Rep. Steve Tharinger

Maddy summaryHB 1062 requires all health plans in Washington (including commercial plans, public employee coverage, and state Medicaid) to cover biomarker testing starting January 1, 2026. This applies to tests that measure biological markers in tissue or blood (like gene mutations) when used for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of a patient’s condition, provided the test is supported by FDA approvals, Medicare guidelines, clinical practice standards, or expert consensus. Plans must ensure coverage without causing unnecessary disruptions, such as requiring multiple biopsies. The bill mandates this coverage uniformly across all plan types under specific evidence-based criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 1398 amends state law to update rules for interest arbitration panels deciding wages and working conditions for employees at adult family home providers (facilities caring for elderly or disabled individuals). The bill requires panels to consider West Coast wage comparisons for similar workers, regional cost-of-living differences, and the state's financial ability to pay. It also mandates panels to weigh factors like reducing reliance on public assistance programs (e.g., food stamps, housing aid) and promoting workforce stability in long-term care. These changes directly affect arbitration outcomes for caregivers in adult family homes across Washington. The bill does not create new funding but guides how existing resources are allocated during wage negotiations.

Maddy summaryHB 2082 aims to increase funding for public K-12 education, early learning, child care, and higher education in Washington state. The bill proposes to do this by modifying the state's capital gains tax and estate tax. It introduces an additional 2.90% excise tax on an individual's Washington capital gains that exceed $1,000,000, effective January 1, 2025. For the estate tax, it increases the exclusion amount to $3,000,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025, and intends to raise the top-tier rates up to 35 percent. Revenues generated from these changes would be dedicated to the education legacy trust account.

Maddy summaryHB 1598 establishes rules for community solar programs in Washington to ensure equitable access to clean energy. It requires community solar projects (max 5,000 kW capacity) to have at least 30% of their capacity subscribed by low-income households (defined as 80% of area median income or 200% of federal poverty level) and 50% by residential subscribers. The bill creates "community solar bill credits" that automatically apply to subscribers' utility bills, allowing renters and income-qualified households to benefit without installing rooftop solar. It also sets site requirements (e.g., avoiding farmland) and defines key terms like "low-income service provider" to standardize program implementation. This directly affects low-income residents, renters, and communities unable to access traditional solar installations.

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 1444 requires Washington health insurers to cover rapid whole genome sequencing for infants under one year old in intensive care units who meet specific medical criteria, such as unexplained epilepsy, multiple congenital abnormalities, or suspected genetic disorders. It mandates coverage starting January 1, 2026, for cases where timely diagnosis is critical to treatment, including pre- and post-test counseling. The bill ensures separate payment for this service (not bundled into existing hospital payments) and defines "rapid" sequencing as delivering results in under 14 days. It directly affects low-income families enrolled in medical assistance programs by removing financial barriers to faster diagnosis of rare genetic conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 1387 changes how prevailing wages are set for public construction projects in Washington. It requires the state to use existing collective bargaining agreement rates for unionized trades until May 31, 2027, and then adopt the rate covering the majority of workers (or the most workers if no majority exists) for most trades starting June 1, 2027. Shipbuilding and ship repair trades will use the highest available collective bargaining rate in a county for all contracts after 2027. This directly affects public works contractors and unionized construction workers, ensuring wage rates align with actual union agreements rather than wage surveys in most cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1966 updates Washington state public works contracting rules for local governments. It sets new cost thresholds requiring competitive bidding: $30,000 for materials, $75,500 for single-trade labor, and $150,000 for multi-trade labor projects. The bill introduces unit-priced contracts for recurring work (like routine maintenance) with fixed hourly rates, annual wage updates, and a three-year maximum term. These rules directly affect cities, counties, and contractors managing public infrastructure projects such as roads, utilities, and street lighting.

Maddy summaryHB 1433 would establish a regulated system in Washington for adults 21+ to access psychedelic substances for therapeutic use under licensed professionals. It directs the Department of Health to license facilitators and service centers, and the Liquor & Cannabis Board to oversee manufacturers and testing, requiring sessions in controlled environments with trained guides. The bill emphasizes reducing costs to improve equity, particularly for historically disadvantaged communities, while explicitly stating it does not require insurance coverage or override federal law. This would create a legal framework for safe, supervised use and research, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1641 amends Washington State's definition of "timberland" for real property excise tax purposes. It expands the definition to include land transferred to governmental entities that manage it like designated forestland under state law, in addition to land classified under existing timberland rules. This change means sales of timberland (including certain government-managed land) will be taxed at a flat 1.28% rate, rather than potentially higher rates for other property types. The bill directly affects property sellers and governmental entities managing timberland, ensuring consistent tax treatment for qualifying land sales.