operations. The bill applies directly to public higher education institutions that permit such events causing property destruction. Key provisions require institutions to cover repair costs themselves using non-state, non-tuition funds, rather than relying on public or student-generated revenue. This policy change specifically targets funding sources for repairs, without restricting protest activities themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 1678 imposes a 10-cent fee per gallon on municipal wastewater treatment plants and combined sewer systems discharging untreated sewage into Puget Sound or connected waterways. The funds collected will be deposited into a dedicated account to provide grants for municipalities to upgrade infrastructure that removes excess nutrients from discharges. This aims to improve water quality by reducing nutrient pollution that harms salmon habitats and causes low-oxygen conditions in Puget Sound. The bill directly affects municipal wastewater systems within the Puget Sound watershed and requires annual reporting on untreated sewage discharges.

Maddy summaryHB 1783 allows Washington law enforcement officers to receive small gifts of appreciation (up to $25 in value) for speaking in specific college and technical school courses outside their official duties. The bill directly affects certified law enforcement officers and institutions offering criminal justice, police science, or forensic-related programs, aiming to strengthen community relationships and inspire future recruits. Key provisions permit officers to share real-world expertise in courses like police science or forensic technology, with gifts only allowed when presentations occur outside work hours and comply with state ethics rules. The bill responds to a 2024 workforce assessment highlighting challenges in connecting law enforcement with educational programs. It creates a limited exception to general rules prohibiting state employees from accepting gifts, focusing on educational engagement rather than compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 1255 requires counties and cities to adopt local ordinances banning camping on public property within 500 feet of schools, parks, courthouses, and other specified areas (like zones with recent violent incidents or water contamination risks) by May 2027. Jurisdictions that adopt these ordinances become eligible for state funding to support encampment removal efforts, while non-compliant areas face annual funding reductions. The bill defines "camp" broadly to include tents, shelters, and related equipment, excluding designated recreational camping areas. Compliance requires annual reports and certifications to the Department of Commerce, with funding tied directly to adherence to the ordinance requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1708 requires Washington cities and counties to use a new state-provided dashboard tool to publicly report specific data on homelessness efforts. The dashboard must display annual metrics including housing unit gaps (needed vs. permitted), spending on housing assistance, households served, addiction treatment access, crime rates near encampments, and encampment locations - especially near schools. The Department of Commerce will contract for the application, and the Municipal Research Center will compile the data for public posting on its website. This policy directly affects all local governments by mandating standardized reporting on homelessness programs, not by providing new funding or services.

Maddy summaryHB 1324 redirects revenues from Washington's Climate Commitment Act (CCA) auction system to fund major state transportation projects, including the I-5 Columbia River bridge replacement and the US 395 North Spokane corridor. The bill amends existing law to require that CCA auction proceeds - previously restricted from road projects - be allocated specifically to highway and bridge infrastructure, rather than solely to climate or environmental programs. Key provisions mandate that funds support projects improving freight movement (like the Gateway freight project) and reducing congestion, which the bill states contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions. This reallocation changes how CCA revenue is spent but does not alter the underlying auction system or funding amounts.