Rep. Natasha Hill

Maddy summaryThis bill sets lead limits for aluminum or brass cookware, utensils, and components sold in Washington. Starting January 1, 2026, products may not contain more than 90 parts per million (ppm) of lead, reducing to 10 ppm by January 1, 2030. Manufacturers and retailers must provide test reports proving compliance with safety standards, while exempting pre-2026 items, stainless-steel-encased products, and nonprofit sales. It directly affects producers and sellers of these cookware items within Washington state.

Maddy summaryHB 2321 requires 3D printer manufacturers and sellers in Washington state to equip all new printers with software that automatically blocks print jobs for firearms or illegal firearm parts, effective July 1, 2027. The law mandates that printers use a "firearms blueprint detection algorithm" to identify and reject files containing firearm designs before printing, meeting specific technical standards to prevent bypassing. Manufacturers must attest under penalty of perjury that their printers comply, with penalties including misdemeanors for first offenses and class C felonies for repeat violations or corporate breaches. This directly affects 3D printer companies operating in Washington, aiming to prevent unlawful firearm manufacturing through technical safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 2366 raises the daily compensation for Washington school board members from $50 to $100 (capping annual pay at $13,750, with excess pay over $3,000 requiring specific board approval). It requires school districts to cover training costs for board members on funding and finance, mandating all current and new directors to complete this training within one year of their term. The bill also establishes automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments for compensation based on the consumer price index. School districts must fund these changes using local tax revenue, and the training program provisions depend on specific budget appropriations by June 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2300 requires large Washington employers (with 500+ total workers in the state during a quarter) to reimburse the state for health care costs paid through public programs like Apple Health for their workers. Employers must pay an assessment based on the state's per-person cost for each worker enrolled in medical assistance programs who is under 65 years old. This applies to most employers, but excludes those already providing health coverage to all workers or seasonal businesses meeting specific criteria. The program aims to preserve public health funding by shifting costs to employers whose workers rely on state-funded care, with payments due quarterly starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2302 would allow Washington pharmacists to prescribe certain medications directly for chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, behavioral health, and addiction - without requiring special agreements with physicians. Currently, pharmacists must maintain complex collaborative agreements, which the bill identifies as an unnecessary administrative burden. The change leverages pharmacists’ existing training (including 1,740 hours of patient care) to improve access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. It amends state law to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice to fully utilize their expertise in medication management. The bill focuses on concrete policy change, not outcomes or advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates supplemental funding for school districts that have extra costs transporting homeless students (per federal McKinney-Vento law) and foster youth (per federal Every Student Succeeds Act) beyond what's already covered by other funding sources. Districts must report verified excess costs and specific services creating those costs to qualify. Funding covers only the documented excess transportation expenses for eligible students, with awards limited to specific time periods (semester or school year) and not exceeding the state's annual appropriation. Charter schools and tribal education compact schools are explicitly included as eligible recipients.

Maddy summaryHB 2368 requires Washington's state department to develop a quantum technology strategy by June 2026, focusing on economic growth and workforce development in this emerging field. The strategy must outline plans to attract investment, identify public-private partnerships, support research at universities and labs, and explore quantum applications in areas like energy and healthcare. It directs the department to seek nonstate funding and partnerships to accelerate the industry, with the plan expiring August 1, 2027. The bill directly affects state agencies and future economic planning, not individual citizens or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 2341 changes Washington state's school calendar to align with National Voter Registration Day, requiring public high schools to hold voter registration events during history or social studies classes for students aged 16 and older on the third Tuesday in September (or the following Tuesday if it conflicts with a major religious holiday). The bill mandates that schools provide both online and paper voter registration forms during these events, with county election offices encouraged to assist. It sets a goal of 50,000 new youth voter registrations annually and requires the state superintendent to report yearly progress to the legislature. This replaces the existing "Temperance and Good Citizenship Day" observance on January 16th, shifting the focus to voter registration for students who may have missed earlier opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 2252 requires the state division of archives to create a preservation plan for historical records from Lakeland Village, a former state facility for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The plan must catalog and protect at-risk documents (like medical records, letters, and photos), assess their condition, outline storage/digitization steps, and include public access provisions. It mandates the plan be submitted to the legislature by September 2025 and prohibits destroying these records until 2030. The bill directly affects state agencies (archives, social services, archaeology departments) and the University of Washington, which will collaborate on the preservation work.

Maddy summaryHB 2268 requires mortgage servicers to pay borrowers at least 2% simple annual interest on funds held in escrow accounts for residential mortgages (covering one- to four-unit homes) starting January 1, 2027. It prohibits servicers from charging fees that would reduce the effective interest rate below 2%. The law applies only to new mortgages executed on or after the effective date, directly affecting borrowers who maintain escrow accounts and the servicers managing those accounts. This policy change mandates a minimum return on escrow funds, shifting a financial benefit from servicers to borrowers.