Rep. Kristine Reeves

Maddy summaryHB 1416 increases taxes on tobacco and vapor products in Washington State. It adds a $0.015 tax per cigarette and establishes new per-milliliter tax rates for vapor products: $0.30 per ml for most products and $0.10 per ml for containers over 5 ml. The bill requires distributors to collect these taxes at the point of sale or distribution and directs 50% of the revenue to cancer research and 50% to public health services. These changes apply to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers of tobacco and vapor products, with the tax taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1129 requires most group health plans in Washington to cover fertility preservation services starting January 2026 and infertility diagnosis/treatment starting January 2027. It mandates coverage for two egg retrieval procedures with unlimited embryo transfers (per medical guidelines), prohibits different cost-sharing for fertility services compared to other pregnancy care, and ensures coverage extends to spouses and nonspouse dependents equally. The bill directly affects health insurers and enrollees seeking fertility care, including LGBTQ+ individuals and racial/ethnic minorities who face coverage disparities. Key provisions include banning restrictions on fertility medications and eliminating separate deductibles or waiting periods for these services.

Maddy summaryHB 1595 establishes a 16-member advisory committee to develop a five-year statewide economic development plan, directly affecting Washington state government and economic sectors. The committee must include diverse representation from communities, industries (like tech, agriculture, and tourism), state agencies, and commissions focused on minority and women's business development. Key mechanisms require the committee to hold public meetings, provide input on plan priorities, and submit the first proposal with recommended legislation by November 2025, with updates every five years. The plan must include measurable goals and policy recommendations to guide state economic strategy.

Maddy summaryHB 1056 empowers Washington's Attorney General to investigate and take legal action against local law enforcement and corrections agencies for systemic misconduct, such as excessive force, discriminatory practices, or inadequate detention conditions. The bill allows the AG to issue civil investigative demands, file lawsuits for systemic reforms, and seek court-ordered policy changes without addressing individual officer misconduct. It specifically applies to county and city agencies (excluding state entities like the Washington State Patrol) and requires coordination with federal investigations. The law does not replace existing legal remedies but aims to promote consistent accountability and transparency in local policing and corrections practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 clarifies when money in prearranged funeral service contracts becomes unclaimed property, changing the abandonment timeline from 50 years to a 3-year presumption. It specifies that funds are presumed abandoned three years after the beneficiary's death (using death certificates or social security records), when the beneficiary would turn 107, or 50 years after the contract was signed. The bill modifies reporting requirements for funeral establishments and defines key terms like "contract beneficiary" and "funeral establishment" to streamline the process. This directly affects funeral service providers, the Department of Revenue, and families seeking unclaimed funds from prearranged contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 1820 requires Washington-based family vloggers who meet specific profit thresholds (e.g., earning $0.10+ per view or hitting platform payout limits) to set aside earnings from videos featuring their minor children into a trust. It directly affects minors under 18 whose images, names, or photos appear in at least 30% of a video segment and where the vlogger’s content generated qualifying revenue. The bill mandates that earnings from such content be held in trust for the child until they turn 18, with compensation proportional to the child’s screen time (e.g., if a child appears 40% of a video, 40% of the video’s revenue is set aside). Minors can later request deletion of their childhood content from online platforms upon reaching adulthood. The law amends Washington’s personal property rights statutes to address gaps in protecting children featured in monetized social media content.

Maddy summaryHB 1122 requires Washington public schools to restrict student mobile device use during instructional hours starting in the 2026-27 school year. It directs the state superintendent to report by December 2025 on successful strategies (like time limits or device storage) and exceptions (for emergencies, disabilities, or instructional needs), then mandates school districts to adopt compliant policies based on a state-developed model. The bill aims to reduce classroom distractions and support student mental health, citing research showing smartphones lower test performance by about six percent. It specifically excludes school-issued devices and applies to all public school districts, including charter and tribal schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1126 standardizes and clarifies notification procedures for local governments and public facilities districts regarding changes to local sales and use tax rates. The bill requires these entities to provide written notice to the Department of Revenue within specific timelines, generally 75 days for most changes and 30 days for certain tax credits, with designated effective dates. It also specifies the documentation needed for these notifications, such as ordinances or, in the case of annexation, maps and parcel numbers. Additionally, the bill updates notification requirements for public facilities districts concerning the retirement of bonds funded by these taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 1203 prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products (including fruit, mint, or candy flavors) and entertainment vapor products with gaming features (like Pac-Man) starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects retailers who sell these products and aims to reduce youth vaping, as 88% of youth vapers use flavored products. The bill defines "flavored" broadly to include any non-tobacco taste or cooling sensation, and bans interactive devices that display games or videos. This targets products marketed to youth, such as those with cotton candy flavors or menthol cigarettes, which the bill states contribute to addiction and health disparities in Black and Hispanic communities. The law applies to all tobacco/nicotine products sold in Washington, excluding FDA-approved nicotine therapies and cannabis products.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington's Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy by July 1, 2027, in collaboration with state agencies (like Health, Social and Health Services, and Ecology), universities, and community organizations. The strategy must address food access and affordability, improve agricultural resilience by tackling barriers to farming and land use, and promote long-term solutions like urban agriculture and nutrition programs. It mandates specific focus areas including supporting farmers, empowering consumers to access healthy food, and advancing research, with the final plan submitted to the legislature by the deadline. The bill expires July 1, 2028.