Rep. Tarra Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 1213 expands protections for workers in Washington's state paid family and medical leave program. The bill requires the department to enhance outreach to employees, explaining their eligibility, application process, and reinstatement and nondiscrimination rights. It also mandates increased outreach to employers about their responsibilities and authorizes the department to audit employer records for compliance. Additionally, the bill clarifies premium collection and calculation methods, and ensures the confidentiality of employee information within the program.

Maddy summaryHB 1633 modifies bidding requirements for prime contractors on public works projects costing $1,000,000 or more for state and local entities. It requires prime contractors to submit the names and proof of license for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical subcontractors *at* the bid submittal time, allowing 48 hours for license corrections. Additionally, prime contractors must submit names of structural steel and rebar subcontractors within 48 hours after the bid submittal. The bill prohibits "bid shopping" or "bid peddling" and specifies valid reasons for substituting a listed subcontractor.

Maddy summaryHB 1308 enhances the rights of employees and recent former employees in Washington state to access their own personnel records. It requires most employers to provide copies of personnel files, which explicitly include records like job applications, performance evaluations, and payroll, within 21 calendar days of a request at no cost. The bill also allows employees to petition for the removal of irrelevant information and to add rebuttals to their files. To ensure compliance, it establishes a private cause of action for violations, enabling individuals to sue employers for statutory damages ranging from $250 to $1,000, along with attorney's fees.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1079 permits school districts with online programs to offer remote testing options for statewide assessments to their students, starting in the 2027-28 school year. This measure aims to reduce travel burdens and costs for students and families enrolled in online education. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is required to develop comprehensive policies by April 1, 2027, to ensure the security and integrity of these remote tests. These policies will address requirements for testing personnel, student-to-proctor ratios, remote testing environments, device specifications, and parental consent.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1167 directs the existing statewide career and technical education task force to specifically consider educational opportunities for careers in maritime professions. The bill expands the task force's mandate, requiring it to develop recommendations for strengthening and expanding access to work-integrated learning, including career and technical education and apprenticeship programs, with a particular focus on the maritime sector. These recommendations will cover aspects like curricula, industry partnerships, educator training, and alignment with postsecondary programs. The aim is to enhance and standardize career and technical education programs to better prepare students for jobs in maritime industries.

Maddy summaryHB 1491, "Promoting transit-oriented housing development," aims to increase housing options and density near public transportation throughout Washington state. The bill directs cities planning under the Growth Management Act to align their land use policies with transit infrastructure development. It does this by amending various state laws and introducing new definitions for housing types, such as "cottage housing" and "courtyard apartments," and clarifying "affordable housing." This legislation seeks to maximize state investments in mass transit by fostering the creation of vibrant, walkable, and accessible communities that include diverse housing options.

Maddy summaryHB 1418 modifies the governing bodies of public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs) by adding two new voting members who are transit users. This increases the maximum number of voting members for single-county PTBAs to 11 and for multi-county PTBAs to 17. One new member must primarily rely on public transportation, while the other must represent a community-based organization and occasionally use transit. This aims to include the perspectives of transit riders in the governance of public transportation systems, and meetings must be accessible by transit to facilitate their participation.

Maddy summarySubstitute House Bill 1232 amends existing Washington state laws concerning private detention facilities. The bill modifies the definition of a "private detention facility" to include any private, nongovernmental entity, removing the previous restriction to only for-profit entities. It revises the specific operational standards that these facilities must meet for detained persons. The new provisions require a safe and clean environment, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, adequate utilities like heating and hot water, and established maintenance and housekeeping policies.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1023 adopts the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, creating a new multistate licensing program for cosmetologists. This compact allows licensed cosmetologists to practice in any participating member state with a single license issued by their home state, aiming to reduce licensing burdens and enhance mobility for professionals, including military spouses. It establishes a commission to set uniform requirements and facilitate cooperation among states for licensure, investigations, and discipline. The bill's purpose is to improve public access to, and safety of, cosmetology services while addressing workforce shortages. Washington State's adoption of this compact will become effective on June 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1271 amends the criteria for deploying state fire service resources during emergencies in Washington. It expands the definition of "mobilization" to allow for the early deployment of resources when an emergency is *predicted* to exceed local capabilities, rather than only after local resources have already been overwhelmed. This change enables a more proactive response from fire departments, fire districts, and regional fire protection service authorities to potential large-scale incidents. The bill also clarifies that these mobilized resources cannot be used to assist law enforcement during civil protests or demonstrations, but can still provide medical aid and firefighting services.