Rep. Chipalo Street

Maddy summaryHB 2260 requires signature gatherers (people collecting signatures for ballot initiatives) to sign a declaration on each petition sheet confirming they verified each signer's identity, address, and that no one was paid to sign. It also mandates matching petitioners' addresses to their voter registration records to prevent fraud. These changes aim to improve signature verification accuracy by ensuring addresses on petitions match registration data, reducing errors in validating signatures. The bill aligns with requirements in other states like Idaho and California and responds to issues where unsigned declarations and missing addresses led to potential signature validation errors.

Maddy summaryHB 2259 requires initiative and referendum proponents to gather at least 1,000 valid signatures from Washington voters *before* filing a measure with the secretary of state, aiming to prevent duplicate filings and ensure minimum public support. It also bans paying signature gatherers based on the number of signatures collected - a practice linked to documented fraud in past measures like 2008’s Initiative 985 and 2012’s Initiative 1185. The bill mandates these changes to protect ballot integrity, citing evidence that per-signature compensation incentivizes forged or duplicate signatures. These provisions apply directly to ballot measure sponsors, circulators, and state offices processing petitions, aligning with similar laws in Oregon and Montana.

Maddy summaryHB 2409 extends collective bargaining rights to agricultural employees in Washington State, including farmworkers and those in food processing, packing, and distribution. It places these workers under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), allowing them to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions through elected representatives. The bill defines key terms (like "agricultural employee" and "bargaining representative") and requires PERC to handle disputes while addressing barriers like language differences and seasonal work patterns. This policy change directly affects agricultural employers and workers, shifting their labor relations under state law rather than federal oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 2373 requires Washington electric utilities serving 25,000+ customers to offer a monthly bill discount program for low-income households by January 1, 2028, with smaller utilities required to provide at least one such program. The bill mandates income-tiered discounts (minimum five tiers) based on third-party assessments, prioritizing households with higher energy burdens, and requires accessible enrollment options via phone, in-person, and online. Utilities must also provide multilingual materials, streamline eligibility, and report participation data to the state department biennially. This directly affects low-income households and all electric utilities in Washington, aiming to reduce energy burden through structured, ongoing financial assistance.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 4666) formally recognizes Mia Hamant, a University of Washington women's soccer goalkeeper who passed away after battling stage 4 cancer. It commends her courage and spirit during her time with the team and her impact on the Husky community. The resolution also congratulates the 2025 UW women's soccer team for winning the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, reaching the NCAA Elite Eight, and setting program records. As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect and serves only to honor Hamant and the team's achievements.

Maddy summaryHB 2102 eliminates certain unenforceable legal financial obligations (LFOs) for offenders in Washington State, including costs, fees, and accrued interest on restitution or other debts. It automatically voids these debts after the bill’s effective date, prohibits courts from accepting payments for them, and allows judges to waive uncollectible portions of LFOs upon offender request. The bill also stops interest accrual on criminal fines and fees as of June 7, 2018, and updates collection procedures for existing debts. This directly affects individuals with outstanding criminal or civil LFOs, particularly those deemed uncollectible. The law clarifies that courts may not enforce or collect these specific debts while preserving mechanisms for individual court-based relief.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes the creation of a state-owned public bank in Washington to increase public financing capacity for infrastructure and other public initiatives without raising taxes or increasing state debt. The legislation would establish a new depository bank that holds state and local government funds, allowing the state to leverage deposits to provide loans for projects like transportation and community development. Modeled after the Bank of North Dakota, the public bank would operate under state control to generate profits for the people of Washington while offering lower-cost financing for public needs. The bill amends existing state statutes to authorize the bank's formation and outlines how the institution would manage deposits and loans to support economic development and reduce reliance on bond financing.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial House resolution (not a policy bill) introduced on January 19, 2026, by multiple Washington State Representatives. It formally recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, legacy of nonviolent activism, and contributions to civil rights, including his role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution expresses the House's commitment to upholding Dr. King's ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity for all. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any specific individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryHB 2265 requires landlords in Washington state to allow tenants to install portable air conditioners or evaporative coolers (like window units or floor models) without restriction, unless specific safety or structural concerns apply. Landlords may only prohibit such devices if installation violates building codes, damages property, exceeds electrical capacity, or conflicts with window egress requirements - prioritizing tenants with disabilities requiring cooling. The bill mandates landlords provide written lease notices detailing tenant rights and restrictions, and shields landlords from liability for tenant-installed device issues. This directly affects all residential tenants in Washington, particularly those in buildings without permanent AC during extreme heat events.

Maddy summaryHB 2096 would allow Washington's Department of Licensing to issue special confidential identification cards (like drivers' licenses or identicards) **only to investigators working for the Attorney General's office** during undercover or covert civil or criminal law enforcement operations. These cards would have standard expiration dates but could **only be used while the investigator is actively assigned to an undercover operation**. The bill also gives the Department's director authority to create rules for applying for and using these confidential IDs. It specifically restricts this special identification to Attorney General investigators, not general law enforcement officers.