Rep. Alex Ramel

Maddy summaryHB 2151 requires Washington state to adopt national safety standards for factory-built housing and commercial structures, specifically aligning with International Code Council (ICC) guidelines for design, construction, and inspections. It directs the Department of Labor & Industries to enforce rules ensuring structural safety and compliance with plumbing, electrical, and energy codes, while allowing qualified inspection agencies (like ICC-certified firms) to conduct inspections. This bill directly affects builders, inspectors, and local enforcement agencies by replacing current state-specific requirements with nationally recognized standards. The law also establishes fee schedules for enforcement and permits fee waivers during emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill gives Washington state agencies and local governments authority to remove abandoned or hazardous vessels (like those sunk, obstructing waterways, or endangering property) after a 7-day notice period. It directly affects vessel owners who leave boats unattended and local entities managing aquatic lands. Key provisions require authorities to prioritize environmentally sound disposal, sell vessels at auction if possible, and use sale proceeds first to cover removal costs, environmental damages, and administrative fees before addressing liens. The law also establishes clear procedures for owners to contest removal decisions or costs through hearings.

Maddy summaryHR 4700 designates March 9 as "Billy Frank Jr. Day" to honor the late Nisqually Tribe leader who dedicated his life to protecting tribal treaty fishing rights and environmental conservation. The resolution commemorates his pivotal role in landmark legal cases securing tribal fishing rights and his decades-long efforts to foster collaboration on salmon habitat restoration and natural resource management. It recognizes his legacy of consensus-building between tribes, state authorities, and diverse stakeholders to uphold treaty obligations and protect Washington's ecosystems. The resolution does not create new policy but serves as a symbolic tribute to his advocacy.

Maddy summaryHB 2617 eliminates Washington's current "fund split" funding method, which forces public colleges and universities to use tuition revenue for mandatory costs like faculty salaries and benefits. Instead, it requires the state to cover these costs directly, freeing tuition revenue to improve educational quality and student services. The bill also mandates a study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to define essential student services (such as counseling, tutoring, and career support) and determine their required funding levels, with a report due by December 2026. This aims to address structural underfunding that has reduced program offerings, increased class sizes, and strained institutional budgets.

Maddy summaryHB 2070 establishes a formula to provide state funding parity for Western Washington University (WWU) by addressing its historically lowest per-student funding among Washington's public universities. Starting with the 2029-2031 budget cycle, the bill requires the legislature to calculate a funding ratio based on carryforward budget levels and full-time equivalent students; if WWU has the lowest ratio, it will receive supplemental funding to match the next-highest regional university. This directly affects WWU students and the university by reducing tuition costs and aligning its funding with peers, as WWU has consistently received less per-student funding despite strong enrollment and graduation rates. The bill aims to support Washington's workforce goals, noting 70% of family-wage jobs require a bachelor's degree and 300,000 additional degree-holders are needed by 2035.

Maddy summaryThis Washington state joint memorial (HJM 4017) urges the U.S. federal government to take specific actions regarding Iran, directly affecting U.S. agencies and policymakers. It requests the U.S. refrain from military intervention, strengthen targeted sanctions against Iranian officials violating human rights, minimize harm from broad sanctions on civilians, and support Iranian democracy movements through diplomatic and humanitarian means. The resolution emphasizes prioritizing Iranian-led democratic processes and includes nine specific policy requests, such as expanding internet access and halting deportations to Iran. As a symbolic state resolution - not a binding law - it has no legal effect but formally expresses Washington’s position to federal authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 2713 would impose a 1% surcharge on the taxable income from operating private detention facilities in Washington State, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects operators of such facilities that generate over $1 million in annual Washington gross receipts. The surcharge applies to the portion of income specifically tied to running these facilities, in addition to existing business taxes. This policy change would increase tax obligations for qualifying private detention facility operators without altering the definition of the facilities themselves.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 4692) acknowledges the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, including 12,000 from Washington State. It recognizes Japanese American veterans, incarcerees, and civil rights activists from Washington, and urges reflection on the principle "with liberty and justice for all," without creating new policies or requiring government action.

Maddy summaryHB 2379 requires Washington's Department of Transportation to automatically suspend tolls on facilities designated as evacuation routes during declared emergencies. This applies directly to drivers using those specific routes when an emergency (like a natural disaster) makes evacuation necessary. The bill mandates that toll suspension continues until the department determines it is no longer needed for evacuation purposes. The key mechanism is an automatic, mandatory toll pause for evacuation routes, with no manual approval required during the emergency.

Maddy summaryHB 2329 amends Washington state law to clarify that licensed midwives may delegate certain midwifery tasks to medical assistants and coordinate with international board-certified lactation consultants. The bill specifically updates statutes to allow midwives to authorize medical assistants to perform tasks within the assistants' training and scope of practice, while maintaining required supervision standards. It also explicitly confirms that midwives may work with lactation consultants without restrictions. This directly affects midwives, medical assistants, and lactation consultants by expanding midwives' ability to delegate routine care tasks under supervision. The policy change streamlines midwifery practice without altering core supervision requirements.