Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos

Maddy summaryHB 1350 updates Washington's child care subsidy reimbursement rates to better match the actual cost of high-quality care. It requires the state to use a new "cost of quality" rate model that covers full provider costs - including living wages, benefits, staff training, and materials - instead of relying solely on the current 85th percentile market rate. This directly affects licensed child care providers serving families in the Working Connections Child Care program and aims to stabilize the child care workforce. The bill maintains the existing baseline reimbursement rate but mandates future rate recommendations must reflect these updated cost calculations.

Maddy summaryHB 1810 requires Washington state to study financial incentives for seismic retrofits of older brick buildings (unreinforced masonry structures) and create a statewide inventory of such buildings. It directly affects building owners of vulnerable historic properties, local governments using the inventory for planning, and taxpayers through potential tax changes. Key provisions include a 2026 study on tax modifications (like special valuation or exemptions) to reduce retrofit costs, and a 2030 deadline to catalog all such buildings using existing data and on-site verification. The bill aims to make retrofits more affordable to protect public safety and preserve affordable housing, without mandating retrofits. It expires in 2026 for the study and 2030 for the inventory work.

Maddy summaryHB 2082 aims to increase funding for public K-12 education, early learning, child care, and higher education in Washington state. The bill proposes to do this by modifying the state's capital gains tax and estate tax. It introduces an additional 2.90% excise tax on an individual's Washington capital gains that exceed $1,000,000, effective January 1, 2025. For the estate tax, it increases the exclusion amount to $3,000,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025, and intends to raise the top-tier rates up to 35 percent. Revenues generated from these changes would be dedicated to the education legacy trust account.

Maddy summaryHB 1943 requires Washington public high schools (grades 9-12) to include blood donation awareness instruction in at least one required health class starting in the 2025-26 school year. The bill directs schools to use programs from approved organizations like the American Red Cross or Bloodworks Northwest, which must be posted on the state education website. It also allows schools serving grades K-8 to offer age-appropriate versions of this instruction. The bill aims to educate students about blood donation’s life-saving impact and eligibility, complementing existing health education without mandating certified staff delivery.

Maddy summaryHB 1357 (Washington State) updates special education funding to incentivize inclusive classrooms. It revises the funding formula so school districts receive higher per-student allocations (1.18 multiplier) for students with disabilities spending 80%+ of their day in general education settings, versus a lower rate (1.09) for less inclusive placements. The bill also creates a grant program for up to 20 "pilot schools" to become centers of excellence in inclusionary practices, requiring demonstrated leadership commitment, staff training plans, and data on current inclusion efforts. These schools would receive funding to reach a 1.5 inclusion multiplier over four years. The bill directly affects school districts and students with disabilities in Washington state, focusing on concrete funding changes and support mechanisms to promote inclusive education.

Maddy summaryHB 1058 creates tax credits for eligible railroads to fund infrastructure improvements. It directly affects small regional railroads (class II/III), public entities like ports/cities, and industrial property owners with rail spurs in Washington. The bill provides a 50% tax credit on qualified expenses for maintenance, new rail development, or modernization projects (e.g., track upgrades, bridges, safety equipment), with annual limits of $500,000 per taxpayer and a total $8 million statewide cap. Credits can be carried forward for up to five years or transferred to other eligible taxpayers.

Maddy summaryHB 2046 imposes a tax of $8 for every $1,000 in market value on Washington residents' financial intangible assets (like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) exceeding $50 million in value. It exempts assets such as private company ownership, pensions, retirement accounts, and the first $50 million of holdings. Revenue from this tax will fund K-12 schools, early learning programs, child care, and higher education through the Education Legacy Trust Account. The bill targets high-value financial investments held by residents while excluding common retirement and private business assets.

Maddy summaryHB 1262 would rename Washington's Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities to the "Council for Health Justice and Equity" and update its membership requirements to include representatives from state commissions (such as the Commission on African American Affairs and the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs) and key departments (including Health, Social and Health Services, and Commerce). The bill specifies that the council must include six public members reflecting diversity in race, ethnicity, and gender, while maintaining its role in coordinating state efforts to address health disparities. This is a procedural update to existing law, not a new policy or funding measure, and it was referred to committee but did not advance in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1948 requires Washington state port districts managing major airport operations (defined as those with significant capital projects over $8 million) to create environmental justice plans by 2026. These plans must include community engagement strategies, measurable goals to reduce health disparities, and methods to involve overburdened communities in decision-making. For major projects, ports must obtain University of Washington assessments of environmental impacts on vulnerable populations and publicly share mitigation plans. The law mandates accessible community input through language support, childcare, and outreach to ensure equitable participation. It applies specifically to ports with airport-related activities under RCW 53.54.010.

Maddy summaryHB 1883 extends the expiration date of a tax credit for businesses participating in Washington's customized employment training program from 2026 to July 1, 2031. The credit allows businesses to reduce their state tax bill by 50% of payments made to the training program. The bill requires the college board to submit a 2028 report detailing program outcomes, including employee training numbers, wage growth, retention rates, and geographic distribution. The legislature states that future extensions may be considered if 75% of businesses complete training and repay the allowance, based on the report's findings.