Rep. Mary Fosse

Maddy summaryHB 2190 grants language access providers (like interpreters for state agencies) the right to collectively bargain with the governor as their employer, but only for specific services. It creates three statewide bargaining units: one for health/social services appointments, one for workers' compensation/crime victims, and one for other state agency services. Bargaining is limited to pay, training, grievance procedures, and benefits - excluding retirement - and requires the governor to request funding approval from the legislature for any agreement. The bill clarifies these providers are not state employees for other purposes and includes strict budget processes for implementing agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 1904 prohibits veterinarians in Washington from performing declawing procedures on cats, except when medically necessary for conditions like infections or injuries. It requires vets to maintain detailed records for four years, including the cat's identifying details, procedure date, medical justification, and owner information, which must be auditable by the veterinary board. Violations carry fines up to $2,500 per offense, and the law overrides any stricter local ordinances. The bill explicitly excludes cosmetic declawing and defines "declawing" to exclude simple nail trimming or caps. This directly affects veterinarians, cat owners, and pet care facilities operating in Washington state.

Maddy summaryHB 2662 requires Washington's state investment board to integrate environmental, social, and governance principles into managing public retirement and trust funds. It prohibits investments in companies involved in forced labor, coal production, tobacco manufacturing, severe environmental harm, or violations of international humanitarian law, while still prioritizing strong financial returns. The board must annually report on how these principles guide investment decisions and develop proxy voting guidelines to address related risks. This directly affects the board’s management of billions in state funds, including retirement accounts and public trust assets.

Maddy summaryHB 2657 establishes an abortion savings program funded by an annual assessment on health carriers. Health carriers must pay $0.82 per coverage month in 2027 (then $0.165 annually), with revenues deposited into a dedicated account. The program provides grants to eligible organizations offering direct patient abortion clinical care services, prioritizing access for individuals without sufficient resources where federal funding is prohibited. Strict privacy protections prevent disclosure of identifying information for staff, providers, or patients receiving services, and all grant funds must be used solely for approved abortion care. The bill directly affects health carriers through the assessment and abortion care providers through grant eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 2656 creates a public registry for all detention facilities in Washington, requiring them to report specific details like location, capacity, daily occupancy, and contact information. It applies to facilities holding people against their will for legal reasons (e.g., pre-trial, sentencing), excluding juvenile facilities, licensed child care agencies, mental health hospitals, and home detention settings. Facilities must register annually starting January 1, 2027, with failure to comply risking civil penalties up to $1,000 per day. The registry aims to increase transparency about detention conditions while establishing enforcement procedures for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 2122 requires Washington hospitals to offer annual flu vaccinations to two specific patient groups: adults 65 or older, and any patient (regardless of age) with a chronic health condition. This applies each year from October 1 to March 1, beginning July 1, 2027, unless the vaccine is unavailable at the hospital or the immunization is medically unsafe for the patient. Hospitals are exempt during declared state emergencies or disasters, and critical access hospitals certified under federal law are also excluded. The law focuses on expanding access to flu shots for high-risk patients during peak flu season through a straightforward hospital offering requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2651 allows Washington's Attorney General or county prosecutors to direct the state patrol to collect and securely retain digital evidence identifying federal agents accused of misconduct, such as location data, cell tower records, or facial recognition information. It applies to federal law enforcement officers and Department of Homeland Security contractors accused of misconduct like excessive force, assault, or constitutional rights violations. Complainants can only access this digital evidence through a court order in a related civil rights or criminal case. The bill establishes a clear process for gathering and limiting access to this data, focusing on factual evidence for accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 2638 creates a property tax exemption for surviving spouses or domestic partners of Washington state or local officers and firefighters who died from duty-related injuries or diseases. The exemption applies to the primary residence of qualifying survivors, reducing or eliminating property taxes based on their combined income level (with three income thresholds). Survivors with the lowest income are exempt from all property taxes, while those with higher incomes receive partial exemptions on a portion of their home's value. This policy change directly affects eligible surviving family members by easing their property tax burden, as outlined in new provisions to Washington's property tax code.

Maddy summaryHB 2630 requires state agencies to negotiate with employee organizations over job classifications and salary surveys for state employees, beginning January 1, 2028. The bill sets standards for classification plans, including simplicity, support for workplace diversity, and ensuring college degrees aren't required unless legally mandated for a role. It also changes collective bargaining rules to include negotiations over job classifications, promotional preferences, and health care spending per employee, using a coalition of all relevant employee organizations. This directly affects state employees in classified positions and their unions, as well as the state's financial management director.

Maddy summaryHB 2622 requires arbitrators to consider specific factors when resolving wage, hour, and working condition disputes for Washington Department of Corrections employees (excluding confidential staff and internal auditors) through interest arbitration. Key provisions mandate that arbitrators evaluate the department’s financial ability to pay, compare wages/hours/conditions to similar correctional workers in other western U.S. state employers and Washington local governments, assess retention needs, and review current total compensation (including benefits and paid time off). This law aims to standardize arbitration outcomes by focusing on regional pay benchmarks and operational realities. The bill amends existing law (RCW 41.80.200) to formalize these comparison requirements during dispute resolution.