Rep. Mia Gregerson

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates November 22nd as "Kimchi Day" to symbolically recognize kimchi's cultural significance and its role in Washington state. It highlights kimchi's 2,000-year Korean history, UNESCO recognition of its preparation process ("Kimjang"), and the contributions of Washington's large Korean American community. The resolution has no binding effect and serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment, not a policy change. It aligns with South Korea's existing "National Kimchi Day" observed on the same date.

Maddy summaryThis Washington state joint memorial (HJM 4017) urges the U.S. federal government to take specific actions regarding Iran, directly affecting U.S. agencies and policymakers. It requests the U.S. refrain from military intervention, strengthen targeted sanctions against Iranian officials violating human rights, minimize harm from broad sanctions on civilians, and support Iranian democracy movements through diplomatic and humanitarian means. The resolution emphasizes prioritizing Iranian-led democratic processes and includes nine specific policy requests, such as expanding internet access and halting deportations to Iran. As a symbolic state resolution - not a binding law - it has no legal effect but formally expresses Washington’s position to federal authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 2713 would impose a 1% surcharge on the taxable income from operating private detention facilities in Washington State, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects operators of such facilities that generate over $1 million in annual Washington gross receipts. The surcharge applies to the portion of income specifically tied to running these facilities, in addition to existing business taxes. This policy change would increase tax obligations for qualifying private detention facility operators without altering the definition of the facilities themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 2720 imposes a $0.58 monthly fee per enrolled member on health carriers, self-funded employer plans, and multiemployer health plans operating in Washington starting January 2027. This fee funds behavioral health crisis services (like mobile response teams and crisis centers) for people not covered by Medicaid or who aren’t enrolled in Medicaid, addressing gaps where current insurance reimbursement systems fail. The bill creates a dedicated funding source to replace inconsistent billing to insurers, ensuring these critical services remain accessible without relying on Medicaid or taxpayer subsidies. It directly affects health plans covering Washington residents and aims to sustain crisis care access as mandated by existing mental health parity laws.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 4692) acknowledges the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, including 12,000 from Washington State. It recognizes Japanese American veterans, incarcerees, and civil rights activists from Washington, and urges reflection on the principle "with liberty and justice for all," without creating new policies or requiring government action.

Maddy summaryHB 2297 creates incentives to support grocery stores in underserved communities across Washington, directly affecting low-income residents, communities of color, rural populations, immigrants, refugees, and people with limited transportation access. The bill requires cities to adopt model tax ordinances that reduce structural cost barriers for grocery retailers through mechanisms like tax credits and standardized small business thresholds. It aims to preserve existing stores and encourage new development in areas where market forces have failed to provide adequate food access, with the goal of strengthening local jobs and neighborhood stability. The legislation focuses on concrete policy changes to address food access barriers, not on speculative outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 2389 modifies Washington state's juvenile sentencing system to reduce racial disparities and replace an outdated 1978 sentencing grid with individualized approaches. It creates new alternatives to confinement for youth offenders, particularly for non-violent offenses like robbery (which disproportionately impacts Black youth), and eliminates mandatory minimums for most cases. The bill requires courts to consider rehabilitation progress and community-based supervision instead of long-term incarceration (over 6 months), which research shows increases health risks without reducing recidivism. It directly affects youth under 18 in Washington's juvenile justice system, aiming to provide equitable sentencing options while reducing reliance on secure confinement.

Maddy summaryHB 2364 revises Washington State's poverty reduction task force, renaming it the "economic justice and well-being task force" and expanding its structure to better align with the state's 10-year poverty reduction plan. The bill requires the task force to include diverse statewide representation from legislative bodies and 11 state agencies, with additional voting members from equity-focused commissions. It directs the task force to develop evidence-based strategies, monitor progress on poverty reduction goals, and collaborate with community stakeholders to address systemic inequities - particularly for historically underrepresented groups like immigrants, refugees, and communities of color. The bill focuses on structural changes to coordinate state efforts rather than creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHB 2388 allows solar and small-scale wind energy projects to be built on agricultural lands without disrupting farming operations. It specifically defines "agrivoltaic facilities" (solar panels paired with crop production or grazing) and "pivot corner facilities" (solar next to irrigated fields) as acceptable uses, requiring projects to maintain soil productivity, allow farm machinery access, and not degrade land after decommissioning. The bill amends zoning laws to permit these projects on farmland while requiring counties to prioritize agricultural use and limit nonfarm development on suitable land. It directly affects farmers, landowners, and energy developers by creating clear rules for coexisting energy and agriculture.

Maddy summaryHB 2125 allows Washington's public retirement systems (including those for teachers, police, judges, and state employees) to use interest earnings from their trust funds to cover specific costs. The bill authorizes paying legal expenses (like court costs and expert fees), medical expenses (for member exams), and administrative costs (such as audits and cybersecurity) directly tied to protecting the trust funds from losses. It also permits using trust fund earnings to investigate fraud and recover overpayments, with all recovered funds returned to the relevant retirement system. The bill does not change how retirement benefits are calculated but modifies how certain operational costs are funded. This amendment to RCW 41.50.255 aims to streamline expense management for the state's retirement systems.