Rep. Debra Lekanoff

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 2281 strengthens Washington State's government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes by requiring state agencies to consult with tribes before actions affecting tribal cultural sites or practices. It defines "tribal traditional cultural places" and prohibits agencies from imposing "undue burdens" on tribal traditions without proving a compelling government need and using the least restrictive approach. Tribes can seek legal remedies in court if agencies violate these protections, with specific burden-of-proof rules for cases involving sacred tribal knowledge. The bill directly affects tribes whose cultural sites or practices may be impacted by state projects like construction or land management.

Maddy summaryHB 2685 establishes tribal data sovereignty principles for Washington state agencies handling health data. It requires state agencies to share tribal data (defined as information specific to tribes or their members) in ways that respect tribal ownership and control, including obtaining informed consent for data use and providing tribes equal access to state health data. The bill mandates that agencies include these principles in data-sharing agreements, consult with tribal advisory councils, and exempt tribal data from public disclosure under state law. This directly affects state health agencies, local health jurisdictions, and federally recognized tribes in Washington by ensuring tribal sovereignty over their data.

Maddy summaryHB 2468 is a technical correction bill requested by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to update outdated references in Washington state law. It amends over 30 statutes to align legal terminology with DSHS's current organizational structure (e.g., changing references to "aging and long-term support administration" to reflect updated department naming). The bill does not create new programs or change service delivery - it only ensures legal documents accurately reference current agency names and responsibilities. This is a routine administrative update to maintain consistency between state law and operational departments. The bill passed committee and is now before the full legislature for review.

Maddy summaryHB 2544 creates a pilot program to streamline water rights adjudication for the upper Columbia River area by prioritizing federal and tribal water rights claims before addressing other claimants. It modifies standard procedures to reduce costs for water users, requiring the Department of Ecology to first consult courts on resource availability and serve federal/tribal entities via personal or mail service with a 100-130 day return deadline. The pilot must conclude by June 1, 2033, and includes provisions for identifying additional claimants and using electronic filing/videoconferencing for efficiency. This process aims to determine if the streamlined approach would benefit statewide water rights adjudications.

Maddy summaryHB 2389 modifies Washington state's juvenile sentencing system to reduce racial disparities and replace an outdated 1978 sentencing grid with individualized approaches. It creates new alternatives to confinement for youth offenders, particularly for non-violent offenses like robbery (which disproportionately impacts Black youth), and eliminates mandatory minimums for most cases. The bill requires courts to consider rehabilitation progress and community-based supervision instead of long-term incarceration (over 6 months), which research shows increases health risks without reducing recidivism. It directly affects youth under 18 in Washington's juvenile justice system, aiming to provide equitable sentencing options while reducing reliance on secure confinement.

Maddy summaryHB 2351 strengthens protections for emergency responders in Washington by expanding the definition of "obstruction" to cover firefighters, EMTs, and other emergency personnel during active incidents. It makes it a gross misdemeanor to willfully hinder these responders when they are identifiable as such, with specific provisions allowing defense if a mental health crisis was involved. The bill also prohibits local government agencies (cities, counties, and emergency command systems) from using public funds to investigate or assist federal programs targeting emergency responders based on immigration status, race, religion, or national origin - except for required legal compliance or non-immigration-related duties. These changes apply to all emergency responders as defined in the law, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1152 requires firearm owners in Washington to securely store firearms in vehicles and residences under specific conditions. In vehicles, unloaded firearms must be in a locked, concealed container (hard-sided for pistols, soft-sided with trigger locks for rifles/shotguns), with exemptions for farm vehicles, people living in vehicles, law enforcement, hunters, and military personnel. At residences, firearms must be locked or stored in a safe when not being carried or controlled by the owner or authorized user, with similar exemptions for antique firearms. The bill creates the Washington Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention to coordinate prevention efforts and imposes penalties ranging from $1,000 civil fines to felonies if prohibited persons access firearms.

Maddy summaryHB 1982 allows courts to vacate past convictions of tribal members for offenses related to exercising treaty rights, such as fishing, hunting, gathering, or pasturing on tribal lands. It specifically targets convictions for violating historical laws (like former RCW 75.08.260) that criminalized these treaty-protected activities. The bill amends state law to create a process where individuals can petition courts to withdraw guilty pleas, set aside verdicts, or dismiss charges for qualifying offenses, with limited exceptions (e.g., pending charges or violent offenses). This directly affects federally recognized tribal members convicted under such laws before 1975. The law also requires the state to fund legal assistance and public awareness about this process.

Maddy summaryHB 1496 limits fees health care providers can charge patients for accessing their medical records. It sets a $50 maximum fee for patients, their legal representatives, treating providers, or designated advocates, and prohibits per-page charges. The bill requires the state department to establish fee standards based on actual costs of searching records, not arbitrary rates. These changes directly affect patients seeking their own health information and their authorized representatives.