Rep. Mary Fosse

Maddy summaryHB 2318 adjusts eligibility requirements for quality improvement awards within Washington's Early Achievers program, which rates child care and early learning programs. The bill specifies that award recipients must serve at least 5% of enrolled children receiving state subsidies, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Programs (EEAP), or Head Start funding. It maintains the program's five-tiered rating system, requires free initial ratings for participants, and mandates public reporting of ratings on a parent-friendly website. The bill also preserves provisions for professional development pathways and voluntary participation for non-subsidized providers, while keeping school-age care exempt. This change directly affects licensed child care centers, family home providers, and early learning programs receiving state funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2232 creates a statewide data repository to improve care for time-sensitive emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and traumatic injuries. It requires hospitals with specialized trauma, cardiac, or stroke care, along with emergency medical services, to submit quarterly data starting in 2031 on the incidence, severity, and outcomes of these emergencies. The repository will analyze trends to evaluate care quality and patient outcomes, with annual reports beginning in 2033. The bill also mandates an electronic emergency medical services data system, including new data on suspected drug overdoses to support prevention efforts. This affects all hospitals providing trauma, cardiac, or stroke care across Washington State.

Maddy summaryHB 2542 requires Washington-based animal testing facilities, contract testing facilities, and drug manufacturers to use non-animal test methods for drug development when scientifically valid alternatives are available. It prohibits the use of animal test methods in the drug development process (including discovery and preclinical research) if equivalent or better alternatives exist, defined as methods validated by federal bodies that don’t involve animals. The law does not apply if federal regulations mandate animal testing, and violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Washington’s consumer protection law. This directly affects entities conducting drug safety and efficacy testing within the state, aiming to align with federal policy supporting non-animal testing methods.

Maddy summaryHB 2313 authorizes Washington cities to establish publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas with food access gaps. Cities can acquire property (including via eminent domain), apply for state capital grants covering building rehabilitation and 24-hour "food locker systems," and use tax increment financing to fund store development and infrastructure. The bill requires annual reporting on financial status, community access, jobs created, and for third-party operated stores, sales data and compliance with contractual benchmarks like local produce sourcing. This directly affects cities seeking to address food insecurity through municipal grocery initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2513 increases penalties for plumbing contractors who violate regulations, raising the minimum first-time fine from $100 to $500 for contractors (compared to $100 for individuals). It establishes stricter suspension rules: three residential plumbing infractions in 36 months may lead to a two-year license suspension, while five or more infractions in five years could trigger the same penalty. Penalties collected must be deposited into a plumbing certificate fund, and administrative judges cannot reduce these fines. The bill directly affects licensed plumbing contractors performing residential work by imposing clearer financial consequences for repeated violations.

Maddy summaryHB 2098 imposes a surcharge on select large tech companies with global revenue over $25 billion, increasing the rate from 1.22% (2020-2025) to 7.5% (starting 2026) on their taxable gross income. The surcharge applies to businesses engaged in "advanced computing" (including cloud services, software, and platforms), excluding hospitals, health clinics, and certain telecom or financial firms. Revenues from the surcharge fund workforce education programs, with automatic enrollment increases in computer science and engineering degrees at state universities when demand exceeds capacity by 100+ students. The bill also requires quarterly reporting and includes penalties for evasion, while exempting specific healthcare providers from the tax.

Maddy summaryHB 2117 adds a seventh member to Washington's Board of Natural Resources, specifically a tribal representative appointed by the governor from federally recognized tribes in the state. The bill amends the board's composition to include this position, requiring the governor to consult with tribes during appointments and ensuring the representative serves a four-year term starting July 1, 2026. This change directly affects the board's decision-making process on natural resource management and requires collaboration with tribal nations. The bill aims to incorporate tribal perspectives and expertise into state forestland and natural resource policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2183 requires all Washington counties to create and adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027. Each plan must include immediate response strategies, long-term adaptation measures (like building upgrades and cooling assistance), and specific protections for vulnerable groups including seniors, outdoor workers, low-income households, and children. Counties must also establish tribal partnerships, public education programs, medical emergency protocols, and systems to track heat-related illnesses. Existing plans meeting these standards are exempt from the 2027 deadline, and counties must review plans during regular comprehensive plan updates.

Maddy summaryHB 2099 expands Washington State's early childhood education and childcare assistance program to include military-connected children who don't qualify under standard eligibility rules. It creates a new pathway for children from military families (active duty, reserves, or National Guard members stationed or residing in Washington) with family incomes above 50% but below the maximum for Working Connections childcare, as long as space and funding are available. The bill requires prioritization of these children using the same existing risk-factor system that considers income, child welfare involvement, domestic violence, and other factors linked to school readiness. This new category does not count toward the state's existing entitlement program, and the changes expire on August 1, 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 2182 authorizes Washington's Department of Health to directly acquire, distribute, and dispense abortion medications (like mifepristone and misoprostol) to healthcare providers and entities offering reproductive care, including abortion services. The bill creates a state-run program to prioritize bulk distribution to clinics and hospitals, allowing the department to sell medications at cost (plus a $5 per dose fee for secure handling) or free in 2025, with revenues going to the general fund. This directly affects healthcare providers who can now receive these medications through the state program and patients seeking abortion care. The law exempts the department from needing a wholesaler's license for these activities under specific state laws.