Rep. Strom Peterson

Maddy summaryHB 2662 requires Washington's state investment board to integrate environmental, social, and governance principles into managing public retirement and trust funds. It prohibits investments in companies involved in forced labor, coal production, tobacco manufacturing, severe environmental harm, or violations of international humanitarian law, while still prioritizing strong financial returns. The board must annually report on how these principles guide investment decisions and develop proxy voting guidelines to address related risks. This directly affects the board’s management of billions in state funds, including retirement accounts and public trust assets.

Maddy summaryHB 2656 creates a public registry for all detention facilities in Washington, requiring them to report specific details like location, capacity, daily occupancy, and contact information. It applies to facilities holding people against their will for legal reasons (e.g., pre-trial, sentencing), excluding juvenile facilities, licensed child care agencies, mental health hospitals, and home detention settings. Facilities must register annually starting January 1, 2027, with failure to comply risking civil penalties up to $1,000 per day. The registry aims to increase transparency about detention conditions while establishing enforcement procedures for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 2122 requires Washington hospitals to offer annual flu vaccinations to two specific patient groups: adults 65 or older, and any patient (regardless of age) with a chronic health condition. This applies each year from October 1 to March 1, beginning July 1, 2027, unless the vaccine is unavailable at the hospital or the immunization is medically unsafe for the patient. Hospitals are exempt during declared state emergencies or disasters, and critical access hospitals certified under federal law are also excluded. The law focuses on expanding access to flu shots for high-risk patients during peak flu season through a straightforward hospital offering requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2622 requires arbitrators to consider specific factors when resolving wage, hour, and working condition disputes for Washington Department of Corrections employees (excluding confidential staff and internal auditors) through interest arbitration. Key provisions mandate that arbitrators evaluate the department’s financial ability to pay, compare wages/hours/conditions to similar correctional workers in other western U.S. state employers and Washington local governments, assess retention needs, and review current total compensation (including benefits and paid time off). This law aims to standardize arbitration outcomes by focusing on regional pay benchmarks and operational realities. The bill amends existing law (RCW 41.80.200) to formalize these comparison requirements during dispute resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 2614 legalizes home cultivation of cannabis for Washington residents aged 21 or older, permitting up to six plants per person on their premises with a maximum of 15 plants total per housing unit. It sets specific possession limits (e.g., no more than half an ounce of useable cannabis) and requires cultivation to remain non-visible from public view to avoid penalties. Violations like exceeding plant limits or visible cultivation would result in civil penalties, not criminal charges. The bill does not affect medical cannabis programs or commercial cannabis businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 2173 prohibits Washington law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings (like balaclavas or ski masks) during routine public interactions, while allowing exceptions for active undercover operations and protective gear used by specialized units like SWAT teams. The bill defines "facial covering" to exclude medical masks, helmets, and clear face shields. It also establishes that individuals detained in violation can sue officers for financial compensation, attorney fees, or other court-ordered remedies. The law applies to all "peace officers" as defined under state law during standard public duties.

Maddy summaryHB 2100 imposes a tax on large Washington companies for payroll expenses exceeding $125,000 per employee (mirroring the federal Medicare surtax threshold), effective July 2026. The tax revenue will fund the "Well Washington Fund," with 51% of annual revenues dedicated to supporting health care (including Medicaid), higher education, food assistance (SNAP), and energy/housing programs. The bill creates an oversight board of 25 legislative members to manage fund allocations, ensuring resources target services most impacted by federal budget cuts. This policy directly affects large operating companies with significant payroll, aiming to offset projected losses in state services from federal legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 2260 requires signature gatherers (people collecting signatures for ballot initiatives) to sign a declaration on each petition sheet confirming they verified each signer's identity, address, and that no one was paid to sign. It also mandates matching petitioners' addresses to their voter registration records to prevent fraud. These changes aim to improve signature verification accuracy by ensuring addresses on petitions match registration data, reducing errors in validating signatures. The bill aligns with requirements in other states like Idaho and California and responds to issues where unsigned declarations and missing addresses led to potential signature validation errors.

Maddy summaryHB 2259 requires initiative and referendum proponents to gather at least 1,000 valid signatures from Washington voters *before* filing a measure with the secretary of state, aiming to prevent duplicate filings and ensure minimum public support. It also bans paying signature gatherers based on the number of signatures collected - a practice linked to documented fraud in past measures like 2008’s Initiative 985 and 2012’s Initiative 1185. The bill mandates these changes to protect ballot integrity, citing evidence that per-signature compensation incentivizes forged or duplicate signatures. These provisions apply directly to ballot measure sponsors, circulators, and state offices processing petitions, aligning with similar laws in Oregon and Montana.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial House resolution (not a policy bill) introduced on January 19, 2026, by multiple Washington State Representatives. It formally recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, legacy of nonviolent activism, and contributions to civil rights, including his role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution expresses the House's commitment to upholding Dr. King's ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity for all. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any specific individuals or groups.