Rep. Julio Cortes

Maddy summaryHB 2013 allows liquor licensees (like restaurants, breweries, and wineries) in cities designated as "fan zones" or "host cities" for international sports events in 2026 to temporarily expand alcohol service during June and July 2026. It permits shared alcohol service areas across multiple licensees within a two-square block or two one-block zones, requiring joint safety plans covering age checks, staff ratios, and container rules to distinguish alcoholic from non-alcoholic drinks. Licensees must coordinate with the Liquor and Cannabis Board for approval, bypass local permits for public space use, and comply with strict operational requirements during events. The authorization expires August 1, 2026, and applies only to designated event areas for specific international competitions.

Maddy summaryHB 1352 amends Washington's educator support program to require school districts receiving funds to provide trained mentors for "novice school nurses" (registered or advanced practice nurses in their first three years of school-based roles). The bill expands an existing program for beginning teachers, principals, and staff to include school nurses under the same mentorship requirements. Key provisions mandate districts prioritize these mentors, align with research-based induction standards, and include components like paid orientation, ongoing professional development, and non-evaluative observations. The law applies to school districts receiving competitive state funds for the Beginning Educator Support Team program, which focuses on improving retention and support for new educators. This is not a standalone nurse program but an expansion of an existing educator support framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1111 allows individuals convicted of crimes before age 18 to petition the indeterminate sentence review board for early release after turning 24, provided they have no recent convictions or serious infractions. The bill requires a department assessment 5 years before eligibility, a dangerousness evaluation within 180 days of petition, and sets conditions for release, including victim input and potential rental assistance. It limits annual petitions to 70, prioritizing those under 25 or recently transferred from juvenile custody, and expires July 2035. The policy aims to align with brain development science by creating rehabilitation incentives for youth offenders.

Maddy summaryHB 1732 limits large investment and business entities from purchasing additional single-family homes in Washington to increase housing affordability for residents. It prohibits entities owning more than 25 single-family homes (business entities) or any investment entity (like real estate trusts managing pooled investor funds) from buying more homes, with exemptions for nonprofits, necessary renovations, or short-term development projects. Violators face civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation and must sell the property to a third party within one year. The law aims to address Washington’s housing crisis, where investor ownership has risen significantly while home prices have surged 55% since 2018. It adds these provisions as a new chapter in Washington’s consumer protection law (Title 19 RCW).

Maddy summaryHB 1437 establishes a new governance structure for Washington's state tourism marketing authority, requiring a board of 13 members (including nine tourism industry experts appointed by the governor) to oversee promotion efforts. It directs a tourism self-assessment advisory group - representing sectors like lodging, attractions, and transportation - to evaluate implementing an industry-funded fee for sustainable tourism marketing, with recommendations due by November 1, 2025. The bill specifically aims to address current funding gaps (currently $4.5 million annually) by exploring a self-supported model that could generate dedicated revenue, though it does not mandate implementation. The authority and advisory group provisions expire June 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1744 makes it a crime to steal, alter, or fraudulently use gift cards by explicitly defining them as "access devices" under Washington's theft and fraud laws. It expands criminal penalties for obtaining gift cards through deception, such as altering barcodes or stealing unused cards from retail locations. The bill directly affects individuals who commit gift card theft or fraud, including those who take unused cards from stores or manipulate them to access funds. Key provisions clarify that "obtaining control" of a gift card through deception - like falsely claiming ownership - constitutes a violation. This law strengthens existing theft statutes to specifically address gift card-related criminal activity.

Maddy summaryHB 1661 establishes a pilot project to provide $25,000 grants to eligible Washington residents born into poverty. It directly affects individuals who were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP before age one and remain enrolled at application, are Washington residents, and are 18-36 years old. The grants, administered through the State Treasurer's Office, can be used for education, home purchases, or starting a business in Washington, with funds not counting as assets for public assistance eligibility. The pilot will randomly select participants across geographic regions, require financial coaching, and include impact evaluations by the University of Washington. This is a limited-time study to test whether such grants improve economic stability for people facing intergenerational poverty.

Maddy summaryHB 1632 prevents medical debt from being reported to credit bureaus without specific contract terms, directly affecting consumers with medical bills, healthcare providers, and collection agencies. The bill requires all new medical debt contracts to include a clear statement prohibiting credit reporting, and any contract lacking this term becomes unenforceable. If a provider or collector reports medical debt to credit bureaus despite this requirement, the debt is void and cannot be collected. This policy change aims to stop medical debt from unfairly damaging credit scores by removing a key barrier to financial stability for affected consumers.

Maddy summaryHB 1344 adds respite care to Washington's "basic plus waiver" program, allowing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their primary caregivers to access respite care funding more easily. The bill requires the state to seek federal approval to include respite care as an "aggregate service" (meaning funds can be used flexibly without extra approval after annual hours are exhausted), with respite care limited to 30% of the waiver's aggregate budget. It directly affects individuals relying on waiver services for community living and their unpaid caregivers, who often need breaks to maintain their own well-being. The state must submit a federal waiver amendment by September 1, 2025, and update the program upon federal approval. This changes how existing waiver funds can be used for respite care, not creating new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1623 prohibits employers from deducting credit card processing fees from employee tips. It requires that when customers pay tips via credit card, employees receive the full amount indicated on the credit card slip, without any reduction for transaction fees charged by the credit card company. This law directly affects tipped workers in Washington, such as servers and bartenders, and applies to all employers accepting credit card tips. The bill amends state law to ensure tips paid by credit card are paid in full to employees, eliminating employer deductions for processing costs.