Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos

Maddy summaryHB 2007 expands Washington state high school graduation options by adding competency-based assessments as a valid pathway for students to demonstrate college and career readiness in English language arts and math. It directly affects public high school students, allowing them to meet graduation requirements through assessments that measure mastery rather than just test scores or course completion. Key provisions include establishing new rules for competency-based assessments under section (2)(d), creating a performance-based learning option (2)(f) where students showcase skills via projects or portfolios, and requiring schools to provide annual information about all pathways to students and families. The bill does not mandate specific assessments but gives schools flexibility to adopt them while aligning with state learning standards.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally acknowledges Washington state's strong cultural, economic, and trade ties with Taiwan. It highlights that Taiwanese Americans (over 100,000 in Washington) contribute to the state's democracy and prosperity, while noting Taiwan's status as a top U.S. trading partner ($158.6 billion in 2024) and its role as a major buyer of Washington agricultural products (e.g., $3.8 billion in U.S. farm goods, including sweet cherries and potatoes). The resolution also recognizes Taiwanese investments creating over 20,000 jobs in sectors like semiconductors and shipping. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2658 requires health insurance carriers in Washington to annually report detailed data on mental health and substance use coverage, including in-network provider availability, reimbursement rates, out-of-network utilization, and service access by type (youth/adult, in-person/telehealth). This affects all health insurers operating in the state, mandating them to submit standardized data to the state commissioner by July 1st each year. The commissioner must then publish all raw data and create an interactive public dashboard showing comparisons across insurers, focusing on mental health, substance use, and medical/surgical services. The goal is to increase transparency about coverage gaps, as documented by studies showing Washington residents face significantly greater barriers accessing behavioral health care than medical care.

Maddy summaryHB 2573 requires supermarkets, full-service grocery stores, and pharmacies to provide advance notice of closures or major operational changes to local governments and the public. Specifically, these businesses must give six months' notice for general areas and one year's notice in "overburdened communities" (defined under Chapter 70A.02 RCW), including posting notices in primary languages spoken by 5% of residents. Local governments must include these notices in land use permits and public outreach, and can use zoning tools to prioritize redeveloping vacant properties for these essential services. The bill aims to prevent "food and pharmacy deserts" by ensuring continued access to healthy food, medicine, and health services in communities planning for increased density, affordable housing, and transit-oriented development.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1622 allows public sector employees in Washington state to collectively bargain with their employers over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The bill amends existing state law to remove the "use of technology" from a list of management rights that are typically not subject to negotiation for employees in higher education and other state agencies. It defines artificial intelligence as machine learning and related technologies that enable computer systems to perform tasks like computer vision or natural language processing. This change empowers unions and public employers to negotiate agreements on the implementation and utilization of AI technologies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary pilot program allowing Washington state agencies to advance up to 25% of a grant (capped at $200,000) to eligible public benefit nonprofits. It directly affects nonprofits that received state grants for public health, safety, welfare, or state benefit programs within six months, have a budget under $5 million, and have operated for at least three years with satisfactory past performance. The advance funds must be repaid from future grant payments, require a binding contract, and are limited to one-time use. The program expires June 30, 2029, and requires a 2028 report evaluating its effectiveness and recommending future action.

Maddy summaryHB 2435 creates a new legislative office on Indian affairs to provide educational resources and support to Washington State legislators and professional legislative staff regarding tribal affairs and the state's government-to-government relationship with tribes. The office will offer mandatory annual training for staff on tribal sovereignty, cultural awareness, policy best practices, and terminology, plus assistance in locating resources on tribal issues. It aims to complement the governor's office of Indian affairs - without replacing it or acting as a direct liaison to tribal leaders - by coordinating with legislative committees to incorporate tribal policy guidance into bill drafting. The office will operate under existing legislative funding and administrative structures, with defined roles for its director and staff.

Maddy summaryHB 2613 establishes strict safety rules for pharmacies compounding medications in Washington, directly affecting pharmacies and compounding facilities that create custom medications (like weight loss drugs). The bill requires compounders to verify all ingredients come from FDA-registered facilities with recent inspections, obtain detailed certificates of analysis, conduct quality testing, and maintain records for two years. Violations result in fines of $1,000 per dose sold and potential loss of pharmacy licenses. The law aims to prevent unsafe ingredients - such as those from unverified foreign sources - from entering the supply chain, aligning with federal standards while adding state-level oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 2579 establishes two new state-funded programs to expand public media access and digital equity in Washington. It creates a public media broadcaster program prioritizing community-based, noncommercial radio/TV stations that provide public safety information and arts access, with 85% of funds going to larger organizations ($1M+ budget) and 15% to smaller rural or hyper-local broadcasters. The digital equity program funds resource coordinators and multimedia trainers at community anchor institutions (like libraries and schools) to improve internet access, online safety training, and multilingual resources for underserved communities. Both programs require annual reporting and mandate that all funding be spent within Washington.

Maddy summaryHB 1662 removes the requirement for four education agencies - the state board of education, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, Washington State Charter School Commission, and Financial Education Public-Private Partnership - to operate from the superintendent of public instruction's office. Instead, it mandates their transition to independent administrative operations by July 2026, using Small Agency Services (within the Department of Enterprise Services) for support like accounting and legal services. The bill requires these agencies to establish their own administrative policies while the superintendent provides transitional support through the 2026 fiscal year. This change aims to align with their status as independent entities, optimizing efficiency for each agency’s unique needs.