Rep. Dan Bronoske

Maddy summaryHB 1236 increases penalties for littering in Washington State by creating tiered fines: a class 2 civil infraction for ≤1 cubic foot, a misdemeanor for 1-10 cubic yards, and a gross misdemeanor for >10 cubic yards. Offenders must pay restitution equal to 4x cleanup costs for misdemeanors or 2x for gross misdemeanors, with funds distributed to landowners and law enforcement. The bill also establishes a littering solutions task force under the Department of Ecology, requiring input from state agencies, counties, and industry groups (like waste management, retail, and tourism) to develop recommendations by November 2026. The task force must address specific issues like cigarette butts, road cleanup costs, and reducing litter at public sites such as parks and roadways.

Maddy summaryHB 1793 requires authorized insurers in Washington to report specific details about fire loss claims to the Insurance Commissioner within 90 days of closing the claim. The report must include the property's zip code, date of loss, amount paid per coverage, and the known or suspected origin/cause of the loss (including whether it involved criminal activity). This bill amends RCW 48.05.320 to update the reporting requirements for fire losses, replacing a previous provision that directed reports to the Washington State Patrol. The change focuses on standardizing fire loss data collection for the Insurance Commissioner's use, without altering the underlying insurance claims process.

Maddy summaryHB 1136 establishes a program placing financial aid specialists in Washington high schools to help students complete the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and Washington state financial aid forms. The specialists will target schools in educational service districts with the lowest FAFSA completion rates, especially those serving high percentages of low-income students (eligible for free/reduced lunch). Using data from the Student Achievement Council, they will provide direct support to students and families, including outreach at school events and through peer networks. The program requires annual reports tracking application completion rates and enrollment impacts, aiming to reduce barriers like perceived costs that prevent students from pursuing postsecondary education.

Maddy summaryHB 1292 establishes an ongoing annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees in Plan 1 of Washington's Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), starting July 2026. The bill uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to calculate annual increases, capping the first adjustment at 3% and limiting yearly changes to no more than a 3% difference from the prior year. It consolidates the costs of past COLA increases over a 15-year period while requiring new benefit improvements to be paid over a 10-year amortization. The bill directly affects current and future retirees in both systems who qualify under Plan 1, excluding those covered by specific exception provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a standardized "portable orders for life-sustaining treatment" form that Washington residents can use to document their end-of-life care preferences, allowing the form to be recognized across all healthcare settings in the state. It establishes a statewide registry for these forms, requires healthcare providers to review them annually with patients, and provides legal immunity for providers who follow the documented preferences in good faith. The law directly affects residents making advance care decisions and healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, EMTs, and hospitals) who must follow these orders. Key provisions include an opt-out option for registry submission, rules for verbal confirmation of forms, and protections against liability for providers acting in accordance with the documented preferences.

Maddy summaryHB 1047 exempts fire districts in rural counties from paying state sales and use taxes on equipment purchases. It applies to fire districts with populations under 10,000, defined as "rural counties" under existing law, and covers firefighting, emergency medical, and fire prevention equipment. To qualify, districts must apply for a certificate of exemption from the state department, which will publish an annual list of eligible districts. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2025, for all qualifying purchases and uses after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1045 expands the definition of "uniformed personnel" to include all law enforcement officers employed by any city, town, or county in Washington state, removing previous population-based restrictions. Currently, the definition only covered law enforcement officers in cities with 2,500+ residents and counties with 10,000+ residents. The bill eliminates these population thresholds, ensuring all local law enforcement officers - regardless of jurisdiction size - are included in the "uniformed personnel" category. This directly affects law enforcement officers in smaller cities and towns that were previously excluded under the existing definition.

Maddy summaryHB 1001 creates a competitive grant program administered by the Washington Department of Commerce to fund fire protection capital projects (like building or upgrading fire stations) in rural counties. It directly affects rural counties (defined as those with fewer than 100 people per square mile or under 225 square miles) and their local governments. Key provisions include requiring matching funds from applicants, capping grants at $2 million per jurisdiction per biennium, prioritizing projects based on fire safety ratings, community health/safety impact, and project readiness, and mandating annual reports to the legislature on grant usage. The bill does not fund projects in non-rural areas or cover general operational costs.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1349 concerns how members of certain public pension systems, such as law enforcement and firefighters, can earn or purchase service credit for authorized leaves of absence. It clarifies that members on paid leave continue to receive credit and allows members on unpaid leave, including part-time leave for law enforcement, to purchase up to two years of service credit by making required contributions within specific timeframes. The bill also details provisions for members who take leave for uniformed military service, enabling them to receive up to five years of service credit, with specific conditions for contributions or proof of wartime service, and extends these provisions to surviving spouses or children of members who die in service.

Maddy summaryHB 2005 makes it a crime to intentionally damage or steal electric vehicle (EV) charging stations or related infrastructure, with penalties increasing based on the damage value: a gross misdemeanor for under $1,000, a class C felony for $1,000-$5,000, and a class B felony for over $5,000. It requires offenders to pay restitution to station owners, allows victims to sue for up to $5,000 in damages plus legal fees, and directs additional fines to transportation funds. The law excludes accidental damage by utility workers and defines "electric vehicle charging station" to include related equipment and remote management systems. This bill directly affects vandals/thieves targeting EV infrastructure and protects station owners/operators.