Rep. Beth Doglio

Maddy summaryHB 1513 establishes specific protections for Washington's Seashore Conservation Area, which includes state-owned coastal lands between Cape Disappointment and Leadbetter Point, and other defined zones. The bill mandates that 40% of beach areas under recreation management plans must be reserved for pedestrian use year-round, with motorized vehicle access restricted from April 15 to Labor Day. It also requires special pedestrian-only zones near salmon-bearing streams during spawning season, after consultation with wildlife officials. Local governments may adopt stricter rules, and management plans must consider factors like public safety, habitat protection, and economic impacts. The bill directly affects state parks management, local communities, and beach users through these access and conservation requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1601 allows crime victims in Washington to deduct capital gains losses directly tied to certain crimes from their state taxes. Specifically, it creates a new tax deduction for victims who lost monetary or capital assets due to criminal acts described in Washington statutes (chapters 9.35, 9.38, 9.45, 9A.60, or 9A.90), where the crime involved inducing the sale of a capital asset. To claim the deduction, victims must provide police reports or similar documentation verifying the loss. This provision applies retroactively and prospectively, offering a concrete tax relief mechanism for victims of qualifying crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 1836 establishes a state grant program to support local news journalism in Washington. It provides funding to eligible news organizations (including digital platforms meeting specific criteria) that employ at least three journalists per quarter in underserved communities, with grants proportional to reported journalist hours. The program aims to sustain local news coverage of civic affairs by requiring grantees to submit biennial progress reports. This directly affects struggling local news outlets facing staff declines (44% over 10 years) and ethnic media providers, as defined in the bill. The Washington Department of Commerce administers the program, collaborating with the Employment Security Department to verify journalist hours.

Maddy summaryHB 1517 imposes a $2 tax on the retail sale of smart wireless devices (like smartphones, tablets, and laptops) priced over $250. The revenue collected will fund Washington's digital equity programs, specifically targeting underserved communities. This includes improving internet access, providing devices, and offering digital skills training for rural residents, seniors, veterans, low-income households, and others facing connectivity barriers. The tax applies to sellers who collect it from buyers at the point of sale, with funds deposited into a dedicated state digital equity account. The bill aims to address systemic gaps in digital access identified through legislative findings.

Maddy summaryHB 1657 establishes the "Washington 13 Free Guarantee," providing eligible Washington residents up to 45 tuition-free credits at state technical colleges beginning in 2027-28. It directly affects high school graduates from Washington state (or those earning equivalency in the same or prior year) without an associate's degree who qualify for financial aid. The program covers the tuition difference after applying existing gift aid (like Pell Grants or state scholarships), requiring students to enroll part-time in eligible programs and maintain academic progress. Technical colleges must also assign staff to support participants with wraparound services to help them complete their programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1746 adjusts how Washington state provides supplemental funding to public schools based on local property tax levies. It calculates state assistance by comparing a school district's actual levy rate (per $1,000 assessed value) to a $1.50 threshold, with full funding for districts meeting or exceeding that rate. The bill extends this formula to tribal schools (starting 2022) and charter schools (starting 2025), capping per-student assistance at $2,000 (adjusted for inflation) based on prior-year levy data. This funding is separate from the state's basic education program and directly affects school districts, tribal education compact schools, and charter schools that rely on local levies.

Maddy summaryHB 1425 requires Washington health insurance plans (including Medicaid) to cover genetic testing that helps match patients with effective mental health medications, starting January 1, 2026. Insurers cannot require prior authorization or force patients to try ineffective medications first. Coverage must include tests approved by the FDA or supported by clinical guidelines and research evidence. This applies specifically to psychotropic medications prescribed for conditions like depression, aiming to reduce the trial-and-error process that leaves many patients without relief.

Maddy summaryHB 1610 amends current law to make "critical energy infrastructure information" exempt from public disclosure requests. This means that state agencies will not release specific details about energy systems and assets through public records requests. The bill defines "critical energy infrastructure" as systems whose incapacity could threaten public health, safety, and welfare by disrupting energy supply. "Critical energy infrastructure information" includes records about actual or potential interference with these systems, going beyond general location or publicly available data.

Maddy summaryHB 2045 creates a new 1% tax on businesses with over $250 million in annual revenue in Washington starting January 2026, targeting large corporations. It also increases the tax rate for financial institutions from 1.2% to 1.9% after July 2025. The bill exempts manufacturers, farmers, and certain income types from the new tax. These changes aim to fund K-12 education, public safety, health care, and basic needs programs, as stated in the legislative findings.

Maddy summaryHB 1317 modifies sentencing guidelines for individuals who committed crimes before turning 21 but were tried as adults. The bill amends RCW 9.94A.510 and 9.94A.540 to create different sentencing standards for this group, particularly changing minimum terms for aggravated first-degree murder committed by those under 21. It also adjusts eligibility for early release programs and community custody by removing certain restrictions that previously applied to this group. This legislation would directly affect people currently serving long sentences for offenses committed before age 21.