Rep. Julia Reed

Maddy summaryHB 2270 allows small Washington cities (population under 5,000) to use up to 15% of their prior year's lodging tax revenue for infrastructure, secondary roads, recreational facilities, and tourist law enforcement - previously restricted to tourism promotion or facilities. Cities must hold public hearings, publish notices in local media, and seek community input before shifting funds. The bill amends existing law to create this flexibility while maintaining tourism funding as the primary requirement for lodging tax revenues.

Maddy summaryHB 2162 creates a program to help new lawyers working as prosecutors or public defenders pay student loans by offering annual grants of up to $10,000 per year. It funds these grants through a tax credit for law firms that contribute to a dedicated account, allowing firms to claim a business and occupation tax credit equal to their contribution (up to $20,000 annually). The law requires the program to begin by 2027, with grants awarded based on available funds, and mandates annual reports on participation and spending. This bill directly affects public defense/prosecution lawyers and participating law firms, aiming to improve recruitment and retention in these roles through financial incentives. The program expires December 31, 2038.

Maddy summaryHB 2147 increases state funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs in Washington State to address inflation-driven budget shortfalls affecting school districts. It establishes a new funding formula based on prototypical schools (600 high school students, 432 middle school students, 400 elementary students) with specific class size standards (e.g., K-3 at 17 students per teacher) and minimum staffing allocations. The bill requires transparency by mandating the Superintendent of Public Instruction to publish per-pupil funding reports online, which school districts must link to their websites. It also includes targeted provisions for career-technical education, lab science class size reduction, and high-poverty schools with over 50% free/reduced lunch eligibility. The legislation amends existing law (RCW 28A.150.260) to adjust funding allocations based on actual student enrollment and school type.

Maddy summaryHB 2164 simplifies access to DNA testing for people convicted of felonies in Washington state who seek to prove innocence. It requires courts to approve such requests unless the state proves with "clear and convincing evidence" the DNA could not demonstrate innocence. The bill removes prior barriers that forced convicted people to prove DNA testing met scientific standards at trial or was unavailable at the time. This affects courts, prosecutors, and crime labs by streamlining postconviction DNA testing while preserving evidence as required by law.

Maddy summaryHB 2184 requires Washington State occupational therapists to obtain a special "intramuscular needling endorsement" before performing this specific pain treatment technique. To qualify, therapists must complete 325 hours of training (including 100 hours of anatomy/pain management education, 75 hours of hands-on technique practice, and 150 supervised patient sessions) plus one year of full-time clinical experience. The endorsement process involves documentation of training and a clinical review by a qualified provider (such as a physician or licensed physical therapist). This bill directly affects occupational therapists seeking to offer intramuscular needling as part of their practice. It does not change other occupational therapy services but adds specific requirements for this technique.

Maddy summaryHB 2177 amends Washington State's definition of "fetal death" in vital records laws. The bill specifies that a fetal death must show no signs of life after expulsion/extraction and either meet 20+ weeks of gestation (calculated from last menstrual period) or weigh 350 grams, while excluding induced pregnancy terminations. This change affects how medical providers and health departments record and report fetal deaths for official statistics. The amendment ensures consistency in tracking fetal deaths for public health data without altering abortion access or medical procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 2163 amends Washington state law to require counties and cities to adopt specific standards for public defense services, directly affecting local jurisdictions that provide legal representation to indigent defendants. The bill mandates that these standards include clear case load limits for attorneys, compensation details, attorney qualifications, handling of expert witness fees, and procedures for monitoring and evaluating service quality. It removes previous language requiring local standards to follow Washington State Bar Association guidelines, instead making those guidelines optional references. The law aims to clarify minimum requirements for public defense systems while allowing jurisdictions to align with court rules where possible.

Maddy summaryHB 2195 requires noncharter code cities in Washington with 30,000 or more residents to implement initiative and referendum processes within one year of reaching that population threshold. Cities with fewer than 30,000 residents may choose to adopt these processes through specific municipal procedures. The bill standardizes petition requirements to 25% of votes cast in the last citywide election (or city council election if no citywide race exists) and clarifies that certain emergency ordinances may bypass the standard 30-day waiting period before taking effect. These changes apply to all noncharter cities and amend multiple statutes governing local ballot measures.

Maddy summaryHB 2204 amends Washington State's health technology assessment program to improve how medical technologies (like drugs or devices) are reviewed for coverage in state health programs. It requires the state to prioritize reviewing technologies with Medicare relevance, safety concerns, high costs, or significant usage variations, and mandates systematic evidence-based assessments by federal-designated centers. The bill requires annual reviews of covered technologies (every 18 months), includes public comment periods, and ensures decisions align with federal Medicare guidelines unless new evidence supports a different conclusion. This directly affects Washington's Medicaid programs, healthcare providers, technology manufacturers, and patients by shaping which treatments qualify for state-covered benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 2193 creates a dedicated fund to prosecute mortgage lending fraud by adding a $5 surcharge on most deed of trust recordings in Washington. County auditors collect this fee (keeping 5% for administration) and send the rest to the state treasurer, depositing it into the new "mortgage lending fraud prosecution account." The Department of Financial Institutions manages these funds, using them exclusively for criminal prosecutions of mortgage fraud, in consultation with the Attorney General and local prosecutors. The bill applies to standard deed of trust recordings but excludes assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds.