Rep. Nicole Macri

Maddy summaryHB 2499 modernizes election procedures for conservation district supervisors in Washington by extending their terms from three to four years and requiring financial disclosures from both current supervisors and candidates. The bill amends state laws to adjust election timing, term assignments (such as awarding the top vote-getter a four-year term in initial elections), and voting rules, while mandating transparency through financial disclosures. This directly affects conservation districts and their supervisors, updating outdated election processes to increase accountability in local governance.

Maddy summaryHB 2483 creates a state registry requiring data brokers in Washington to register with the Department of Licensing by May 2028. It applies to businesses that collect and sell personal information like names, addresses, Social Security numbers, or biometric data (e.g., fingerprints) without consumer consent. The law defines "data broker" broadly but excludes credit bureaus, financial institutions under federal law, and businesses collecting data from customers or employees. The registry aims to increase transparency about who collects and sells Washington residents' personal data, without regulating how data is handled.

Maddy summaryHB 2422 shifts the cost of private security guard licensing fees from individual workers to their employers. The bill requires security companies to pay all application, renewal, and endorsement fees ($101 initial, $95 annual) for employees, prohibiting employers from deducting these costs from wages or requiring reimbursement. This applies to all security guards employed by licensed companies, aiming to reduce financial barriers for workers in an industry with modest pay and high turnover. Violating employers face $500 penalties per violation, with repeated offenses risking license suspension. The law takes effect November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2144 requires Washington employers to provide written notice to employees before using electronic monitoring (such as AI tools, cameras, or software) to assist in performance evaluations. Employers must give at least 30 days' notice before starting new monitoring, 60 days for existing monitoring, and notify new hires at the time of the job offer. The notice must explain how monitoring is used (e.g., tracking productivity) and how data is verified. Violations can result in Department of Labor investigations and civil penalties up to $5,000 for willful violations, with enforcement applying to all employers in Washington state.

Maddy summaryHB 2731 prohibits local governments in Washington from banning cannabis businesses by banning ordinances, regulations, or land use plans that would prevent licensed producers, processors, or retailers from operating in their jurisdictions. The bill also expands the state's social equity program for cannabis licenses, requiring that at least 51% of ownership in new licenses meets specific criteria (e.g., living in a historically impacted area, having a cannabis-related arrest, or meeting income thresholds). It sets aside additional licenses for social equity applicants and mandates a scoring system to prioritize them. This law directly affects local governments (by removing their ban authority), cannabis businesses (by expanding operational areas), and social equity applicants (by creating priority access to new licenses).

Maddy summaryHB 2439 creates a voluntary "Responsible Vendor Program" for retailers selling cigarettes, vapor products, and tobacco products in Washington. The program requires participating businesses to provide employee training, verify customer IDs, adopt sales policies, post signage, and maintain records to prevent sales to underage customers. Businesses that join and follow all requirements receive a 50% reduction in penalties for single violations within a 12-month period. The bill directly affects retailers and distributors by modifying licensing rules and enforcement procedures under Washington law.

Maddy summaryHB 2724 proposes a new tax on Washington residents with annual adjusted gross income of $1 million or more, affecting approximately the top 0.5% of households. The tax revenue would be deposited into the state general fund to support K-12 education, health care, higher education, human services, and the working families' tax credit. Key provisions include exempting sales of family-owned small businesses and real property from the tax, aligning the state definition of taxable income with federal rules (modified for state purposes), and reducing other taxes like sales tax on essential items. The bill aims to make the state tax system less regressive by shifting more burden to high earners while maintaining current tax rates for lower-income residents.

Maddy summaryHB 2723 modifies Washington State's tax code by eliminating outdated tax exemptions, specifically targeting 786 existing exemptions that the legislature states have not been updated for a long time and were secured through private interests. The bill directly affects businesses currently benefiting from tax exemptions on machinery and equipment used in manufacturing, testing, or research operations, including gas distribution businesses that will lose their exemption for natural gas production equipment after July 1, 2027. Key provisions include amending tax codes to restrict exemptions for machinery/equipment to specific qualifying uses, requiring documentation for claims, and ending remittance programs for gas businesses starting in 2027. The goal is to increase revenue for the state general fund to support essential services by modernizing the tax code.

Maddy summaryHB 2257 is a technical correction bill that updates Washington State's tax code to improve clarity and administrative efficiency for the Department of Revenue. It amends multiple tax statutes (including definitions for "tobacco product," "vapor product," and "retail sale") to resolve ambiguities and streamline tax administration without changing tax rates or creating new revenue impacts. The bill directly affects businesses and individuals interacting with Washington's tax system, particularly those handling retail sales, tobacco products, or cannabis-related transactions. It focuses on fixing outdated language and ensuring consistent application of existing tax laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2489 establishes statewide rules preventing local governments from penalizing people for basic life-sustaining activities (like sleeping or eating in public) when no adequate shelter is available. It requires cities to prove shelter space existed before enforcing public space laws, and invalidates citations or prosecutions that violate this rule. The bill protects individuals experiencing homelessness from punishment for necessary activities while ensuring enforcement actions are limited to immediate safety risks. It does not create a right to shelter, but mandates cities to document shelter availability and coordinate with service providers to address homelessness.