Rep. Adison Richards

Maddy summaryHB 1377 declares a state of emergency for Washington State Ferries due to delays in procuring new electric ferries, creating a backup plan if spring 2025 contracts fail. It authorizes the governor to declare an emergency, allowing the department to bypass standard procurement rules to expedite buying at least two nonhybrid electric ferries for delivery within two years - using existing Olympic-class designs to avoid new engineering. The bill also directs postponing conversions of certain vessels to prioritize operational reliability and requires warranty work to be done within Washington state when possible. This directly affects Washington State Ferries' procurement process and the public relying on ferry services.

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 1625 creates a grant program to provide funding for back country search and rescue (SAR) organizations and volunteers in Washington state. The program directly supports groups that respond to emergencies in remote, rugged terrain, where specialized skills and equipment are required to locate and rescue individuals. The bill amends state law to establish this grant mechanism, enabling these organizations to maintain operations and services. This policy change offers concrete financial resources to enhance SAR capabilities in backcountry areas.

Maddy summaryHB 1428 establishes two state-funded accounts to support criminal justice services: one for counties and one for cities. It mandates annual transfers of $50 million (increasing by 50% starting in 2026) into these accounts, with county funds distributed based on population (20%), crime rate (30%), and criminal cases (50%). Municipal funds are distributed only to cities meeting a 125% statewide crime rate threshold, with 30% allocated to cities exceeding 175% of the average crime rate. The bill prohibits using these funds to replace existing local funding and restricts spending to criminal justice activities like domestic violence services and law enforcement support.

Maddy summaryHB 1436 allows Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers. Local governments must use the revenue to hire more officers if their officer-to-population ratio is below the national average, or for other criminal justice programs (like domestic violence services or homelessness initiatives) if their ratio is already above average. The state collects the tax and returns the funds directly to the local jurisdiction. This bill aims to address Washington’s low ranking in law enforcement staffing per capita and high crime rates by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 1931 modifies how funds from special license plate fees are distributed by directing remaining revenue (after deducting $12 for initial issues and $2 for renewals) to 18 specific causes. It allocates funds to programs like cancer research (Fred Hutch), youth sports mentoring (Seahawks and Sounders FC programs), scholarships (Gonzaga University, Seattle University), and community initiatives (Washington apples, Volunteer firefighters). The bill codifies existing distribution rules into law, ensuring these designated organizations receive dedicated funding from license plate sales. This change affects all Washington State special license plate programs sold under current statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 1846 modifies how fees from Seattle Sounders FC special license plates are distributed. It redirects 70% of the remaining fees (after administrative costs) to the RAVE foundation, which uses soccer to support youth in underserved communities. The remaining 30% is capped at $40,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) and goes to the Washington state leadership board for educational and civic programs. This change updates the previous allocation that split funds between "Washington state mentors" and the leadership board. The bill does not alter the fee amount or create new requirements for the license plate.

Maddy summaryHB 1266 establishes the Washington State Commission on Boys and Men within the governor's office to address issues affecting boys and men across six focus areas: mental/physical health, education, careers, fatherhood, the preschool-to-prison pipeline, and court system experiences. The commission, composed of 11 appointed non-legislative members (with diverse representation requirements) and 4 legislative advisory members, will monitor legislation, coordinate with other commissions (like the women's and LGBTQ commissions), gather data, and submit biennial reports to the legislature and governor. Its key duties include identifying needs, advising state agencies on policies affecting boys and men, holding public hearings, and advocating for removing barriers they face. This is a structural commission creation bill, not a policy change, with no direct fiscal impact detailed in the provided text.

Maddy summaryHB 1116 designates the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as "Election Day" for symbolic recognition in Washington State. The bill adds this date to the list of recognized observances under state law (RCW 1.16.050), alongside days like Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It does not create a paid holiday or change voting procedures - it is purely a symbolic gesture to honor elections. The recognition applies to state government actions and communications, not to voting rights or election administration. This bill is procedural and non-binding, focusing on awareness rather than policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 2022 limits landlords' ability to evict tenants without cause by requiring 60 days' advance written notice for month-to-month leases or fixed-term leases initially lasting 6-12 months. It expands the list of valid "causes" for eviction to include rent nonpayment, lease breaches (like unauthorized subletting), waste or nuisance, and owner occupancy/sale scenarios - each requiring specific notice periods (30-90 days). The bill also prevents landlords from ending fixed-term tenancies without cause after the initial period unless they provided 60 days' notice and met lease duration requirements. These changes directly affect tenants in Washington state rental properties, particularly those in month-to-month or short-term leases.