Rep. Janice Zahn

Maddy summaryHB 2122 requires Washington hospitals to offer annual flu vaccinations to two specific patient groups: adults 65 or older, and any patient (regardless of age) with a chronic health condition. This applies each year from October 1 to March 1, beginning July 1, 2027, unless the vaccine is unavailable at the hospital or the immunization is medically unsafe for the patient. Hospitals are exempt during declared state emergencies or disasters, and critical access hospitals certified under federal law are also excluded. The law focuses on expanding access to flu shots for high-risk patients during peak flu season through a straightforward hospital offering requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2646 modifies Washington's rules for resolving disputes between homeowners and their neighborhood associations (HOAs) under the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act. It requires homeowners to give associations 21 days to fix violations before suing, and mandates courts to award winning homeowners actual damages plus attorney fees. The bill also allows parties to voluntarily use mediation or other dispute resolution methods. These changes directly affect homeowners and HOAs by clarifying legal processes and increasing accountability for associations.

Maddy summaryHB 2330 establishes a committee within the state department to create a scoring system that prioritizes capital funding for decarbonization projects at state campus energy systems (like university or community college facilities). It directly affects state agencies managing these campuses by requiring them to submit projects for review under new scoring criteria. Key provisions include a 13-member committee with diverse expertise (e.g., energy, labor, utilities) and a ranking process evaluating factors like long-term cost savings, greenhouse gas reductions, project readiness, and alignment with climate goals. The bill ensures funding is additive to existing budgets and aims to support compliance with Washington’s clean energy standards for state facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2622 requires arbitrators to consider specific factors when resolving wage, hour, and working condition disputes for Washington Department of Corrections employees (excluding confidential staff and internal auditors) through interest arbitration. Key provisions mandate that arbitrators evaluate the department’s financial ability to pay, compare wages/hours/conditions to similar correctional workers in other western U.S. state employers and Washington local governments, assess retention needs, and review current total compensation (including benefits and paid time off). This law aims to standardize arbitration outcomes by focusing on regional pay benchmarks and operational realities. The bill amends existing law (RCW 41.80.200) to formalize these comparison requirements during dispute resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 2173 prohibits Washington law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings (like balaclavas or ski masks) during routine public interactions, while allowing exceptions for active undercover operations and protective gear used by specialized units like SWAT teams. The bill defines "facial covering" to exclude medical masks, helmets, and clear face shields. It also establishes that individuals detained in violation can sue officers for financial compensation, attorney fees, or other court-ordered remedies. The law applies to all "peace officers" as defined under state law during standard public duties.

Maddy summaryHB 2332 regulates how Washington state and local agencies use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems to protect driver privacy. It requires all agencies using ALPRs to register systems with the Attorney General, limits their use to specific purposes (like checking stolen vehicles or missing persons), and prohibits collecting data near healthcare facilities, schools, or places of worship. The bill mandates detailed audit trails tracking every system access and explicitly bans using ALPRs for immigration enforcement or stopping vehicles based solely on a system match. Agencies must develop policies for ALPR use and obtain independent reasonable suspicion before stopping a vehicle, ensuring privacy rights under state and federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 2400 requires vloggers earning $12,000+ annually from compensated social media video content to register with Washington’s Department of Revenue as conducting business (Sec. 2). It mandates social media platforms and advertisers to set up trust accounts for minor children appearing in paid videos, withholding a pro-rata percentage of compensation based on the child’s screen time (Sec. 3). Platforms with Washington nexus must annually report detailed data to the Department, including creator counts, revenue from minors’ content, and video segment volumes (Sec. 4). The bill directly affects compensated vloggers, platforms, and advertisers, creating new registration, trust-fund, and reporting obligations.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 4666) formally recognizes Mia Hamant, a University of Washington women's soccer goalkeeper who passed away after battling stage 4 cancer. It commends her courage and spirit during her time with the team and her impact on the Husky community. The resolution also congratulates the 2025 UW women's soccer team for winning the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, reaching the NCAA Elite Eight, and setting program records. As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect and serves only to honor Hamant and the team's achievements.

Maddy summaryHB 2103 allows Washington cities, towns, and public utilities to contract for the *potential power generation capacity* (not just actual output) of renewable or nonemitting electric projects, such as wind or solar. It removes previous restrictions limiting contracts to specific "qualified alternative energy resources" and expands eligibility to align with current clean energy standards under RCW 19.405.020. Key provisions require public entities to pay for this capacity regardless of project completion or output issues, and payments cannot be reduced based on project performance. This bill aims to accelerate clean energy investment by giving local governments greater flexibility to secure future power needs.

Maddy summaryHB 2148 creates Washington's "pay it forward" program to help graduate students cover tuition and fees at public universities. The program provides funding for up to four years of study (or 125% of a program's length), minus any existing state financial aid, for students at University of Washington, Washington State University, regional universities (Western, Central, Eastern), or The Evergreen State College. Participants repay the program after graduation by contributing a percentage of their income (3.5% for regional universities/state college, 5% for state universities) for up to 15 years, with payments tied to the credits taken during their studies. Funding comes from state appropriations, participant contributions, and private donations, held in a dedicated trust fund managed by the Student Achievement Council.