Rep. Greg Nance

Maddy summaryHB 1588 creates a state action plan to help Washington farmers transition to organic and regenerative farming by identifying certification barriers, expanding markets, and supporting job creation - especially for youth and underrepresented communities. It also establishes a $25,000 microgrant program for farmers using climate-smart practices (like cover cropping or soil health improvements), prioritizing projects in overburdened communities and those measuring environmental benefits like carbon sequestration. The action plan must be submitted by June 2027, and the microgrants program expires June 2028. These provisions directly affect agricultural producers, processors, and distributors seeking to adopt sustainable practices while addressing certification costs and infrastructure gaps.

Maddy summaryHB 1350 updates Washington's child care subsidy reimbursement rates to better match the actual cost of high-quality care. It requires the state to use a new "cost of quality" rate model that covers full provider costs - including living wages, benefits, staff training, and materials - instead of relying solely on the current 85th percentile market rate. This directly affects licensed child care providers serving families in the Working Connections Child Care program and aims to stabilize the child care workforce. The bill maintains the existing baseline reimbursement rate but mandates future rate recommendations must reflect these updated cost calculations.

Maddy summaryHB 1564 creates a 100% tax credit for Washington employers that provide child care assistance to employees, directly affecting eligible businesses. The credit covers 100% of costs for two types of assistance: (1) employer-paid portions of employee wages used for child care expenses (like tuition), and (2) costs for in-house child care facilities. Employers can claim the credit against business and occupation taxes (Chapter 82.04 RCW) or public utility taxes (Chapter 82.16 RCW), but not both for the same costs. The credit is available from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2037, with a final expiration date of January 1, 2038.

Maddy summaryHB 1134 establishes a voluntary "Washington state green schools program" within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to promote student-led resource conservation in public schools. The program provides limited stipend funding ($600 max per school annually) for school-based advisors to support student education and leadership in waste reduction, energy conservation, water efficiency, and urban forestry initiatives. Schools with over 50% of students eligible for free/reduced-price meals receive priority for funding, and the program aligns with state science curriculum standards on climate and sustainability. It is funded using revenues from the Climate Commitment Act and complements existing district conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 1810 requires Washington state to study financial incentives for seismic retrofits of older brick buildings (unreinforced masonry structures) and create a statewide inventory of such buildings. It directly affects building owners of vulnerable historic properties, local governments using the inventory for planning, and taxpayers through potential tax changes. Key provisions include a 2026 study on tax modifications (like special valuation or exemptions) to reduce retrofit costs, and a 2030 deadline to catalog all such buildings using existing data and on-site verification. The bill aims to make retrofits more affordable to protect public safety and preserve affordable housing, without mandating retrofits. It expires in 2026 for the study and 2030 for the inventory work.

Maddy summaryHB 1943 requires Washington public high schools (grades 9-12) to include blood donation awareness instruction in at least one required health class starting in the 2025-26 school year. The bill directs schools to use programs from approved organizations like the American Red Cross or Bloodworks Northwest, which must be posted on the state education website. It also allows schools serving grades K-8 to offer age-appropriate versions of this instruction. The bill aims to educate students about blood donation’s life-saving impact and eligibility, complementing existing health education without mandating certified staff delivery.

Maddy summaryHB 1070 creates a legal presumption that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an occupational disease for correctional facility workers in Washington state, directly affecting staff employed at prisons, jails, or community corrections facilities. The bill establishes that after 90 consecutive days of full-time, compensated employment, PTSD claims for these workers are presumed work-related unless the employer provides evidence to the contrary. It also requires employers to cover reasonable appeal costs (including attorney fees) if workers win their claims in court or before the Industrial Insurance Appeals Board. This applies to claims filed within three months per year of employment, up to a maximum of 60 months after leaving the job. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1357 (Washington State) updates special education funding to incentivize inclusive classrooms. It revises the funding formula so school districts receive higher per-student allocations (1.18 multiplier) for students with disabilities spending 80%+ of their day in general education settings, versus a lower rate (1.09) for less inclusive placements. The bill also creates a grant program for up to 20 "pilot schools" to become centers of excellence in inclusionary practices, requiring demonstrated leadership commitment, staff training plans, and data on current inclusion efforts. These schools would receive funding to reach a 1.5 inclusion multiplier over four years. The bill directly affects school districts and students with disabilities in Washington state, focusing on concrete funding changes and support mechanisms to promote inclusive education.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 clarifies and expands eligibility for existing Washington state benefits for veterans, uniformed service members (including National Guard), and military spouses. It updates key definitions across multiple statutes to ensure veterans' service time counts toward public safety job seniority, creates hiring preferences for veterans, and expands business loan eligibility for service members facing revenue loss due to military duties. The bill directly affects those with qualifying military service or spouse status who seek state employment, public safety careers, or business financial assistance. These changes ensure consistent application of current benefit programs without creating new funding or programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1765 exempts email addresses provided by individuals to subscribe to regular communications (like newsletters) from local agencies' public records. It directly affects residents who sign up for updates from city, county, or other local government services. The bill adds these email addresses to existing privacy exemptions in Washington state law, preventing them from being disclosed under public records requests. This change ensures that people who voluntarily provide their email for non-transactional updates cannot have those addresses made publicly available. The policy applies to standard agency communications, not emails used for official transactions or services.