Rep. Rob Chase

Maddy summaryWashington State's HJM 4005 formally cancels all previous state applications to Congress for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It directly affects Washington's standing in the national process, removing its historical applications (dating to 1901, 1903, 1909, 1911, and 1963) from official records. The bill's key mechanism is a direct resolution stating the legislature "rescinds, repeals, cancels, nullifies, and supersedes" all prior applications, regardless of their scope or historical record. This is a procedural measure, not a policy change, aimed at ensuring future Washington legislatures must explicitly reapply if they wish to pursue a constitutional convention.

Maddy summaryHB 2028 prohibits large business entities (including land trusts and private foundations) and investment entities (like real estate investment trusts) from purchasing or acquiring agricultural land in Washington state. The bill directly affects corporations, investment firms, and certain nonprofits that buy farmland, aiming to protect local farmers and stabilize food costs. Key provisions ban such purchases, impose fines up to $100,000 per violation, and require forced land sales to qualified buyers if violations occur. Exceptions apply for land classified as timberland under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 1945 creates an independent office of the crime victims ombuds to advocate for individuals impacted by crime. The office will be operated by a private, nonprofit organization selected through a competitive bidding process by the Department of Commerce, not as a state agency. Key duties include referring victims to appropriate services, investigating complaints about justice system failures, protecting victim confidentiality, and monitoring service delivery procedures. The office expires July 1, 2027, and operates outside existing state government structures.

Maddy summaryHB 1585 requires Washington counties to verify that registered voters have proof of U.S. citizenship by July 1, 2025. It directs county election offices to check if voters have submitted acceptable documentation (like a passport, naturalization certificate, or specific certified U.S. birth certificate) and to send notices if they lack it. Voters without proof face registration cancellation 14 days before the 2025 general election unless they provide documentation. The law expires January 1, 2027, and explicitly rejects birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued before July 2010 and Washington wallet-sized birth registrations as valid proof.

Maddy summaryHB 1761 standardizes when local elected officials in Washington State (counties, cities, towns, and special districts, excluding school boards) must take their oath of office. The bill requires the oath to be taken either at the last regular meeting of the governing body before the official assumes office or any time after that meeting, replacing a previous allowance to take it up to ten days early. It also clarifies that new terms for these officials begin immediately after December 31st following the election, unless election results aren't certified by January 1st. This bill directly affects thousands of local officials across the state by simplifying the process and removing conflicting rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1892 allows individuals injured by someone released before trial (due to a law making pretrial release easier for violent offenders) to sue state legislators who voted for that law. It requires legislators to conduct a written risk assessment analyzing public safety risks, victim rights, and alternatives to pretrial detention before voting. If a court finds a legislator "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly disregarded" public harm risks when voting, they face personal liability for legal costs and damages - overriding typical legislative immunity. The bill applies only to injuries occurring after its effective date and does not affect existing legal defenses for legislators.

Maddy summaryHB 2015 establishes a new grant program to improve public safety by providing direct financial support to local and tribal law enforcement agencies. These grants are intended to help agencies with hiring, retaining, and training law enforcement officers, as well as peer counselors and behavioral health personnel for co-response teams. To qualify for funding, agencies must meet specific requirements, including implementing state policies on use of force and de-escalation, participating in mandated trainings, and demonstrating compliance with data collection standards. Grant funds can cover up to 75 percent of entry-level salaries and benefits for new officers and support costs for required officer training.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1934 modifies state law concerning the public disclosure of information from employment investigation records held by public agencies. The bill requires that after an investigation into discrimination or harassment is complete, the names, images, job titles, and contact information of complainants, accusers, and witnesses must be redacted, and their voices altered on audio recordings, before public disclosure, unless they consent. However, if an elected government official is a complainant, their name and title will not be redacted from the investigatory records once the investigation is concluded. This directly affects public employees and individuals involved in such investigations, as well as public agencies responsible for these records.

Maddy summaryHB 1936 extends the time frame during which retired school employees can return to work in public educational institutions without affecting their pension payments. The bill changes the expiration date for these provisions from July 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030. This allows certain retirees, including those in non-administrative positions and some administrators in second-class school districts, to work up to 1,040 hours per year while continuing to receive their pension.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 4650 is a commemorative resolution recognizing Representative Bruce Q. Chandler for his 26 years of distinguished service to the 15th Legislative District and the State of Washington. It honors his contributions in areas such as agriculture, business, early learning, and state budgeting.