Rep. Rob Chase

Maddy summaryHB 1993 exempts child care providers in Washington from paying the 0.484% business and occupation tax on income from caring for children under 13 or under 19 with verified special needs (as defined by state law). The bill modifies tax code to remove this tax for providers primarily operating child care services for short-term care (under 24 hours), applying until January 1, 2035. This directly affects licensed child care centers, home-based providers, and family child care homes serving eligible children. The key provision eliminates a specific tax burden on these providers’ gross proceeds, without changing other tax obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits foreign adversaries (defined as entities designated by U.S. Commerce Department for national security threats) from acquiring or holding agricultural land in Washington after July 1, 2025. Any such acquisition is invalid, automatically transferring ownership to the state without compensation, and bars the foreign adversary from claiming restitution. It also requires the Washington Department of Agriculture to publish annual reports tracking foreign ownership of farmland, including trends and recommended policy changes. The law defines agricultural land broadly to include farms, ranches, and forests (excluding small plots under $1,000 annual revenue), applying to direct purchases and indirect ownership through entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1869 prohibits Washington state funds from covering capital costs - such as construction, transit vehicle purchases, or major equipment - for transit agencies created under the laws of neighboring states (e.g., Oregon or Idaho). It directly affects regional transit agencies operating across state lines, restricting state funding for capital projects but not ongoing operational expenses. The law, effective July 1, 2025, ensures Washington taxpayers’ money cannot subsidize infrastructure built by out-of-state transit entities.

Maddy summaryHB 2029 prohibits Washington state governmental entities (including courts, the legislature, and agencies) from granting or recognizing legal personhood to non-human entities. The bill specifically bans this for artificial intelligence, inanimate objects, bodies of water, land, real property, atmospheric gases, astronomical objects, weather, plants, nonhuman animals, and other non-human taxonomic groups. Legal personhood - defined as the rights and obligations of a natural person under state law - is explicitly barred from being extended to these categories. This bill directly affects how state agencies and courts may legally treat non-human entities, preventing them from being granted personhood status. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the Washington State Senate to confirm the governor's appointments to vacant Supreme Court seats. Currently, the governor appoints justices to fill vacancies without Senate approval; this change would add a confirmation step for all such appointments. The amendment would modify Article IV, Section 3 of the state constitution to state that appointments "shall be subject to confirmation by the senate as provided by statute." It directly affects the governor (who makes appointments), the Senate (which must confirm), and the process for filling Supreme Court vacancies. The change would take effect if approved by voters at the next general election.

Maddy summaryHB 1928 requires the Washington State Senate to confirm the governor's appointments to vacancies on the Supreme Court. The Senate must vote on confirmations before a legislative session ends if appointed during session, or at the next session if appointed outside sessions, needing a two-thirds majority. Rejected appointees cannot be reappointed for two years, and confirmed appointees serve until the next general election. The bill takes effect only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment in the 2026 election.

Maddy summaryHB 2030 directs Washington's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to study the financial oversight of the interstate bridge replacement project by December 1, 2027. The study will examine how project funds were reported and spent since 2019, including cost overruns, payment processes, forecasting accuracy, and Washington State Department of Transportation's internal controls. It will compare practices against industry benchmarks and similar projects to assess transparency and accountability. The bill does not change funding or policy - it only mandates a review to inform future legislative decisions. The committee must submit findings to lawmakers by the deadline, and the requirement expires December 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1699 (Defending equity in interscholastic sports) requires Washington public school districts to verify a student’s biological sex through a healthcare provider’s statement (based on reproductive anatomy, genetics, or testosterone levels) before allowing biologically male students to participate in female-identified sports. It permits schools to prohibit biologically male students from competing in sports with separate male/female classifications, while mandating equal resources (equipment, facilities, coaching, etc.) for all gender-segregated teams. The bill amends existing laws (RCW 28A.600.200 and 28A.640.020) to align with these provisions and requires the superintendent to develop guidelines eliminating sex discrimination in school activities. It directly affects public school students, athletic programs, and district policies governing interscholastic sports participation.

Maddy summaryHB 1625 creates a grant program to provide funding for back country search and rescue (SAR) organizations and volunteers in Washington state. The program directly supports groups that respond to emergencies in remote, rugged terrain, where specialized skills and equipment are required to locate and rescue individuals. The bill amends state law to establish this grant mechanism, enabling these organizations to maintain operations and services. This policy change offers concrete financial resources to enhance SAR capabilities in backcountry areas.

Maddy summaryHB 1978 requires election equipment vendors to provide source code for ballot tabulation machines, hardware, and software to county auditors as part of their contracts. County auditors must then make this source code available for public inspection and copying, unless it is legally protected as confidential. The bill directly affects election vendors, county auditors, and the public by mandating transparency in the technology used to count votes. It aims to increase public confidence in election accuracy by allowing anyone to review how vote-counting systems operate, without altering the voting process itself.