Rep. Kristine Reeves

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1321 grants the Governor of Washington new authority regarding armed military forces from outside the state. It prohibits any armed military force from another state, territory, or district from entering Washington to perform military duty without the Governor's explicit permission. An exception is made if such a force is called into active U.S. service under the authority of the President. This bill aims to regulate the presence of external armed groups within the state and took effect immediately upon signing.

Maddy summaryHB 1563 establishes a prescribed fire claims fund pilot program in Washington state to provide financial loss coverage for damages resulting from prescribed fires and cultural burning. This program supports non-state and non-federal entities, such as private landowners and cultural fire practitioners, who conduct these burns according to approved plans and permits. The Office of Risk Management will administer the fund, which covers eligible property or economic damages up to $2,000,000 per claim. The intent is to reduce financial uncertainty and encourage the use of prescribed fire for forest health and wildfire prevention. This pilot program is set to expire on June 30, 2033.

Maddy summaryHB 1705 establishes a work group to study and recommend strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining large animal veterinarians in Washington state. This group, convened by Washington State University, includes representatives from state agencies, veterinary organizations, farmer groups, and historically marginalized communities. The work group is tasked with submitting a preliminary report by December 2025 and a final report by June 2026 to legislative committees. The bill aims to address the shortage of large animal veterinarians, which impacts animal welfare, public health, and the food supply.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1385 modifies the state's laws concerning fingerprint background checks for individuals working with vulnerable populations. The bill clarifies and expands definitions for who is considered an "applicant" requiring a background check, explicitly including prospective employees, volunteers, or contractors who will have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. It also broadens the types of organizations and services covered under these background check requirements. These changes aim to refine the scope of the National Child Protection Act and Volunteers for Children's Act program.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1006 regulates service contracts and protection product guarantees, which are agreements consumers purchase for the repair or replacement of tangible personal property. The bill updates and clarifies various definitions within the existing law, affecting consumers, providers, and administrators of these contracts. It specifically defines what constitutes a "service contract," including provisions for tire and wheel repair from road hazards and paintless dent removal. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for the scope and terms of these types of agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the process for identifying and evaluating individuals who may be classified as sexually violent predators for potential civil commitment. It affects individuals nearing release from confinement for sexually violent offenses and the various state agencies involved in their assessment. The bill updates the requirements for agencies, such as the Department of Corrections, to refer these individuals to prosecuting attorneys and to provide comprehensive records for review. Crucially, it grants prosecuting agencies new authority to issue "civil investigative demands" to any public agency to obtain documents and information relevant to determining if civil commitment is warranted.

Maddy summaryHB 1606 directs the Washington state institute for public policy to conduct a study on providing state employees with electronic access to peer-reviewed journals. The study will investigate potential funding, organizational structures, and policy mechanisms to facilitate this access. Its purpose is to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness for state agencies that currently face challenges in accessing these academic, scholarly, or scientific publications. The institute must complete and submit the study to relevant legislative committees by June 30, 2026. This section of the act is set to expire on June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1075 amends Washington state law to give public housing authorities more tools to finance affordable housing developments. It allows authorities to form partnerships with nonprofits, include wage requirements in contracts, and manage commercial space within housing projects, while requiring that at least 50% of units in new developments serve low-income residents. The bill directly affects public housing authorities and the low-income renters they serve by streamlining their ability to build and maintain affordable housing. The law, effective July 27, 2025, updates existing authority powers under RCW 35.82.070 to support expanded housing supply.

Maddy summaryHB 1142 standardizes training requirements for family members providing in-home long-term care to relatives (such as spouses, parents, children, or siblings), who were previously exempt from certification. The bill mandates specific training hours: 35 hours for most family caregivers within 120 days of starting (including 5 hours before care begins), and 15 hours basic plus 6 hours focused training for spouses/domestic partners (effective July 2026). It applies to caregivers providing non-respite care (20+ hours/month) or respite care under certain limits, excluding veterans' program caregivers. The law, effective July 27, 2025, amends RCW 18.88B.041 and 74.39A.076 to create these new standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1094 creates a property tax exemption for nonprofit organizations that loan, lease, or rent property to government entities (like cities, counties, or state agencies) for character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services - such as youth programs, homeless shelters, or community health initiatives. It directly affects qualifying nonprofits that provide these services and government agencies using their facilities. The key provision expands existing tax exemptions by allowing property used by government for these purposes to be exempt, even if owned by a nonprofit. This policy change aims to reduce costs for nonprofits and governments delivering essential community services, effective July 2025.