Rep. Sharlett Mena

Maddy summaryHB 1751 exempts required course materials (like textbooks and digital resources) from Washington state sales and use taxes for students enrolled at public colleges and universities. It requires students to show valid enrollment proof at approved vendors (campus bookstores or institution-designated online sellers) to qualify for the exemption. Public institutions must inform students about this tax break via their websites and course syllabi. The bill directly affects all students at Washington’s public higher education institutions by reducing out-of-pocket costs for essential learning materials, which the legislature notes are increasingly unaffordable (65% of students skip buying textbooks due to cost).

Maddy summaryHB 1306 creates two pathways for international medical graduates (IMGs) to obtain full medical licenses in Washington without completing standard U.S. postgraduate training. The primary pathway requires 48 months of supervised clinical practice under a licensed physician, followed by assessments and documentation to demonstrate competence. A hardship pathway also allows waivers for specific situations like refugee status or persecution, though it excludes failures in standard exams. The bill directly affects IMGs seeking to practice in Washington, modifying existing licensing rules to accommodate their credentials. It does not change requirements for U.S.-trained physicians but provides alternative routes for qualified IMGs.

Maddy summaryWashington State's HJM 4005 formally cancels all previous state applications to Congress for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It directly affects Washington's standing in the national process, removing its historical applications (dating to 1901, 1903, 1909, 1911, and 1963) from official records. The bill's key mechanism is a direct resolution stating the legislature "rescinds, repeals, cancels, nullifies, and supersedes" all prior applications, regardless of their scope or historical record. This is a procedural measure, not a policy change, aimed at ensuring future Washington legislatures must explicitly reapply if they wish to pursue a constitutional convention.

Maddy summaryHB 1560 imposes a 7.5% tax on the portion of annual compensation exceeding 10 times the state's average wage for the five highest-paid hospital employees without direct patient care, plus the hospital's lead administrator if not included. It directly affects nonprofit hospitals in Washington that pay certain executives excessive compensation, as defined by the bill. The tax revenue will fund programs to improve healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable populations and reproductive care. The tax applies to compensation reported under state health reporting rules, beginning in 2027 for the 2026 tax year.

Maddy summaryHB 1567 requires health care administrators at Washington hospitals to obtain a state license starting January 1, 2027. It defines these roles as nonclinical managers or directors who oversee hiring, compliance, operations, or patient care policies for clinical staff, but excludes federal employees like those in the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill mandates passing a state-administered exam on health care laws and ethics, paying fees, and completing annual continuing education to maintain licensure. The Washington Department of Health will manage licensing, set fees, and enforce rules, including disciplinary actions for unprofessional conduct like unsafe fiscal decisions. This applies only to hospital employees in Washington, not to all health care workers.

Maddy summaryHB 1430 requires health carriers in Washington state to reimburse advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants at the same rate as physicians for providing identical health care services. This mandate applies to health plans issued or renewed starting January 1, 2026, excluding those offered to public employees. Health carriers are prohibited from decreasing physician reimbursement rates to meet this requirement. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner will collect data on the implementation, including rate changes and costs, and report to the legislature by July 1, 2027. This section does not apply to advanced practice registered nurses or physician assistants who are employees of a health maintenance organization.

Maddy summaryHB 1030 requires Washington counties to conduct specific pre-certification audits of election ballots. It mandates that county auditors audit duplicated ballots by comparing them to originals and establishes four permitted audit methods: risk-limiting statistical audits, random checks of counting equipment, independent electronic audits, or audits of direct recording electronic systems. The bill also sets strict procedures for duplicating damaged ballots, including unique control numbers, dual-person handling, and secure storage. These requirements apply directly to county auditors and canvassing boards during election certification. The law aims to ensure ballot accuracy through standardized, verifiable audit processes before election results are finalized.

Maddy summaryHB 1448 establishes statewide rules for local governments adopting ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections. It allows counties, cities, school districts, fire districts, and port districts to use RCV for local offices, requiring ballots to let voters rank candidates in order of preference (with at least five rankings per office) and setting clear counting rules for single-winner (instant runoff) and multi-winner (single transferable vote) contests. The bill mandates that single-winner RCV elections must first hold a traditional primary to narrow candidates to five, while multi-winner contests skip primaries. It also requires local governments to implement RCV within two years of adoption and directs the Secretary of State to create rules for ballot design and vote tabulation by May 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1362 creates a pilot program allowing courts in Washington to divert eligible individuals with gambling addiction from traditional sentencing. It requires courts to hold hearings before sentencing to determine if a crime was committed due to gambling addiction, and if so, to place the person in a treatment program supervised by mental health professionals. The program mandates restitution payments, regular progress reports, and referrals to community resources, with costs covered by the participant or through community service if they cannot pay. It excludes individuals convicted of violent crimes (like assault or domestic violence) or with prior convictions for similar offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1764 proposes to clarify and expand definitions within Washington's labor standards law, primarily by redefining "family member" to include stepchildren, de facto parents, and individuals regularly residing in an employee's home who depend on them for care. The bill also updates exclusions from labor coverage, such as certain farm laborers paid piece-rate, domestic workers in private homes, and minor league baseball players under collective bargaining agreements. As a proposed amendment to existing statutes (not a new law), it aims to refine who is protected under labor standards but does not establish new benefits or penalties. The bill is currently under review by the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.