Rep. Travis Couture

Maddy summaryHB 1374 reduces Washington State's general sales and use tax rate from 6.5% to 6% for most retail transactions, effective October 1, 2025. It directly affects consumers and businesses selling tangible goods, digital products, and most services that were previously taxed at 6.5%. The bill amends RCW 82.08.020 to lower the standard rate, while maintaining separate taxes for car rentals (5.9%) and motor vehicles (0.3%). The change applies to all retail sales covered under the current tax code, excluding specific exemptions like farm vehicles and off-road equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 1744 makes it a crime to steal, alter, or fraudulently use gift cards by explicitly defining them as "access devices" under Washington's theft and fraud laws. It expands criminal penalties for obtaining gift cards through deception, such as altering barcodes or stealing unused cards from retail locations. The bill directly affects individuals who commit gift card theft or fraud, including those who take unused cards from stores or manipulate them to access funds. Key provisions clarify that "obtaining control" of a gift card through deception - like falsely claiming ownership - constitutes a violation. This law strengthens existing theft statutes to specifically address gift card-related criminal activity.

Maddy summaryHB 1267 adjusts how Washington school districts receive state funding for special education programs. It gradually increases the "funded enrollment limit" (the percentage of students eligible for special education that districts can count for full funding) from 16% in 2024-25 to 17% by 2026-27. The bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to monitor districts for potential over-identification of students for special education services, and mandates corrective action plans and state auditor audits if districts exceed the limit. This directly affects school districts and charter schools with special education enrollment percentages above the phased-in limits.

Maddy summaryHB 1010 allows rural counties in Washington to authorize detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - small secondary homes on the same lot as a primary residence - on any lot size, even where local zoning previously prohibited them. Key requirements include limiting ADUs to 1,296 square feet, ensuring water/sewage systems can handle added demand, prohibiting construction on closed water sources or agricultural land, and requiring exterior design to match the main home. The bill directly affects rural property owners seeking to build affordable housing options and counties managing land use planning. It aims to expand housing choices without counting new residents toward rural growth targets in county plans.

Maddy summaryHB 1310 eliminates the enrollment cap on students eligible for state special education funding in Washington, directly affecting all public school districts and students with disabilities. The bill increases funding multipliers for districts serving students with disabilities in inclusive settings (80%+ time in general education), raising the multiplier from 1.12 to 1.5289 for those students, while lowering it to 1.447 for less inclusive placements. It also requires the state superintendent to monitor racial disproportionality in special education identification and provide technical assistance to districts. These changes aim to ensure equitable state funding without requiring local district contributions and support inclusive educational practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1092 modifies Washington state law to clarify when children may be removed from homes due to safety concerns. It expands grounds for removal to include un-prescribed use of strong opioids or other Schedule I/II drugs while caring for a child, and requires courts to prioritize health/safety during removal decisions. The bill mandates a shelter care hearing within 72 hours (excluding weekends/holidays) to determine if a child can safely return home, and requires courts to ensure parents receive notice of their rights and access to legal counsel. It also requires efforts to place children with relatives before long-term shelter care and specifies that parental waiver of hearings must be fully informed.

Maddy summaryHB 2057 requires Washington State agencies to identify and track new programs funded by the state. Specifically, the state auditor must publish an annual draft list (by July 1) of all new programs from the previous fiscal year, including program names, descriptions, funding amounts, and agencies involved. Three years after a program's initial funding, the auditor must conduct a review to assess its effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with original goals, then recommend improvements or termination. This law directly affects state agencies creating new programs, the state auditor, and legislative committees overseeing budget decisions. The bill aims to ensure taxpayer money is used efficiently by mandating regular reviews of new state initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 1344 adds respite care to Washington's "basic plus waiver" program, allowing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their primary caregivers to access respite care funding more easily. The bill requires the state to seek federal approval to include respite care as an "aggregate service" (meaning funds can be used flexibly without extra approval after annual hours are exhausted), with respite care limited to 30% of the waiver's aggregate budget. It directly affects individuals relying on waiver services for community living and their unpaid caregivers, who often need breaks to maintain their own well-being. The state must submit a federal waiver amendment by September 1, 2025, and update the program upon federal approval. This changes how existing waiver funds can be used for respite care, not creating new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1959 proposes eliminating Washington State's Office of Equity and repealing eight related laws (RCW 43.06D.010 through 43.06D.901) to save taxpayers $19.5 million annually. The bill directly affects the state budget and the Office of Equity, which was established in 2020 to address equity issues across state agencies. Key provisions include removing the office’s legal foundation, its director appointment process, reporting requirements, and related diversity initiatives within the Washington State Patrol. The legislature states this action aligns with prioritizing funding for "safe streets, excellent schools, and infrastructure" while reducing the tax burden. The bill does not prevent the office from operating as a nonprofit but removes its state-funded structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1865 expands Washington state's Working Connections Child Care program to specifically include employees of small businesses (defined as entities with 50 or fewer employees). It gradually increases income eligibility thresholds: households earning up to 75% of state median income become eligible starting July 2029, and up to 85% starting July 2031 (if funding is available). The bill also extends eligibility to parents enrolled in state-registered apprenticeship programs for the first 12 months of their participation. These changes aim to make child care benefits more accessible for low- and middle-income working families in small businesses and apprenticeships.