Maddy summaryHB 2514 establishes a memorial on the Washington state capitol campus to honor service members from Washington who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (collectively termed the "global war on terror"). The bill creates a work group with legislative, veteran, and state agency representatives to plan the memorial’s design, location, funding, and construction. It requires the work group to submit recommendations to the capitol committee by July 2027, including names to honor, potential sites, and budget details. The memorial must also include a reflective component acknowledging veterans who died by suicide after service. This is a commemorative measure with no immediate policy or funding changes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 2174 allows counties, cities, or towns in Washington to designate "accident risk zones" on public roads with frequent collisions. It requires public hearings before designation, mandates safety investigations (including speed limit reviews), and increases enforcement in these zones. Drivers committing traffic violations like speeding in these zones face double the standard fine if signs notify them of the higher penalties, with half the doubled fines funding safety improvements like road signs or engineering fixes. Zones automatically end once safety measures are implemented or can be dissolved via petition from property owners or by the local government. The bill explicitly authorizes local governments to create these zones under new state law provisions.
Maddy summaryHB 2175 exempts nonprofit organizations that provide free durable medical equipment to patients from Washington's retail sales and use taxes on items necessary for their operations. These providers must be federally tax-exempt under 501(c), not charge patients, and be licensed in Washington. The exemption expires January 1, 2037, and includes a review clause to potentially extend it if the policy increases access to medical equipment for Washington residents.
Maddy summaryHB 2135 extends and modifies a tax exemption for disabled veterans who use federal grants to adapt their homes. It raises the maximum tax refund per project from $2,500 to $5,000 and increases the annual state funding cap from $125,000 to $250,000, with future adjustments tied to Seattle-area inflation starting in 2028. The bill applies exclusively to veterans who received U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grants for specially adapted housing or special housing adaptations. It expires on January 1, 2039, and requires the state to track usage to ensure funds stay within annual limits.
Maddy summaryHB 2141 freezes new building code updates for 10 years after the 2024 adoption cycle, preventing the state council from initiating or implementing further code editions until 2034. After 2036, substantive code updates would occur no more than every six years, rather than the previous three-year cycle. The bill directly affects the State Building Code Council, local governments implementing codes, and construction professionals by altering the timeline for adopting new safety and accessibility standards. Key provisions include prohibiting local code amendments during the freeze period and requiring emergency code changes only for public health/safety emergencies or federal compliance.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1622 allows public sector employees in Washington state to collectively bargain with their employers over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The bill amends existing state law to remove the "use of technology" from a list of management rights that are typically not subject to negotiation for employees in higher education and other state agencies. It defines artificial intelligence as machine learning and related technologies that enable computer systems to perform tasks like computer vision or natural language processing. This change empowers unions and public employers to negotiate agreements on the implementation and utilization of AI technologies.
Maddy summaryHB 2305 clarifies that travel vans - vehicles designed as compact living spaces with a shorter front-to-body distance than trucks - are legally distinct from motor homes for vehicle registration and tax purposes. The bill adds a specific definition of "travel van" to state law and explicitly excludes these vehicles from the motor vehicle excise tax, which currently applies to motor homes but not to campers or travel trailers. This change directly affects owners of travel vans who previously might have been incorrectly classified under motor home tax rules. The policy ensures travel van owners, who typically pay tax on other vehicles, are not subject to additional excise tax based on their van's use. The bill amends Washington’s vehicle registration and tax statutes to formally include travel vans in the existing tax exemptions.
Maddy summaryHB 2094 would require all Washington counties to appoint coroners instead of holding elections for the position, affecting every county in the state. The bill amends existing laws to eliminate the requirement for counties to elect coroners, noting that this change would save taxpayer money by removing election costs for an office deemed non-political. Counties currently using appointed coroners (under 40,000 population) or medical examiners (over 250,000 population) would see no change, but counties between those thresholds would shift to appointments. The bill allows counties to continue with elected coroners until their current terms end, with new appointees taking over after that.
Maddy summaryHJM 4014 is a procedural memorial requesting the U.S. Department of Justice investigate alleged fraud in Washington state's child care subsidy programs. It cites reported issues including hundreds of millions in un-auditable payments, whistleblower claims of self-dealing in community reinvestment programs, and misleading practices in minority-focused debt relief. The memorial specifically asks the DOJ to examine the Attorney General's handling of fraud allegations, potential public records violations, and whether systemic issues undermine federal oversight. This is a formal request to federal authorities, not a legislative change affecting Washington residents or programs directly.
Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 4675, adopted on January 28, 2026, is a ceremonial resolution expressing the Washington State House of Representatives' gratitude to the Washington National Guard for their service. It specifically acknowledges the Guard's roles in emergency response (including flood operations and search-and-rescue missions), disaster recovery efforts (like adapting from the Oso landslide), and national defense support (such as aerial refueling capabilities). The resolution directs copies to the Adjutant General, Governor, and other officials but does not create new laws or alter policies. It directly honors National Guard members, their families, and employers without imposing any financial or operational requirements.