Rep. Travis Couture

Maddy summaryHB 1726 requires state agencies, school districts, and municipalities to prioritize purchasing lumber from Washington state (then Oregon, then U.S.) for public works projects costing over $500,000 with state funding covering more than half the cost. The bill mandates this procurement order unless a waiver is granted for reasons like public interest concerns, insufficient local supply, or cost increases exceeding 10%. Waivers require 30 days of public notice and comment, with a published justification. It applies to new bids after enactment and includes a provision ensuring compliance with federal funding requirements. This bill directly affects public construction projects funded significantly by the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1091 amends Washington state law to prevent certain offenders sentenced as sexually violent predators from earning supervision compliance credit. Specifically, it removes eligibility for this credit for individuals sentenced under statutes related to sexually violent offenses (RCW 9.94A.507, 650, 655, 660, or 670) or subject to specific supervision types (RCW 9.94A.745 or community custody under RCW 9.94A.730). The bill does not change the credit system itself but explicitly excludes these offenders from accruing the standard 10 days of credit per compliant month. This affects individuals serving sentences under the specified laws who are under community supervision. The change aligns with existing eligibility restrictions but codifies them more directly in the statute.

Maddy summaryHB 1248 requires Washington state agencies to improve juvenile justice programs by establishing ongoing evaluations and clarifying diversion practices. It directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy and the University of Washington to create clear definitions of "evidence-based" programs, maintain an updated inventory of proven practices, and conduct biennial outcome reviews focused on recidivism rates and cost-effectiveness for funded juvenile justice programs. The bill mandates baseline assessments of current service usage and funding across child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and mental health services, with annual reports to lawmakers on strategies to expand evidence-based practices. These changes directly affect juvenile justice programs, state agencies (like DSHS and DCYF), and youth served by these systems, ensuring evaluations consider diverse communities and tribal partnerships.

Maddy summaryHB 1928 requires the Washington State Senate to confirm the governor's appointments to vacancies on the Supreme Court. The Senate must vote on confirmations before a legislative session ends if appointed during session, or at the next session if appointed outside sessions, needing a two-thirds majority. Rejected appointees cannot be reappointed for two years, and confirmed appointees serve until the next general election. The bill takes effect only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment in the 2026 election.

Maddy summaryHB 1188 requires the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to obtain written approval from both the local county government and affected federally recognized tribes before recommending wind or solar energy projects to the governor. For these projects, the council must submit siting recommendations simultaneously to county legislative bodies and tribes, who then have 90 days to approve via resolution or request reconsideration. The governor cannot approve any project without receiving all required local and tribal approval resolutions. This directly affects wind/solar developers, county governments, and tribal nations in Washington State, changing the approval process for these renewable energy facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1699 (Defending equity in interscholastic sports) requires Washington public school districts to verify a student’s biological sex through a healthcare provider’s statement (based on reproductive anatomy, genetics, or testosterone levels) before allowing biologically male students to participate in female-identified sports. It permits schools to prohibit biologically male students from competing in sports with separate male/female classifications, while mandating equal resources (equipment, facilities, coaching, etc.) for all gender-segregated teams. The bill amends existing laws (RCW 28A.600.200 and 28A.640.020) to align with these provisions and requires the superintendent to develop guidelines eliminating sex discrimination in school activities. It directly affects public school students, athletic programs, and district policies governing interscholastic sports participation.

Maddy summaryHB 1377 declares a state of emergency for Washington State Ferries due to delays in procuring new electric ferries, creating a backup plan if spring 2025 contracts fail. It authorizes the governor to declare an emergency, allowing the department to bypass standard procurement rules to expedite buying at least two nonhybrid electric ferries for delivery within two years - using existing Olympic-class designs to avoid new engineering. The bill also directs postponing conversions of certain vessels to prioritize operational reliability and requires warranty work to be done within Washington state when possible. This directly affects Washington State Ferries' procurement process and the public relying on ferry services.

Maddy summaryHB 2002 establishes a reward program to encourage the public to report information about firearms used in felony crimes. It provides up to $500 for locating such firearms, or up to $5,000 if the report leads to a conviction, excluding law enforcement officers, individuals with warrants, or government employees acting in their official capacity. The cash rewards will be funded from existing county and municipal criminal justice assistance accounts, which distribute funds based on population, crime rates, and court case volumes. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies (who receive the information) and the public (who may submit tips for rewards), while amending funding mechanisms for local criminal justice programs.

Maddy summaryHB 2066 creates a temporary sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping in Washington State, running from 12:00 a.m. on the second Friday of August through 11:59 p.m. on the following Sunday each year. It directly affects families with children in grades K-12 by exempting sales tax on qualifying items: clothing (including footwear, $100 or less per item), school supplies ($50 or less), and personal computers/computer accessories ($1,500 or less for home use). Businesses may opt out if they expect less than 5% of sales to come from these items, but the state will maintain a public list of exempt products. The policy aims to reduce immediate financial strain on families during back-to-school shopping, aligning with similar programs in other states.

Maddy summaryHB 1433 would establish a regulated system in Washington for adults 21+ to access psychedelic substances for therapeutic use under licensed professionals. It directs the Department of Health to license facilitators and service centers, and the Liquor & Cannabis Board to oversee manufacturers and testing, requiring sessions in controlled environments with trained guides. The bill emphasizes reducing costs to improve equity, particularly for historically disadvantaged communities, while explicitly stating it does not require insurance coverage or override federal law. This would create a legal framework for safe, supervised use and research, pending legislative approval.