Rep. Natasha Hill

Maddy summaryHB 2159 creates a dedicated "preK promise account" managed by the state treasurer to fund Washington's state-funded early childhood education programs. The account receives and tracks donations, grants, and gifts separately from each source, and funds can only be used for eligible children in the existing early childhood education program (RCW 43.216.510). Unlike typical state funds, this account does not require annual appropriations for spending, and any leftover funds accumulate rather than returning to the general fund. The bill directly affects early childhood education programs and the children they serve, establishing a new funding mechanism for these services.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1622 allows public sector employees in Washington state to collectively bargain with their employers over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The bill amends existing state law to remove the "use of technology" from a list of management rights that are typically not subject to negotiation for employees in higher education and other state agencies. It defines artificial intelligence as machine learning and related technologies that enable computer systems to perform tasks like computer vision or natural language processing. This change empowers unions and public employers to negotiate agreements on the implementation and utilization of AI technologies.

Maddy summaryHB 1932 creates a new "cannabis consumption event organizer license" allowing businesses to host limited, regulated events where adults 21+ can legally consume cannabis products on-site. The bill permits licensed organizers to sell single-use and ready-to-consume cannabis products at events held indoors (with ventilation requirements for smoking/vaping) or outdoors, with strict limits of one event per month (max 3 days) and no alcohol or tobacco sales. It directly affects cannabis businesses seeking to operate consumption events and adult consumers who lack legal options for public consumption outside their homes. The policy requires organizers to hold specific licenses, comply with board rules, and ensure consumption occurs out of public view, following Washington’s existing cannabis regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary pilot program allowing Washington state agencies to advance up to 25% of a grant (capped at $200,000) to eligible public benefit nonprofits. It directly affects nonprofits that received state grants for public health, safety, welfare, or state benefit programs within six months, have a budget under $5 million, and have operated for at least three years with satisfactory past performance. The advance funds must be repaid from future grant payments, require a binding contract, and are limited to one-time use. The program expires June 30, 2029, and requires a 2028 report evaluating its effectiveness and recommending future action.

Maddy summaryHB 2132 protects student privacy for Washington state financial aid applications by making personally identifying and financial information exempt from public records requests. It limits how long institutions and the state council retain application records (one year after the award year ends, unless an audit or appeal is pending) and restricts sharing this data with other entities, including the federal government, without a court order or specific data-sharing agreements. The bill directly affects students applying for state financial aid (excluding the federal FAFSA) and state agencies handling these applications. Key provisions include strict privacy safeguards for sensitive data and clear limits on data sharing to prevent unauthorized disclosure.

Maddy summaryHB 2419 expands Washington's address confidentiality program to include administrative law judges and staff employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings. It allows these employees, who face safety threats related to their work, to apply for a confidential address through the Secretary of State. The bill requires a sworn statement confirming safety concerns and directs the Department of Licensing to update vehicle registration records using the confidential address, ensuring their personal information remains protected.

Maddy summaryHB 2435 creates a new legislative office on Indian affairs to provide educational resources and support to Washington State legislators and professional legislative staff regarding tribal affairs and the state's government-to-government relationship with tribes. The office will offer mandatory annual training for staff on tribal sovereignty, cultural awareness, policy best practices, and terminology, plus assistance in locating resources on tribal issues. It aims to complement the governor's office of Indian affairs - without replacing it or acting as a direct liaison to tribal leaders - by coordinating with legislative committees to incorporate tribal policy guidance into bill drafting. The office will operate under existing legislative funding and administrative structures, with defined roles for its director and staff.

Maddy summaryHB 2408 repeals several outdated state statutes related to government operations, including obsolete salary rules (RCW 41.06.155), background checks for child access (RCW 41.06.475), and performance-based awards (RCW 41.06.560). It also amends RCW 41.04.665, which governs state employee leave policies, to update eligibility criteria and administrative procedures. The bill directly affects state government agencies by removing redundant or outdated legal language, streamlining operations without creating new policies. This is a procedural efficiency measure focused on modernizing statutory references, not altering substantive employee benefits or public programs.

Maddy summaryHB 2613 establishes strict safety rules for pharmacies compounding medications in Washington, directly affecting pharmacies and compounding facilities that create custom medications (like weight loss drugs). The bill requires compounders to verify all ingredients come from FDA-registered facilities with recent inspections, obtain detailed certificates of analysis, conduct quality testing, and maintain records for two years. Violations result in fines of $1,000 per dose sold and potential loss of pharmacy licenses. The law aims to prevent unsafe ingredients - such as those from unverified foreign sources - from entering the supply chain, aligning with federal standards while adding state-level oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 2503 requires developers of commercial generative artificial intelligence systems (like chatbots or image generators) to publicly disclose detailed information about the data used to train their systems by January 1, 2027. This includes sources, dataset types, whether personal or copyrighted data was used, steps taken to remove child sexual abuse material, and if synthetic data was generated. The law applies to developers making systems publicly available in Washington, excluding systems solely for security, aircraft operation, or national defense. Developers must provide this information without compromising trade secrets, and violations are treated as unfair business practices under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act.