Rep. Tarra Simmons

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1321 grants the Governor of Washington new authority regarding armed military forces from outside the state. It prohibits any armed military force from another state, territory, or district from entering Washington to perform military duty without the Governor's explicit permission. An exception is made if such a force is called into active U.S. service under the authority of the President. This bill aims to regulate the presence of external armed groups within the state and took effect immediately upon signing.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1486 adds a student member to the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, increasing its total membership from nine to ten. This change ensures that a student currently enrolled in a community or technical college will have a voice in the board's decisions. The student member will serve a one-year term and must be at least 18 years old. They will participate in discussions and policy development, though they will be excluded from voting on matters related to hiring, discipline, personnel, or pending litigation.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1309 establishes an integrated pest management research program within the Washington State Department of Agriculture to address the impacts of burrowing shrimp on bottom culture shellfish farming. This program will solicit and fund research into new control methods for burrowing shrimp, with a specific focus on Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor. A governing board, composed of representatives from state agencies, shellfish growers, tribes, and other stakeholders, will oversee the research program and review proposals. The bill aims to support research that enhances the resilience and productivity of shellfish farming and the marine ecosystem. It also provides for permitting assistance for shellfish growers to use identified control methods.

Maddy summarySubstitute House Bill 1879 clarifies rules for meal and rest breaks for hospital workers involved in direct patient care or clinical services who are hourly or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The bill mandates uninterrupted breaks, with exceptions for unforeseeable emergent or clinical circumstances, and allows for combining meal and rest periods by mutual agreement. It also permits employees and employers to voluntarily waive certain meal periods or timing requirements under specific conditions, such as a written, revocable agreement. Hospitals must record missed breaks and submit quarterly reports to the Department of Labor & Industries detailing missed, waived, and required breaks. This act takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve high school students' access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) dual credit programs in Washington state. It establishes and expands regional pilot programs through grant funding, enabling community and technical colleges, public high schools, and skill centers to boost student participation and credential attainment. The bill also directs the state board for community and technical colleges to plan for improving or replacing the statewide online enrollment and reporting system for CTE dual credit. Additionally, it requires reports to the legislature on the pilot program findings and recommendations for further improvements to dual credit policies and data collection.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1631 designates bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) forests as the official state marine forest of Washington. This designation aims to raise awareness of bull kelp's vital role in the state's marine ecosystems, culture, and economy, and its deep cultural significance for tribal nations.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1174 updates Washington state law regarding court interpreters, aiming to secure the rights of persons with limited English proficiency in legal proceedings. It redefines key terms, including replacing "non-English-speaking person" with "person with limited English proficiency" and emphasizing "credentialed interpreters." The bill mandates the appointment of credentialed interpreters for these individuals, but allows for non-credentialed interpreters if "good cause" is found, such as their unavailability. In such cases, the judicial officer must determine the interpreter's ability to interpret accurately and ensure they will abide by the code of professional responsibility. The legislation also expands the scope of "legal proceeding" to cover a broader range of court and administrative hearings.

Maddy summaryHB 1524 establishes new workplace standards for employers of "isolated employees" in Washington state, specifically those in hotel, motel, retail, security guard, and property services industries. The bill requires these employers to adopt sexual harassment policies and provide mandatory training to managers, supervisors, and isolated employees on preventing harassment and discrimination. Employers must also provide panic buttons to isolated employees, allowing them to summon immediate assistance. The Department of Labor and Industries is responsible for investigating violations and can issue civil penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 1114 establishes the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, an agreement among participating states. This compact allows respiratory therapists who are actively licensed in one member state to practice in other member states, thereby granting them a "compact privilege." The bill's purpose is to improve public access to respiratory therapy services, streamline the process for therapists to practice across state lines, and support relocating military members and their spouses. It also aims to address workforce shortages and enhance cooperation among states in regulating respiratory therapy.

Maddy summaryHB 1281 makes technical corrections and removes obsolete language from the Revised Code of Washington. The bill aims to improve the clarity and consistency of existing law by adjusting cross-references, fixing drafting errors, reordering certain sections, and updating terminology like changing "marijuana" to "cannabis" and standardizing nursing professional titles.