Rep. Greg Nance

Maddy summaryHB 2480 requires cities and counties with populations over 30,000 to allow residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones, prohibiting local governments from banning homes in these areas. It removes requirements that residential projects must include ground-floor commercial space or mixed-use as a condition for permits. Exceptions include industrial zones, areas within 3,200 feet of oil/gas refineries, historic preservation sites, and certain waterfront or critical areas. The law would override conflicting local zoning rules one year after enactment, applying to all affected jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2573 requires supermarkets, full-service grocery stores, and pharmacies to provide advance notice of closures or major operational changes to local governments and the public. Specifically, these businesses must give six months' notice for general areas and one year's notice in "overburdened communities" (defined under Chapter 70A.02 RCW), including posting notices in primary languages spoken by 5% of residents. Local governments must include these notices in land use permits and public outreach, and can use zoning tools to prioritize redeveloping vacant properties for these essential services. The bill aims to prevent "food and pharmacy deserts" by ensuring continued access to healthy food, medicine, and health services in communities planning for increased density, affordable housing, and transit-oriented development.

Maddy summaryHB 2394 updates Washington's insurance fraud laws to better address modern schemes. It clarifies definitions of "insurer" to include health care service contractors and health maintenance organizations, and explicitly lists fraud types like submitting false medical bills, embezzling premiums, or misrepresenting insurance claims. The bill upgrades insurance fraud to a class B felony and requires restitution for insurers and victims. This directly affects insurers, consumers, and individuals committing fraud involving insurance claims or payments.

Maddy summaryHB 2437 allows Washington's Department of Health to establish fees for accrediting opioid treatment programs, which must cover the department's costs for this service. The bill directs the department to set initial and renewal fees after gaining federal approval to accredit such programs under federal rules (42 C.F.R. Part 8). These fees will be used to offset expenses, with the department permitted to draw from opioid abatement settlement funds to cover costs. The bill directly affects opioid treatment programs seeking federal accreditation and the department managing the process.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1622 allows public sector employees in Washington state to collectively bargain with their employers over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The bill amends existing state law to remove the "use of technology" from a list of management rights that are typically not subject to negotiation for employees in higher education and other state agencies. It defines artificial intelligence as machine learning and related technologies that enable computer systems to perform tasks like computer vision or natural language processing. This change empowers unions and public employers to negotiate agreements on the implementation and utilization of AI technologies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary pilot program allowing Washington state agencies to advance up to 25% of a grant (capped at $200,000) to eligible public benefit nonprofits. It directly affects nonprofits that received state grants for public health, safety, welfare, or state benefit programs within six months, have a budget under $5 million, and have operated for at least three years with satisfactory past performance. The advance funds must be repaid from future grant payments, require a binding contract, and are limited to one-time use. The program expires June 30, 2029, and requires a 2028 report evaluating its effectiveness and recommending future action.

Maddy summaryHB 2132 protects student privacy for Washington state financial aid applications by making personally identifying and financial information exempt from public records requests. It limits how long institutions and the state council retain application records (one year after the award year ends, unless an audit or appeal is pending) and restricts sharing this data with other entities, including the federal government, without a court order or specific data-sharing agreements. The bill directly affects students applying for state financial aid (excluding the federal FAFSA) and state agencies handling these applications. Key provisions include strict privacy safeguards for sensitive data and clear limits on data sharing to prevent unauthorized disclosure.

Maddy summaryHB 2579 establishes two new state-funded programs to expand public media access and digital equity in Washington. It creates a public media broadcaster program prioritizing community-based, noncommercial radio/TV stations that provide public safety information and arts access, with 85% of funds going to larger organizations ($1M+ budget) and 15% to smaller rural or hyper-local broadcasters. The digital equity program funds resource coordinators and multimedia trainers at community anchor institutions (like libraries and schools) to improve internet access, online safety training, and multilingual resources for underserved communities. Both programs require annual reporting and mandate that all funding be spent within Washington.

Maddy summaryHB 1571 removes specific time limits and exposure conditions for presuming heart problems as occupational diseases among firefighters and law enforcement officers. It amends Washington’s law (RCW 51.32.185) to eliminate requirements that heart issues must occur within 72 hours of smoke exposure or 24 hours of strenuous exertion during work. This change directly affects firefighters and law enforcement officers who develop heart conditions, simplifying their path to claim benefits under workers’ compensation. The bill updates the statutory presumption to apply without these prior qualifiers, aligning with broader occupational disease protections for these professions.

Maddy summaryHB 2631 requires three specific state agencies - the Secretary of State, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Office of the Insurance Commissioner - to adopt customer service standards similar to those in Governor’s Executive Order 25-06. These agencies must track service metrics, designate liaisons to coordinate with "Your Washington," create process maps for key services, and submit regular reports on customer feedback, digital accessibility, and plain language use. By mid-2026, they must develop and implement customer experience improvement plans focused on reducing service steps, shortening timelines, and enhancing digital self-service. The pilot program runs through 2029, with quarterly progress reports to be compiled by "Your Washington" for legislative review. The bill aims to expand statewide customer service improvements beyond cabinet agencies to agencies with significant public interaction.