Rep. Shaun Scott

Maddy summaryHB 2293 prohibits Washington state law enforcement agencies, including the Washington State Patrol and peace officer training commissions, from participating in or funding training, exchanges, or travel with foreign military forces, intelligence agencies, or security services. The bill directly affects all Washington law enforcement officers and agencies by banning partnerships, programs, or travel for foreign military/intelligence training. Key provisions require agencies to cease any existing arrangements and prevent future funding or facilitation of such international training activities. This policy change aims to restrict state law enforcement collaboration with foreign security entities, with no exemptions specified.

Maddy summaryHB 2312 authorizes Washington state employees to take unpaid "shared leave" when they or a covered family member face immigration enforcement actions like detention, court appearances, or deportation proceedings. It defines "family member" broadly to include household members relying on the employee for care, and requires employers to protect immigration status details when verifying leave. Employees can provide documentation from advocates/attorneys or a written statement without revealing sensitive information, and employers must redact any immigration data in verification. This leave is only available after employees exhaust other leave options, and it applies to state employees covered under existing shared leave policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2276 requires Washington's Department of Health to annually calculate home care agency labor rates (every odd-numbered year) based on negotiated wages, benefits, and employer costs for direct care workers. The bill mandates that these rates fund specific worker compensation items like wages, vacation/sick pay, health benefits, training, and travel time costs - prohibiting duplicate accounting or misuse of funds. Home care agencies must verify proper use through third-party audits or union attestations, with the department establishing transparent processes for exemptions during extraordinary circumstances. This directly affects home care agencies and the direct care workers they employ, ensuring state-funded rates align with actual labor costs and worker protections under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 2392 requires building and construction contractors working at specific hazardous facilities - including pulp mills, power plants, and nuclear facilities - to use a "skilled and trained workforce" for all on-site construction work in apprenticeable trades. This means contractors must ensure their on-site workers are either registered apprentices or skilled journeypersons (with at least 30% of journeypersons being apprenticeship graduates by 2027, rising to 60% by 2028) and have completed 20 hours of approved safety training within the prior three years. The law applies to contracts awarded on or after January 1, 2027, with limited exemptions for owner-employees, temporary workforce shortages, and emergencies. It directly affects contractors performing work at covered facilities, aiming to standardize workforce qualifications and safety training for high-risk environments.

Maddy summaryHB 2258 allows Washington cities and counties to impose a monthly household fee of up to $2.50 per dwelling unit to fund animal control and shelter systems. It directly affects local governments (which can adopt the tax via ordinance) and residents (who pay the fee), while requiring voter approval for new taxes or rate changes. The bill specifies that revenue must cover operation, maintenance, and capital needs of animal control systems owned or contracted by local entities, with annual rate increases capped at 2% or the inflation rate. It includes detailed procedures for voter referendums and defines key terms like "dwelling unit" and "parcel." The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2097 would allow Washington counties to impose a business and occupation tax to fund local services like public safety and waste management, directly affecting businesses operating within county jurisdictions. Counties must adopt a standardized model ordinance developed with business stakeholder input, including a minimum $20,000 annual gross income threshold for small businesses and provisions to prevent double taxation with city taxes. Before implementing or raising the tax, counties must hold a voter referendum requiring signatures from at least 15% of registered voters. The law specifies that existing tax classifications under state law remain exempt and mandates uniform reporting and penalty rules for all counties using this tax.

Maddy summaryHB 2147 increases state funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs in Washington State to address inflation-driven budget shortfalls affecting school districts. It establishes a new funding formula based on prototypical schools (600 high school students, 432 middle school students, 400 elementary students) with specific class size standards (e.g., K-3 at 17 students per teacher) and minimum staffing allocations. The bill requires transparency by mandating the Superintendent of Public Instruction to publish per-pupil funding reports online, which school districts must link to their websites. It also includes targeted provisions for career-technical education, lab science class size reduction, and high-poverty schools with over 50% free/reduced lunch eligibility. The legislation amends existing law (RCW 28A.150.260) to adjust funding allocations based on actual student enrollment and school type.

Maddy summaryHB 2164 simplifies access to DNA testing for people convicted of felonies in Washington state who seek to prove innocence. It requires courts to approve such requests unless the state proves with "clear and convincing evidence" the DNA could not demonstrate innocence. The bill removes prior barriers that forced convicted people to prove DNA testing met scientific standards at trial or was unavailable at the time. This affects courts, prosecutors, and crime labs by streamlining postconviction DNA testing while preserving evidence as required by law.

Maddy summaryHB 1017 designates November 22nd as "Kimchi Day" in Washington State, recognizing the cultural significance of kimchi and aligning with similar observances in South Korea and other U.S. states. The bill amends state law to add "The twenty-second day of November, recognized as kimchi day" to a list of non-holiday cultural observances. It does not create a legal holiday or affect work schedules, as these recognized days are explicitly stated to not qualify as paid or unpaid legal holidays under state law. The measure aims to celebrate kimchi’s heritage, citing its UNESCO-recognized preparation process ("kimjang") and health benefits, but has no direct policy impact on residents or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 1434 amends Washington State law to officially recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state legal holidays, adding them to the existing list of recognized days. These Islamic holidays, which shift annually based on the lunar calendar, will now be included in the state's holiday schedule alongside established dates like New Year's Day and Thanksgiving. The bill affects state employees, who will be entitled to paid time off for these holidays under existing provisions for state legal holidays, as outlined in RCW 1.16.050. This change makes Washington the first U.S. state to formally recognize both Eid holidays as official state observances.