Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes September 30, 2026, as Every Child Matters Day in the Washington State House of Representatives to honor victims and survivors of Indian boarding schools. It acknowledges the historical removal of Indigenous children from their families and communities, which aimed to assimilate them and resulted in cultural destruction and unmarked graves. The resolution also commends efforts to identify and preserve resources documenting the existence of these schools and the experiences of the children who attended them.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law ensuring students with disabilities receive appropriate public education. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves to honor the law's impact and encourage public recognition of its contributions. The resolution acknowledges the role of families, educators, and advocates in supporting students with disabilities across Washington state. It expresses the legislature's commitment to maintaining equitable educational practices and inclusive opportunities for all learners.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 4697) honoring Dr. Bernal Baca, recognizing his decades of service to Washington state. It highlights his work as a 30-year Yakima Valley College professor, founder of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, leader in labor and education advocacy, and executive director of a Tacoma-based Latino community nonprofit. The resolution formally acknowledges his contributions to justice, education, and community building, with no policy changes or direct effects on specific groups. As a procedural measure, it serves solely to express the House's recognition of his legacy.

Maddy summaryHR 4700 designates March 9 as "Billy Frank Jr. Day" to honor the late Nisqually Tribe leader who dedicated his life to protecting tribal treaty fishing rights and environmental conservation. The resolution commemorates his pivotal role in landmark legal cases securing tribal fishing rights and his decades-long efforts to foster collaboration on salmon habitat restoration and natural resource management. It recognizes his legacy of consensus-building between tribes, state authorities, and diverse stakeholders to uphold treaty obligations and protect Washington's ecosystems. The resolution does not create new policy but serves as a symbolic tribute to his advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates November 22nd as "Kimchi Day" to symbolically recognize kimchi's cultural significance and its role in Washington state. It highlights kimchi's 2,000-year Korean history, UNESCO recognition of its preparation process ("Kimjang"), and the contributions of Washington's large Korean American community. The resolution has no binding effect and serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment, not a policy change. It aligns with South Korea's existing "National Kimchi Day" observed on the same date.

Maddy summaryHB 2713 would impose a 1% surcharge on the taxable income from operating private detention facilities in Washington State, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects operators of such facilities that generate over $1 million in annual Washington gross receipts. The surcharge applies to the portion of income specifically tied to running these facilities, in addition to existing business taxes. This policy change would increase tax obligations for qualifying private detention facility operators without altering the definition of the facilities themselves.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 4692) acknowledges the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, including 12,000 from Washington State. It recognizes Japanese American veterans, incarcerees, and civil rights activists from Washington, and urges reflection on the principle "with liberty and justice for all," without creating new policies or requiring government action.

Maddy summaryHB 2281 strengthens Washington State's government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes by requiring state agencies to consult with tribes before actions affecting tribal cultural sites or practices. It defines "tribal traditional cultural places" and prohibits agencies from imposing "undue burdens" on tribal traditions without proving a compelling government need and using the least restrictive approach. Tribes can seek legal remedies in court if agencies violate these protections, with specific burden-of-proof rules for cases involving sacred tribal knowledge. The bill directly affects tribes whose cultural sites or practices may be impacted by state projects like construction or land management.

Maddy summaryWashington State's HB 2157 regulates high-risk artificial intelligence systems that make consequential decisions affecting major life areas like housing, employment, healthcare, loans, and education. It applies to developers (with over $100,000 annual revenue) and deployers operating in Washington who use AI systems for these decisions. The law prohibits algorithmic discrimination - unlawful bias based on protected characteristics - and requires systems to be designed and tested to prevent such outcomes, while excluding research activities and certain facial recognition uses.

Maddy summaryHB 2191 requires owners and direct contractors to jointly pay unpaid wages and benefits (including health insurance, retirement contributions, and tool reimbursements) to construction workers when subcontractors fail to pay. It creates a direct legal path for workers, their representatives, or the attorney general to sue owners or direct contractors for withheld payments, rather than only pursuing subcontractors. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that workers are employees (not independent contractors), prevents liability waivers for nonpayment, and sets a 3-year deadline for filing claims. This directly affects construction workers, subcontractors, and higher-tier contractors across all project tiers in Washington state.