Rep. Greg Nance

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to improve financial stability for youth in its care (under 18, in foster care or juvenile justice placements) by changing how Social Security benefits are managed. Starting January 2026, DCYF cannot use Social Security benefits (like SSI or disability payments) to reimburse itself for care costs. Instead, it must screen youth for eligibility, apply for benefits on their behalf, maintain those benefits, and place excess funds in special accounts (like ABLE accounts) to avoid affecting eligibility. DCYF must also provide financial literacy training to youth aged 14+ who may receive benefits, ensuring they understand managing their funds before transitioning out of care.

Maddy summaryHB 1435 creates a state grant program to help local and tribal law enforcement agencies hire more officers. It provides up to 75% of entry-level salaries and benefits (capped at $125,000 per officer position) for 36 months, requiring a 25% local cash match. Grants cannot cover non-salary costs or fund officers recently hired by the same agency. The program requires agencies to apply through a formal process, report on hiring impacts, and includes a $100 million appropriation for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1298 requires public four-year universities in Washington to provide and pay for insurance coverage for student athletes (both current and former athletes eligible for post-eligibility health care under athletic association rules). This insurance specifically covers athletics-related injuries and illnesses, including emergency evacuation and repatriation costs. The bill mandates that institutions, not students, bear the full cost of this coverage. It directly affects student athletes at public universities participating in intercollegiate sports and their post-eligibility health care access.

Maddy summaryHB 1690 requires Washington's Department of Ecology and Department of Health to jointly conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state's water and sewer systems by June 2027. The assessment will identify critical infrastructure gaps, analyze upgrade costs, and evaluate funding options to address issues like aging systems, septic maintenance challenges, and water quality concerns affecting public health. It directly impacts local governments, water utilities, and residents in communities facing infrastructure limitations, particularly in urban growth areas and small towns. The bill mandates gathering data from cities, counties, health boards, and utilities to inform recommendations for protecting environmental resources and supporting economic development. This assessment aims to provide a data-driven foundation for future investments in water and sewer infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 1616 expands the definition of "unlawful transit conduct" to explicitly include Washington State Ferries. This means that behaviors previously prohibited on other public transit, such as smoking, littering, playing loud music without headphones, or consuming open alcoholic beverages, will now also apply to state ferries. The bill amends existing law by adding "ferry boat" to the definition of a transit vehicle and "the Washington state ferries" to the definition of a transit authority. Individuals found in violation of these rules on state ferries could be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Maddy summaryHB 1333 requires detention facilities and private detention facilities to annually report to the Department of Health the number of people experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal loss while incarcerated. The Department of Health must then compile these reports into an annual statewide summary for the legislature, with the first report due by December 2026. The summary will include only aggregate data without personal identifying information about individuals. The bill repeals an unrelated law about concealing birth (RCW 9.02.050) but focuses solely on tracking pregnancy loss data in correctional settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow parents to be paid for providing specialized care to their minor children (under 18) with developmental disabilities. It requires the state to seek federal approval to pay parents for "extraordinary care" - defined as care beyond typical parenting duties needed to prevent institutionalization. If approved, parents would qualify for payment under specific rules, including meeting training requirements like other caregivers. The bill applies only to children in certain high-need assessment categories and does not affect existing services for adults or non-disabled individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 1285 establishes financial education instruction as a graduation requirement for public high school students in Washington state. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, all high schools must provide instruction in the state financial education learning standards. Starting with the graduating class of 2031, students will be required to meet these standards to graduate. The bill also tasks the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with making instructional materials available and outlines monitoring responsibilities for the State Board of Education.

Maddy summaryHB 1580 changes how Washington state funds career-focused high school courses in alternative learning programs. It requires school districts to calculate funding separately for each student in these programs based on the standard per-student allocation for grades 9-12 general education, excluding small high school enhancements. The bill also adds extra state funding specifically for vocational courses within these alternative programs. This directly affects school districts offering career and technical education in non-traditional learning settings, ensuring they receive dedicated funding aligned with vocational program needs.

Maddy summaryHB 1677 requires all public universities in Washington with student health centers to offer medication abortion services by the 2026-27 academic year, either directly or via telehealth referrals. For universities without student health centers, the bill mandates providing confidential referrals to abortion providers, telehealth support, and campus spaces for virtual appointments. It also requires all institutions to maintain a website with clear reproductive health resources, including academic accommodation options for pregnancy-related needs. The bill directly affects approximately 196,000 college students facing significant travel and wait-time barriers to abortion care, aiming to make services as accessible as possible within campus health systems.