Rep. Shaun Scott

Maddy summaryHB 2074 makes it a class C felony to offer or accept anything of value (such as cash, gifts, or favors) to influence how someone votes for candidates or ballot measures. It directly affects individuals and entities - including businesses, political committees, and organizations - that engage in vote-buying or quid pro quo arrangements. The law prohibits offering incentives in exchange for votes, promising rewards for not voting, or using tactics that could reasonably be interpreted as influencing election outcomes. Key factors courts will consider include how close the action occurred to an election and whether the offer was promotional or informational. This bill strengthens existing election integrity laws by criminalizing vote-buying and expanding liability to cover entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1853 requires Washington school districts to designate all public outdoor recreational spaces (like playgrounds and fields) as "green community schoolyards" available for community use outside school hours. It mandates the state superintendent to create a model shared-use agreement policy covering scheduling, costs, liability, equity, and fee structures to facilitate community access. School districts adopting this model policy become eligible for adjusted state funding under the school construction program. The bill directly affects school districts, community groups, and residents - especially those in underserved areas - by expanding access to outdoor recreation spaces without new land acquisition. It aims to improve physical activity access, community cohesion, and climate resilience through existing school properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Washington's unemployment insurance rules for part-time workers, effective August 3, 2025. It revises the definition of "suitable work" for part-time workers (those who earned wages in at least 40 base-year weeks with an average of under 35 weekly hours) to require them to seek work matching their historical average hours, rather than the previous 17-hour limit. It also adds protections: workers needing to care for family members or address domestic violence/stalking may not lose benefits for seeking at least 20-hour workweeks instead of full-time. The policy directly affects part-time workers who qualify under these new base-year criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 1214 expands Washington's Working Families' Tax Credit to include all residents aged 18 and older, removing a prior age restriction that limited eligibility to those under 18. The bill updates eligibility rules in the tax code to allow individuals who meet federal credit requirements (including filing a federal return and meeting income thresholds) to qualify regardless of age, as long as they were 18 or older by the end of the prior tax year. It maintains existing credit amounts ($300-$1,200 based on children) and calculation methods, with annual inflation adjustments. This change directly affects low-income Washington residents aged 18+ who previously may have been excluded due to age.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 expands access to free school meals in Washington state by removing income-based eligibility requirements. It mandates that all public school students who request a meal receive it at no cost, regardless of family income, to address food insecurity and support academic success. The bill amends several education funding statutes (including RCW 28A.235.135 and 28A.235.160) to align meal access with this new policy. It directly affects every public school student in Washington, ensuring no child experiences hunger during the school day. The policy change replaces previous tiered eligibility systems with universal free meals for all requesting students.

Maddy summaryHB 1897 creates legal liability protection for community-based public safety programs in Washington State. It shields these programs, their volunteers, and staff from lawsuits when providing core services - like outreach, case management, shelter, housing, or transportation - to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, complex needs, or past legal system involvement, as long as actions are taken in good faith. The protection specifically covers activities directly tied to the program's purpose of addressing public safety issues as an alternative to jail or prosecution. However, it does not apply to cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. This bill directly affects organizations responding to unmanaged substance use, mental health challenges, or poverty-related public order issues.

Maddy summaryHB 1263 updates Washington's Essential Needs and Housing Support Program to expand eligible uses for assistance. It allows cash assistance for recipients (previously prohibited) and clarifies eligibility for low-income elderly or disabled adults transitioning off certain benefits who have immediate housing needs. The bill requires housing support entities to prioritize homeless individuals first and those at "substantial risk" of losing housing second, while mandating data reporting to homeless management systems and limiting administrative costs to 5% of program funds. This directly affects vulnerable residents facing housing instability, including homeless individuals and those at risk of losing housing due to financial hardship.

Maddy summaryHB 1816 allows cities and counties with over 200,000 residents to create civilian crisis response teams that handle specific 911 calls instead of police. These teams can serve as the primary response for calls involving mental health crises, safety checks, or resource requests (like shelter or food), but only when no active violence or weapons are reported. The bill requires teams to undergo training in de-escalation and scene safety, and mandates consultation with health authorities to set qualifications and operating protocols. It designates these teams as a "third 911 responder" alongside police and fire, operating outside traditional law enforcement and fire response systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1356 adjusts Washington state's K-12 school funding by updating local enrichment levy limits and creating a state matching program. It sets new per-pupil funding caps ($2,500 for districts under 40,000 students, $3,000 for larger districts) through 2030, adjusted annually for inflation plus a temporary 3.33% annual increase (2027-2030), then raises the cap to $5,035 starting in 2031. The bill requires school districts to get approval for how they spend local levy funds before voting on them and links state funding to local effort - matching districts that raise less than $1.50 per $1,000 in property value. This directly affects all public school districts and state-tribal education compact schools by changing how local taxes and state funds combine to support school programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1445 would create a state-run Washington Health Trust to provide universal, comprehensive health coverage to all Washington residents, eliminating premiums, deductibles, and copayments. The trust would cover essential health benefits including primary care, dental, vision, prescription drugs, mental health services, and maternity care for everyone, regardless of income, race, or immigration status. It prohibits discrimination by providers and requires all qualified health care facilities to participate, with the trust paying providers directly for covered services. The bill aims to replace fragmented private and public insurance systems with a single unified financing structure to simplify administration and reduce costs.