Rep. Mari Leavitt

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 4697) honoring Dr. Bernal Baca, recognizing his decades of service to Washington state. It highlights his work as a 30-year Yakima Valley College professor, founder of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, leader in labor and education advocacy, and executive director of a Tacoma-based Latino community nonprofit. The resolution formally acknowledges his contributions to justice, education, and community building, with no policy changes or direct effects on specific groups. As a procedural measure, it serves solely to express the House's recognition of his legacy.

Maddy summaryHR 4700 designates March 9 as "Billy Frank Jr. Day" to honor the late Nisqually Tribe leader who dedicated his life to protecting tribal treaty fishing rights and environmental conservation. The resolution commemorates his pivotal role in landmark legal cases securing tribal fishing rights and his decades-long efforts to foster collaboration on salmon habitat restoration and natural resource management. It recognizes his legacy of consensus-building between tribes, state authorities, and diverse stakeholders to uphold treaty obligations and protect Washington's ecosystems. The resolution does not create new policy but serves as a symbolic tribute to his advocacy.

Maddy summaryHB 2295 allocates $66.7 million from the state building construction account to fund competitive grants for community hospitals and providers expanding behavioral health services. The bill directly affects facilities seeking to build or preserve mental health and substance use treatment capacity, requiring projects to address geographic gaps in underserved areas. Key provisions mandate grants cover construction/equipment costs only (not operating expenses), require 10-year facility commitments, and prioritize youth/adult bed capacity, crisis centers, and specialized care for populations like those with traumatic brain injury. Funding must be distributed based on regional needs, with priority given to projects in areas lacking current services.

Maddy summaryHB 2617 eliminates Washington's current "fund split" funding method, which forces public colleges and universities to use tuition revenue for mandatory costs like faculty salaries and benefits. Instead, it requires the state to cover these costs directly, freeing tuition revenue to improve educational quality and student services. The bill also mandates a study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to define essential student services (such as counseling, tutoring, and career support) and determine their required funding levels, with a report due by December 2026. This aims to address structural underfunding that has reduced program offerings, increased class sizes, and strained institutional budgets.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 4686), not a substantive bill. It formally honors Robert Steven Masko, a former Pierce County undersheriff who served 37 years with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department before retiring. The resolution recognizes his decades of public service in law enforcement, community leadership (including roles on the Fircrest City Council and as a youth sports coach), and dedication to community projects like Masko Park. It extends condolences to his family and community, acknowledging his legacy of integrity and service. The resolution was adopted by the Washington State House of Representatives on February 20, 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 4695 is a ceremonial House Resolution recognizing the 2026 Apple Blossom Festival Royal Court. It symbolically honors Brielle Precht (queen), Kaylee Pearsons, and Parker Averi for their academic achievements, community service, leadership, and future goals. The resolution expresses the House's recognition of their contributions to Wenatchee community life and the festival's mission, with no policy changes or direct effects on legislation. (This is a procedural resolution, not a bill with substantive policy impact.)

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) recognizing the 93-year tradition of Pierce County's Daffodil Festival. It honors the festival's organizers, its royal court of 24 student ambassadors, and their community contributions. The resolution formally acknowledges the festival's history, including its annual parade (except during wartime and the 2020 pandemic) and the selection process for student representatives. It has no policy impact - it simply directs copies to the festival's 2026 officers and royal court members.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 4692) acknowledges the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, including 12,000 from Washington State. It recognizes Japanese American veterans, incarcerees, and civil rights activists from Washington, and urges reflection on the principle "with liberty and justice for all," without creating new policies or requiring government action.

Maddy summaryHB 2281 strengthens Washington State's government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes by requiring state agencies to consult with tribes before actions affecting tribal cultural sites or practices. It defines "tribal traditional cultural places" and prohibits agencies from imposing "undue burdens" on tribal traditions without proving a compelling government need and using the least restrictive approach. Tribes can seek legal remedies in court if agencies violate these protections, with specific burden-of-proof rules for cases involving sacred tribal knowledge. The bill directly affects tribes whose cultural sites or practices may be impacted by state projects like construction or land management.

Maddy summaryHB 2551 allows school districts facing severe cash shortages (with less than 3% of annual revenue in reserves) to request permission from the state superintendent to sell underused property. To qualify, districts must prove the sale is necessary to restore financial stability, prevent harm to student learning, and use all sale proceeds solely to address the financial issues causing the crisis. The bill also requires the superintendent to establish rules ensuring transparency, prohibits districts from reapplying for this authority more than once every five years, and mandates that sale proceeds go to debt relief or capital projects, not general operations. It updates existing property sale rules to align with these new conditions while maintaining standard appraisal and bidding requirements for property sales.