Rep. Dan Griffey

Maddy summaryHB 2010 creates a state grant program to help public water systems in economically distressed communities fix unsafe drinking water infrastructure. Eligible systems must be located in distressed areas and fail to meet current state drinking water standards. The program provides grants covering capital costs for building, repairing, or redesigning water systems, requiring applicants to first secure a planning grant or submit construction documents. Projects will be prioritized based on water quality issues and financial need, with applications due by 2026 and funding requests starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1642 allows specific retirement system members who were never given a choice between two plan options to transfer to plan 2. It applies to teachers who joined Teachers' Retirement System plans 2/3 between 1996-2007, school employees who joined School Employees' Retirement System plans 2/3 between 2000-2007, and public employees starting after 2025 (effective January 2026). Members must make an irrevocable January transfer choice for future service, but retirees cannot transfer. The legislature reserves the right to modify this provision.

Maddy summaryHB 1048 establishes a five-year pilot program (2026-2029) in eastern Washington for rangeland fire protection associations, which are local groups formed by ranchers, farmers, and rural property owners living in wildfire-prone areas. The bill requires these associations to meet safety standards, maintain liability insurance, and complete specific training (like Wildland Firefighter 2 certification) for members, while mandating annual reviews by the Department of Natural Resources for governance, training, and safety. Associations must operate within defined boundaries and coordinate with state fire agencies, with the department submitting annual reports on the pilot’s safety, training, funding, and effectiveness. The program expires June 30, 2030, and applies only to associations participating in this specific pilot project.

Maddy summaryHB 1454 appropriates $7 million from the state general fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to create a grant program for multijurisdictional drug task forces in Washington State. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs will administer the grants, requiring recipients to follow peer review and reporting standards identical to those used for Edward Byrne grant recipients as of January 1, 2023. The program allows the administering association to retain up to 5% of the funds for administrative costs. This funding directly supports local law enforcement task forces tackling drug-related crimes across multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1737 ensures federally approved apprenticeship programs operated by federally recognized tribal governments in Washington state have the same rights and responsibilities as state-approved programs. It amends state law to define "registered apprentice" and "skilled journeyperson" to include tribal programs that meet federal approval standards. The bill requires contractors working at high-hazard facilities like petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants to use a "skilled and trained workforce" made up of registered apprentices or skilled journeypersons from approved programs, including tribal ones. This directly affects tribal governments operating apprenticeship programs and contractors in critical industries, ensuring equitable access to these workforce standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1793 requires authorized insurers in Washington to report specific details about fire loss claims to the Insurance Commissioner within 90 days of closing the claim. The report must include the property's zip code, date of loss, amount paid per coverage, and the known or suspected origin/cause of the loss (including whether it involved criminal activity). This bill amends RCW 48.05.320 to update the reporting requirements for fire losses, replacing a previous provision that directed reports to the Washington State Patrol. The change focuses on standardizing fire loss data collection for the Insurance Commissioner's use, without altering the underlying insurance claims process.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a standardized "portable orders for life-sustaining treatment" form that Washington residents can use to document their end-of-life care preferences, allowing the form to be recognized across all healthcare settings in the state. It establishes a statewide registry for these forms, requires healthcare providers to review them annually with patients, and provides legal immunity for providers who follow the documented preferences in good faith. The law directly affects residents making advance care decisions and healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, EMTs, and hospitals) who must follow these orders. Key provisions include an opt-out option for registry submission, rules for verbal confirmation of forms, and protections against liability for providers acting in accordance with the documented preferences.

Maddy summaryHB 1668 modifies Washington's sentencing guidelines by adjusting how prior convictions affect an offender's score used to determine sentences. It allows certain prior felony convictions (like Class B or C felonies, excluding sex offenses and DUI) to be excluded from the scoring if the offender has gone five or ten years without new convictions after release. This primarily affects individuals with past non-violent felony records who maintained clean criminal histories for extended periods. The bill aims to reduce sentencing severity for low-risk offenders who demonstrate sustained rehabilitation, without altering penalties for violent offenses or specific crimes like DUI.

Maddy summaryHB 1929 requires Washington's Senate to confirm the governor's appointments to vacancies on the Court of Appeals. It mandates a two-thirds Senate vote for confirmation, with specific deadlines for votes during legislative sessions or the next session if the legislature is adjourned. This directly affects the governor (who makes appointments), the Senate (which must confirm), and Court of Appeals judges (who fill vacancies until the next general election). The bill also prohibits reappointing rejected candidates for two years and clarifies that this process does not apply to other judicial vacancies covered by separate law.

Maddy summaryHB 1047 exempts fire districts in rural counties from paying state sales and use taxes on equipment purchases. It applies to fire districts with populations under 10,000, defined as "rural counties" under existing law, and covers firefighting, emergency medical, and fire prevention equipment. To qualify, districts must apply for a certificate of exemption from the state department, which will publish an annual list of eligible districts. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2025, for all qualifying purchases and uses after that date.