Rep. Mary Fosse

Maddy summaryHB 2469 establishes a task force to study whether Washington should create a state-owned public bank modeled after North Dakota's bank. The task force, appointed by the state treasurer, includes representatives from community banks, credit unions, agriculture, mining, logging, transportation, and commercial construction industries. It will examine legal barriers, potential benefits like funding infrastructure and disaster supplies, capital needs, and governance over one year, with a report due to the legislature by December 2026. The bill does not create the bank but seeks to determine its feasibility as a potential tool for state economic development.

Maddy summaryHB 2312 authorizes Washington state employees to take unpaid "shared leave" when they or a covered family member face immigration enforcement actions like detention, court appearances, or deportation proceedings. It defines "family member" broadly to include household members relying on the employee for care, and requires employers to protect immigration status details when verifying leave. Employees can provide documentation from advocates/attorneys or a written statement without revealing sensitive information, and employers must redact any immigration data in verification. This leave is only available after employees exhaust other leave options, and it applies to state employees covered under existing shared leave policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2321 requires 3D printer manufacturers and sellers in Washington state to equip all new printers with software that automatically blocks print jobs for firearms or illegal firearm parts, effective July 1, 2027. The law mandates that printers use a "firearms blueprint detection algorithm" to identify and reject files containing firearm designs before printing, meeting specific technical standards to prevent bypassing. Manufacturers must attest under penalty of perjury that their printers comply, with penalties including misdemeanors for first offenses and class C felonies for repeat violations or corporate breaches. This directly affects 3D printer companies operating in Washington, aiming to prevent unlawful firearm manufacturing through technical safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 2276 requires Washington's Department of Health to annually calculate home care agency labor rates (every odd-numbered year) based on negotiated wages, benefits, and employer costs for direct care workers. The bill mandates that these rates fund specific worker compensation items like wages, vacation/sick pay, health benefits, training, and travel time costs - prohibiting duplicate accounting or misuse of funds. Home care agencies must verify proper use through third-party audits or union attestations, with the department establishing transparent processes for exemptions during extraordinary circumstances. This directly affects home care agencies and the direct care workers they employ, ensuring state-funded rates align with actual labor costs and worker protections under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 2366 raises the daily compensation for Washington school board members from $50 to $100 (capping annual pay at $13,750, with excess pay over $3,000 requiring specific board approval). It requires school districts to cover training costs for board members on funding and finance, mandating all current and new directors to complete this training within one year of their term. The bill also establishes automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments for compensation based on the consumer price index. School districts must fund these changes using local tax revenue, and the training program provisions depend on specific budget appropriations by June 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2300 requires large Washington employers (with 500+ total workers in the state during a quarter) to reimburse the state for health care costs paid through public programs like Apple Health for their workers. Employers must pay an assessment based on the state's per-person cost for each worker enrolled in medical assistance programs who is under 65 years old. This applies to most employers, but excludes those already providing health coverage to all workers or seasonal businesses meeting specific criteria. The program aims to preserve public health funding by shifting costs to employers whose workers rely on state-funded care, with payments due quarterly starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2341 changes Washington state's school calendar to align with National Voter Registration Day, requiring public high schools to hold voter registration events during history or social studies classes for students aged 16 and older on the third Tuesday in September (or the following Tuesday if it conflicts with a major religious holiday). The bill mandates that schools provide both online and paper voter registration forms during these events, with county election offices encouraged to assist. It sets a goal of 50,000 new youth voter registrations annually and requires the state superintendent to report yearly progress to the legislature. This replaces the existing "Temperance and Good Citizenship Day" observance on January 16th, shifting the focus to voter registration for students who may have missed earlier opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 2258 allows Washington cities and counties to impose a monthly household fee of up to $2.50 per dwelling unit to fund animal control and shelter systems. It directly affects local governments (which can adopt the tax via ordinance) and residents (who pay the fee), while requiring voter approval for new taxes or rate changes. The bill specifies that revenue must cover operation, maintenance, and capital needs of animal control systems owned or contracted by local entities, with annual rate increases capped at 2% or the inflation rate. It includes detailed procedures for voter referendums and defines key terms like "dwelling unit" and "parcel." The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2268 requires mortgage servicers to pay borrowers at least 2% simple annual interest on funds held in escrow accounts for residential mortgages (covering one- to four-unit homes) starting January 1, 2027. It prohibits servicers from charging fees that would reduce the effective interest rate below 2%. The law applies only to new mortgages executed on or after the effective date, directly affecting borrowers who maintain escrow accounts and the servicers managing those accounts. This policy change mandates a minimum return on escrow funds, shifting a financial benefit from servicers to borrowers.

Maddy summaryHB 2391 amends Washington's public records law to restrict how agencies disclose lists of individuals. It prohibits state and local agencies from providing personal contact lists for commercial, solicitation, or fundraising purposes, unless the request is from a recognized professional association or educational organization for licensed professionals (e.g., medical or legal licensees) who pay a reasonable fee. The bill requires agencies to refuse such requests by default, with exceptions only for professional licensing data and after verifying an organization's recognition status. This directly affects anyone seeking personal contact information from government records, ensuring greater privacy protections for individuals' data.