Rep. Strom Peterson

Maddy summaryHB 1448 establishes statewide rules for local governments adopting ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections. It allows counties, cities, school districts, fire districts, and port districts to use RCV for local offices, requiring ballots to let voters rank candidates in order of preference (with at least five rankings per office) and setting clear counting rules for single-winner (instant runoff) and multi-winner (single transferable vote) contests. The bill mandates that single-winner RCV elections must first hold a traditional primary to narrow candidates to five, while multi-winner contests skip primaries. It also requires local governments to implement RCV within two years of adoption and directs the Secretary of State to create rules for ballot design and vote tabulation by May 2026.

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 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 1716 lowers the maximum number of unspayed or unneutered dogs over six months old a person can own from 50 to 20. It also establishes detailed requirements for owners with more than four such dogs, including minimum enclosure sizes (five times the length and width of the largest dog), two hours of daily exercise, and strict sanitation, ventilation, and safety standards for housing. These rules apply to private breeders and large-scale dog owners but exclude public shelters, non-profit animal groups, veterinarians, pet stores, and other exempted facilities. Violating the law is classified as a gross misdemeanor.

Maddy summaryHB 1423 authorizes cities in Washington State with populations of at least 2,000 to participate in a pilot program using automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras. These cameras would be deployed in designated "vehicle-racing camera enforcement zones" to detect vehicles exceeding maximum permissible sound levels. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission is tasked with overseeing this program and reporting on its implementation and findings to the legislature by January 2028. The section establishing this pilot program is set to expire in July 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 1235 requires Washington counties and cities to submit housing elements and development regulations to the state Department of Commerce for compliance review before they take effect. Jurisdictions must submit applications within 10 days of amendments or by six months after comprehensive plan updates, with the department issuing a final compliance decision within 90 days. The bill establishes a public compliance list showing each local government’s submission status and review outcome, and prohibits denying affordable housing projects without meeting specific conditions, such as having a state compliance determination. This directly affects all local governments required to plan under the Growth Management Act, ensuring their housing plans align with state laws on affordability, environmental standards, and zoning.

Maddy summaryHB 1429 creates a state-funded housing assistance program for youth in Washington's extended foster care system (ages 18-21) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The program provides up to 36 months of rental assistance, capping housing costs at 30% of a youth's income (up to 40% if rent exceeds fair market rent in their area), while allowing them to retain extended foster care support. It requires the state department to partner with qualified housing providers and conduct annual housing status checks. Additionally, the bill mandates transition planning three months before a youth turns 21, including referrals to housing vouchers, benefits, and services to support long-term stability. This addresses a gap where youth often lose foster care support when accessing federal housing programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1107 requires large fashion producers (those with over $100 million in annual gross income) to annually disclose specific environmental information to Washington’s Department of Ecology starting January 1, 2027. It mandates reporting on high-priority chemicals in products, definitions of sustainability claims like "green" or "eco-friendly," disposal methods for unsold inventory, and current environmental initiatives. The bill directly affects major fashion brands, manufacturers, and importers selling products in Washington, aiming to increase transparency about the industry’s environmental footprint. Key provisions include requiring clear definitions of marketing terms and data on waste disposal volumes, with penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2084 seeks to increase state funding for K-12 education, health care, and public safety by modifying certain tax preferences. The bill repeals an existing tax exclusion, making sales of precious metal bullion and monetized bullion subject to state taxes. Additionally, it clarifies that businesses operating self-service storage facilities are subject to the state's business and occupation (B&O) tax for renting or leasing individual storage spaces. These changes aim to generate revenue for the specified public services.

Maddy summaryHB 1108 proposed establishing a legislative task force on housing cost driver analysis in Washington state. This task force would have included legislators, economists, and representatives from various housing sectors, such as developers, landlords, tenants, realtors, and city/county officials. Its main purpose was to research and identify the primary factors contributing to the cost of homeownership and rental housing. The task force was intended to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. However, the Governor vetoed this bill on May 20, 2025.