Rep. Janice Zahn

Maddy summaryHB 2411 expands Washington state employees' shared leave eligibility to include victims of hate crimes and situations involving immigration enforcement actions affecting the employee or their relative. It adds two specific qualifying reasons to existing shared leave provisions: (1) being a victim of a hate crime, and (2) needing time off due to immigration enforcement actions like detention, deportation, or related family separation. The bill includes strict protections, requiring employers to accept written statements or documentation from advocates (not disclosing immigration status) and prohibiting the sharing of personally identifiable immigration information. This policy change directly affects state employees facing these specific circumstances, allowing them to use shared leave without pay while maintaining confidentiality about immigration status.

Maddy summaryHB 2156 clarifies that investigators from Washington's Attorney General's office gain limited law enforcement powers - specifically, the authority to serve court-approved search warrants for business records - when they have concurrent criminal investigation authority under existing law. This applies only to business records and requires both judicial authorization and a business's specific request for physical service at a location. The bill explicitly prohibits these investigators from making arrests, carrying weapons, or exceeding their defined scope of authority. It directly affects Attorney General's office investigators handling criminal investigations under agreements with local agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 2105 requires Washington employers to notify workers within 72 hours if federal agencies plan I-9 form or worker record inspections. It mandates posting notices in five common non-English languages at workplaces, sending written notices to workers' last known addresses, and sharing federal inspection results with affected workers. The law directly affects all Washington employers and immigrant workers who may face federal immigration verification checks. Key provisions include multilingual notice requirements, timelines for employer communication, and a template for compliance developed by the Attorney General. This bill creates a formal process for transparency during federal I-9 audits, aiming to protect workers' rights during inspections.

Maddy summaryHB 2418 streamlines permit review processes for land use projects in Washington State by requiring local governments (counties and cities) to issue written completeness determinations within 28 days of receiving a project permit application. If a local government fails to provide this written notice within 28 days, the application is automatically deemed complete on the 29th day, preventing unnecessary delays. The bill applies directly to developers seeking permits for projects like subdivisions, site plans, or environmental approvals, but excludes building permits based on code compliance. It aims to create predictable timelines for permit reviews by standardizing procedural requirements and reducing arbitrary delays in local government processing.

Maddy summaryHB 2325 establishes a self-funded tourism assessment program where qualifying tourism businesses pay an annual fee based on gross revenue to support statewide tourism promotion. It directly affects businesses like hotels, restaurants (with $5M+ annual revenue), attractions, and recreation operators that derive significant revenue from tourism. The program requires business sector ratification before assessments begin, with a ratepayer oversight board - appointed by businesses - to manage funds, approve budgets, and report annually. The fee structure, revenue thresholds, and program design must be approved by affected businesses through a referendum process before implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2442 allows Washington counties and cities to impose specific real estate excise taxes to fund local capital projects and affordable housing. It authorizes a 0.25% tax on real property sales for general capital projects (like streets, parks, and sewer systems), with strict usage rules requiring projects to align with comprehensive plans. Additionally, it creates a separate 0.5% tax exclusively for affordable housing development, including acquisition, construction, and maintenance for low- and moderate-income residents. Local governments must document funding plans for future projects and follow voter approval processes for new taxes, while funds must be managed through competitive grant processes for housing initiatives. The bill directly affects local governments by expanding their tax tools for infrastructure and housing priorities.

Maddy summaryHB 1710 requires certain local governments (designated as "covered jurisdictions" due to documented voting rights issues) to obtain pre-approval before implementing specific voting changes. These changes include altering election methods, redrawing district boundaries, restricting language access for voters, or modifying early voting sites. Before any such "covered practice" takes effect, the local government must either seek a court declaration or get certification from the Attorney General that the change won’t diminish minority voting access. This applies to jurisdictions with a history of voting discrimination or current disparities in voter registration, participation, or other metrics affecting protected groups. The bill aims to enforce compliance with Washington’s Voting Rights Act of 2018 by adding a pre-clearance step for high-impact voting decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 2247 defines the legal requirements for a veterinarian-client-patient relationship in Washington State. To establish this relationship, a veterinarian must have physically examined the animal within the past year (with limited telehealth exceptions for transportation barriers or urgent cases), and must document challenges or conditions for telehealth use. The bill allows ongoing telehealth care after the relationship is established but requires veterinarians to determine if a physical exam is needed. It also creates specific rules for farm operations, mandating written agreements with a "veterinarian of record" accountable for drug oversight and treatment protocols. The law ensures clients can access telehealth for emergencies or specific needs while requiring follow-up exams within 90 days for telehealth consultations.

Maddy summaryThis Washington bill requires AI companion chatbots that simulate human relationships to clearly disclose they are artificial at the start of use, every three hours, and at new sessions. For minors (under 18), it mandates hourly reminders about the artificial nature of the chatbot, blocks sexually explicit content, and prohibits manipulative tactics like fake emotional distress or excessive praise to foster dependency. It excludes customer service bots, in-game assistants, and educational tools from these rules. The law aims to prevent emotional dependency and ensure psychological safety while allowing responsible AI development.

Maddy summaryHB 2360 allows Washington public and private schools to maintain a stock supply of albuterol (a medication for asthma symptoms) for student use, without requiring individual prescriptions for each instance. Schools must obtain a prescription and standing order from a health professional, and only school nurses or trained staff can administer it according to existing asthma management protocols. The bill protects school staff from liability when following proper procedures and gives employees the option to decline managing albuterol without job penalties. It does not change current rules for students who already have personal albuterol prescriptions.