Rep. Shaun Scott

Maddy summaryHB 1886 creates a new "Firefighter Memorial" special license plate for Washington vehicle owners. The plate features a Maltese cross with "never forget" and requires a $40 initial fee plus $30 annual renewal, with funds distributed to the Firefighter Memorial Fund. This plate directly affects vehicle owners who choose to display it, joining existing specialty plates like "Law Enforcement Memorial" under state law. The bill amends vehicle registration statutes to add this plate type while maintaining standard fee structures for special license plates.

Maddy summaryHB 2082 aims to increase funding for public K-12 education, early learning, child care, and higher education in Washington state. The bill proposes to do this by modifying the state's capital gains tax and estate tax. It introduces an additional 2.90% excise tax on an individual's Washington capital gains that exceed $1,000,000, effective January 1, 2025. For the estate tax, it increases the exclusion amount to $3,000,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025, and intends to raise the top-tier rates up to 35 percent. Revenues generated from these changes would be dedicated to the education legacy trust account.

Maddy summaryHB 1726 requires state agencies, school districts, and municipalities to prioritize purchasing lumber from Washington state (then Oregon, then U.S.) for public works projects costing over $500,000 with state funding covering more than half the cost. The bill mandates this procurement order unless a waiver is granted for reasons like public interest concerns, insufficient local supply, or cost increases exceeding 10%. Waivers require 30 days of public notice and comment, with a published justification. It applies to new bids after enactment and includes a provision ensuring compliance with federal funding requirements. This bill directly affects public construction projects funded significantly by the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1070 creates a legal presumption that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an occupational disease for correctional facility workers in Washington state, directly affecting staff employed at prisons, jails, or community corrections facilities. The bill establishes that after 90 consecutive days of full-time, compensated employment, PTSD claims for these workers are presumed work-related unless the employer provides evidence to the contrary. It also requires employers to cover reasonable appeal costs (including attorney fees) if workers win their claims in court or before the Industrial Insurance Appeals Board. This applies to claims filed within three months per year of employment, up to a maximum of 60 months after leaving the job. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1357 (Washington State) updates special education funding to incentivize inclusive classrooms. It revises the funding formula so school districts receive higher per-student allocations (1.18 multiplier) for students with disabilities spending 80%+ of their day in general education settings, versus a lower rate (1.09) for less inclusive placements. The bill also creates a grant program for up to 20 "pilot schools" to become centers of excellence in inclusionary practices, requiring demonstrated leadership commitment, staff training plans, and data on current inclusion efforts. These schools would receive funding to reach a 1.5 inclusion multiplier over four years. The bill directly affects school districts and students with disabilities in Washington state, focusing on concrete funding changes and support mechanisms to promote inclusive education.

Maddy summaryHB 1671 establishes new data privacy rules for Washington residents, requiring businesses to obtain clear "affirmative consent" before collecting or processing personal data. It specifically protects sensitive consumer health data - including gender-affirming care, reproductive health, and biometric information - and bans "dark patterns" designed to trick users into sharing data. Businesses must provide easy-to-understand disclosures about data use, allow consumers to revoke consent easily, and avoid inferring consent from user inaction. The law directly affects Washington consumers and companies handling their personal data, with exemptions for research approved by ethics boards.

Maddy summaryHB 1463 expands exemptions allowing families to continue receiving Washington's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash aid beyond the standard 60-month time limit. It directly affects low-income households nearing or exceeding this limit due to specific hardships. Key provisions add new exemption criteria, including homelessness (per federal McKinney-Vento Act), periods when Washington's unemployment rate was 7% or higher (starting March 2020), family violence, and having a child under age two requiring infant/toddler care. The bill requires recipients to have already received 52 months of aid before qualifying for these extensions, ensuring exemptions apply only to those with significant, documented hardship.

Maddy summaryHB 1424 creates an independent Jail Oversight Board within the governor's office to improve transparency and safety in Washington's city, county, and regional jails. The board, appointed by the governor, will include seven members representing diverse perspectives such as jail administrators, health care providers, and individuals with lived experience of incarceration. Its role is to ensure safe and humane conditions for jail staff and people held in custody while promoting a more rehabilitative approach to jail operations. This new oversight structure replaces the previous system eliminated in 1987 and aligns with practices in 29 other states.

Maddy summaryHB 1523 establishes the Essential Worker Health Care Program to provide nursing home workers in Washington with access to high-quality, affordable health coverage through their employers. Participating nursing home operators receive supplemental funding to support multiemployer health plans, while committing to maintain or increase their spending on employee health benefits (adjusted for inflation) and use funds to supplement, not replace, existing coverage. Employers must document prior health care spending, allocate funds through certified health plans, and report annually on benefit improvements. The program targets workforce instability in nursing homes - where many workers are women of color and immigrants - by aiming to reduce turnover and improve care quality through better health care access.

Maddy summaryHB 2046 imposes a tax of $8 for every $1,000 in market value on Washington residents' financial intangible assets (like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) exceeding $50 million in value. It exempts assets such as private company ownership, pensions, retirement accounts, and the first $50 million of holdings. Revenue from this tax will fund K-12 schools, early learning programs, child care, and higher education through the Education Legacy Trust Account. The bill targets high-value financial investments held by residents while excluding common retirement and private business assets.