Rep. Kristine Reeves

Maddy summaryHB 1569 requires Washington state to include tax exemptions and preferences in the regular biennial budget process, ending their automatic continuation without legislative review. The bill mandates that all tax exemptions without expiration dates must be reviewed, assigned performance measures, and reauthorized every two years or expire, with a maximum 10-year term for new exemptions. It also requires the Department of Revenue to estimate the annual revenue impact of each exemption and include these details in the budget. This affects all taxpayers by ensuring tax preferences are transparently evaluated for their revenue impact, rather than reducing state funds for services like education without oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1022 creates a pilot program providing no-interest down payment and closing cost loans (up to $25,000) to essential workers in Washington state who meet income limits. It directly affects firefighters, nurses, police officers, emergency medical technicians, mental health professionals, social workers, child care providers, and veterans with household income below 100% of the state median. Loans require no repayment until the home is sold, rented, or refinanced, and the program is capped at $15 million in funding through June 2027. The bill mandates reporting on program outcomes to the legislature by 2026 and 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1125 allows judges to modify lengthy prison sentences in Washington state when a person's original sentence no longer serves justice. It directly affects incarcerated individuals who meet specific criteria, such as having served 7+ years for an offense committed as a juvenile (starting July 2026), 10+ years for offenses committed as young adults (starting July 2031), or having a terminal illness. The bill requires petitioners to show rehabilitation or low recidivism risk, and courts may only reduce sentences (not increase them), must maintain mandatory minimums, and mandate a 6-month minimum wait after a hearing before release. The law also requires new sentences to include five years of community supervision.

Maddy summaryHB 2024 creates a state property tax exemption for Washington homeowners' primary residences, reducing their state tax burden. It exempts either $100,000 of a home's assessed value or 60% of the county's median home value (whichever is greater), applied after other existing exemptions. This directly benefits primary residence owners - especially fixed-income households and those at risk of displacement - by lowering annual state property tax costs. The exemption applies only to state levies (not local taxes) and requires an annual application by April 1st, with verification to ensure it applies to only one residence.

Maddy summaryHB 1116 designates the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as "Election Day" for symbolic recognition in Washington State. The bill adds this date to the list of recognized observances under state law (RCW 1.16.050), alongside days like Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It does not create a paid holiday or change voting procedures - it is purely a symbolic gesture to honor elections. The recognition applies to state government actions and communications, not to voting rights or election administration. This bill is procedural and non-binding, focusing on awareness rather than policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1406 requires associate development organizations (regional economic development groups) contracting with Washington’s Department of Commerce to submit detailed annual reports tracking employment impact, business services, and funding use. These reports must include metrics like net employment changes, small business outcomes, and regional economic data, all input into a shared web system. The bill establishes performance targets for these organizations, with consequences for failure - including remediation plans and potential one-year funding termination - to ensure accountability. It also adjusts funding allocations, providing urban organizations up to $300,000 annually (90 cents per capita) and rural organizations up to $40,000 plus matching funds. The bill directly affects regional economic development groups receiving state contracts, focusing on measurable outcomes rather than program creation.

Maddy summaryHB 1508 allows Washington State to generate new revenue by selling ecosystem service credits - like those for carbon sequestration or water filtration - from public lands. The Department of Natural Resources can contract with brokers or developers to sell these credits, but projects must be limited to afforestation, reforestation, or aquatic efforts and align with existing forest management policies. Revenue from these contracts must be deposited into state accounts, and the department must report project details and challenges by December 2026. The bill expires June 30, 2027, and explicitly prohibits projects from limiting tribal rights or conflicting with ongoing forest health efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 1004 increases Washington State's personal property tax exemption from $15,000 to $50,000 for individual taxpayers. It directly affects residents owning personal property (like furniture, jewelry, or equipment) valued under $50,000, excluding private vehicles and mobile homes. To claim the exemption, taxpayers must attest under penalty of perjury that their total personal property value is below $50,000 and they are claiming only one exemption statewide. The bill amends existing tax code sections to reflect this change and requires county assessors to verify claims. The exemption would take effect January 1, 2026, contingent on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 2045 creates a new 1% tax on businesses with over $250 million in annual revenue in Washington starting January 2026, targeting large corporations. It also increases the tax rate for financial institutions from 1.2% to 1.9% after July 2025. The bill exempts manufacturers, farmers, and certain income types from the new tax. These changes aim to fund K-12 education, public safety, health care, and basic needs programs, as stated in the legislative findings.

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).