Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self

Maddy summaryHB 1507 prohibits health care providers in Washington from including nondisclosure or nondisparagement clauses in agreements that prevent patients from discussing potential medical malpractice, torts, or crimes related to their care. It makes such clauses void and unenforceable, directly affecting patients who might otherwise be silenced about alleged errors by providers. The bill allows providers to still protect non-malpractice confidential information and requires written notice to patients about invalid clauses in past agreements. Violations carry $10,000 in damages plus legal fees, and the law applies retroactively to agreements signed before its effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1124 creates a new prescribing psychologist certification in Washington state, allowing licensed psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications after meeting specific training requirements. It directly affects psychologists who complete an additional master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology, 500 hours of supervised prescribing fellowship, and pass a national exam. Key provisions require applicants to hold a doctorate in psychology, complete biomedical coursework, and gain supervised clinical experience in physical assessments and medication management. The bill aims to expand mental health access by addressing provider shortages, as noted in the legislature's findings that over half of Washington residents with mental health conditions did not receive treatment last year.

Maddy summaryHB 1773 creates a state-administered wage replacement program for Washington workers excluded from traditional unemployment insurance, such as gig workers, domestic workers, and others not covered by standard UI. It directly affects eligible residents who meet specific Washington residency requirements (e.g., utility bills, school enrollment, or state ID) and experienced job loss. Key provisions include establishing a dedicated wage replacement account for funding payments, requiring the state to contract a third-party administrator to process applications and disburse funds, and forming an advisory committee with worker, immigrant, and employer representation. The program aims to provide financial support during unemployment for this excluded group, with implementation required by July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1651 establishes formal frameworks for teacher residency and apprenticeship programs in Washington state. It defines a teacher residency as a preparation model integrating a full year of collaborative classroom teaching with academic coursework, requiring partnerships between schools and approved teacher preparation programs. Residents must receive at least 900 hours of clinical practice, and both residents and their preservice mentors receive funding or stipends. The bill also defines teacher apprenticeships as programs providing 2,000 hours of on-the-job mentored teaching experience, approved by both the state apprenticeship and training council and the professional educator standards board. These programs aim to provide structured, hands-on training for aspiring teachers.

Maddy summaryHB 1308 enhances the rights of employees and recent former employees in Washington state to access their own personnel records. It requires most employers to provide copies of personnel files, which explicitly include records like job applications, performance evaluations, and payroll, within 21 calendar days of a request at no cost. The bill also allows employees to petition for the removal of irrelevant information and to add rebuttals to their files. To ensure compliance, it establishes a private cause of action for violations, enabling individuals to sue employers for statutory damages ranging from $250 to $1,000, along with attorney's fees.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1079 permits school districts with online programs to offer remote testing options for statewide assessments to their students, starting in the 2027-28 school year. This measure aims to reduce travel burdens and costs for students and families enrolled in online education. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is required to develop comprehensive policies by April 1, 2027, to ensure the security and integrity of these remote tests. These policies will address requirements for testing personnel, student-to-proctor ratios, remote testing environments, device specifications, and parental consent.

Maddy summarySubstitute House Bill 1232 amends existing Washington state laws concerning private detention facilities. The bill modifies the definition of a "private detention facility" to include any private, nongovernmental entity, removing the previous restriction to only for-profit entities. It revises the specific operational standards that these facilities must meet for detained persons. The new provisions require a safe and clean environment, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, adequate utilities like heating and hot water, and established maintenance and housekeeping policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1173 clarifies the wage payment requirements for "skilled journeypersons" working in facilities subject to specific workforce regulations. The bill mandates that these journeypersons must be paid at a rate at least commensurate with typical wages for their occupation in the local geographic area. This includes a minimum hourly rate set at the seventy-fifth percentile of occupational employment statistics for the relevant occupation and area. Additionally, workers in apprenticeable occupations who do not meet the definitions of registered apprentice or skilled journeyperson are to be considered skilled journeypersons for the purpose of their wage entitlement. The act will become effective on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1217 aims to improve housing stability for tenants in Washington state, applying to those under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. It limits combined rent and fee increases to no more than seven percent within any 12-month period after the initial year of a tenancy, though some exemptions may apply. The bill also requires landlords to provide notice for increases, places limits on various fees and deposits, and allows tenants to terminate their lease if an increase is unlawful. Additionally, it establishes a landlord resource center and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce its provisions, providing specific remedies for tenants in cases of violation.

Maddy summaryHB 1012 explicitly authorizes the Washington State Women's Commission to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources. This bill amends current law to empower the commission to actively seek and accept financial contributions. These funds are designated for the commission's projects and functions that are not funded by the legislature. The commission's executive director is required to report any private funds received to the office of financial management.