Rep. Jim Walsh

Maddy summaryHB 1176 allows 17-year-olds in Washington to consent to specific health services without parental permission. It expands existing rights for minors aged 17 and older to seek treatment for sexually transmitted infections/HIV, mental health care, and substance use disorders without parental consent. Healthcare facilities must notify parents in most cases but may withhold notification if they believe it would harm the minor, while still checking missing persons databases. The bill directly affects 17-year-olds seeking these services and requires healthcare providers to follow new consent and notification procedures.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2080 aims to prevent the Washington state legislature from enacting taxes that specifically target a single individual, business, or entity. The bill prohibits the assessment of any new excise tax if it is intended to, or has the effect of, applying only to one specific individual, business, or a group of individuals affiliated with a singular business. This measure would ensure that state tax policy provides for common welfare rather than being used to target particular entities. It affects the state's ability to levy highly specific taxes and protects individual businesses from such targeted taxation.

Maddy summaryHB 2030 directs Washington's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to study the financial oversight of the interstate bridge replacement project by December 1, 2027. The study will examine how project funds were reported and spent since 2019, including cost overruns, payment processes, forecasting accuracy, and Washington State Department of Transportation's internal controls. It will compare practices against industry benchmarks and similar projects to assess transparency and accountability. The bill does not change funding or policy - it only mandates a review to inform future legislative decisions. The committee must submit findings to lawmakers by the deadline, and the requirement expires December 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1118 changes Washington's process for restoring firearm rights to individuals previously banned from owning guns. It allows people with certain past convictions (like nonviolent misdemeanors or specific felonies) to petition a court for restored rights after meeting strict requirements, including 3-5 years of clean records and completing all court-ordered obligations. The bill adds procedural steps, such as requiring courts to verify eligibility with law enforcement, notifying victims of the petition, and using standardized court forms starting in 2024. It does not apply to those convicted of violent felonies, sex offenses, or crimes with 20+ year sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 1699 (Defending equity in interscholastic sports) requires Washington public school districts to verify a student’s biological sex through a healthcare provider’s statement (based on reproductive anatomy, genetics, or testosterone levels) before allowing biologically male students to participate in female-identified sports. It permits schools to prohibit biologically male students from competing in sports with separate male/female classifications, while mandating equal resources (equipment, facilities, coaching, etc.) for all gender-segregated teams. The bill amends existing laws (RCW 28A.600.200 and 28A.640.020) to align with these provisions and requires the superintendent to develop guidelines eliminating sex discrimination in school activities. It directly affects public school students, athletic programs, and district policies governing interscholastic sports participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington's higher education office to track and publicly share the exact state financial aid amounts awarded to each student using the Washington Application for State Financial Aid, starting with the 2025-26 academic year. By December 1, 2026, the office must annually report to the legislature on total applicants, recipients, and total aid disbursed per higher education institution. This data will be published online to increase transparency about how state financial aid is distributed. The bill directly affects students receiving state aid through the Washington Application and all public colleges/universities in Washington.

Maddy summaryHB 2017 requires Washington State School Directors' Association to provide free governance training to all school directors, eliminating cost barriers. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the training must also be offered virtually, increasing accessibility. The training covers cultural competency, diversity, equity, inclusion, tribal government relationships, multicultural education, and English language acquisition principles. This directly affects school directors who must complete the training to meet existing requirements under RCW 28A.343.100.

Maddy summaryHB 1285 establishes financial education instruction as a graduation requirement for public high school students in Washington state. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, all high schools must provide instruction in the state financial education learning standards. Starting with the graduating class of 2031, students will be required to meet these standards to graduate. The bill also tasks the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with making instructional materials available and outlines monitoring responsibilities for the State Board of Education.

Maddy summaryHB 1872 expands exemptions from certain firearm restrictions for specific groups in Washington State. It exempts current and retired peace officers, military personnel, veterans, shooting sports instructors, and concealed pistol license holders from background check waiting periods after they’ve already passed background checks. The bill also creates new exemptions for these groups regarding restrictions on "excess capacity magazines" and "assault weapons" under existing law. These changes directly affect the named groups by reducing regulatory barriers for firearm access and use while maintaining existing background checks. The bill does not change the definition of "assault weapon" but clarifies exemptions for authorized individuals under the new provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1745 requires Washington counties to conduct mandatory manual audits of election results after each election. It mandates that counties select an independent auditor through a joint process by Democratic and Republican party leaders (using a coin toss if they disagree), and audit at least 5% of ballots across randomly selected precincts through hand-counting physical ballots. The audit must compare machine results to manual counts, allow public observers throughout the process, and require a December 31 report to the legislature. This applies to all counties for the 2024 general election and future elections.