Rep. Shaun Scott

Maddy summaryHB 2403 modifies Washington state's legal requirements for sex offenders who fail to register, aligning the rules with recommendations from the Sex Offender Policy Board. The bill updates specific statutes (including those governing registration penalties and sentencing levels) to clarify when failure to register constitutes a crime. It directly affects individuals convicted of sex offenses required to register under state law. The changes aim to standardize registration compliance without creating new offenses or altering existing penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 2517 streamlines permitting for high-capacity transit projects like rail systems by giving regional transit authorities new tools. It allows transit agencies to apply for land use and construction permits before owning property (with owner notice), and to build rail facilities that exceed local height/setback rules when necessary. The bill also requires written property owner permission before issuing permits for transit projects on private land. These changes apply specifically to transit authorities under Chapter 81.112 RCW and aim to accelerate major transit infrastructure development.

Maddy summaryHB 2365 establishes Washington's governor's statewide broadband office to improve affordable broadband access and digital equity across the state. The bill defines key terms like "broadband" (requiring minimum 100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload speeds) and "digital inclusion" (ensuring access to reliable internet, devices, and digital literacy training). It directly affects underserved populations including low-income households, rural residents, seniors, people with disabilities, and others as defined in section (21). The law mandates the office to drive broadband adoption and address gaps in unserved areas, focusing on concrete standards rather than speculative outcomes. The bill is currently pending in the House Appropriations Committee after failing committee passage.

Maddy summaryHB 2145 prohibits drug manufacturers from restricting how 340B-covered safety net providers (like community health centers, HIV clinics, and tribal health centers) access discounted medications. It specifically bans manufacturers from denying or limiting delivery of 340B drugs to these providers or their contracted pharmacies, and prevents them from requiring data sharing as a condition for drug access. The law allows covered entities to sue violators for up to $5,000 per day per violation and requires penalties for noncompliance. This directly protects low-income patients who rely on affordable medications through Washington's safety net providers.

Maddy summaryHB 2210 authorizes Washington state local governments (counties, cities, towns, school districts, fire districts, and port districts) to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) or proportional representation for elections. It requires jurisdictions choosing RCV to implement it by December 31, 2032, with specific rules for ballot design, candidate ranking, and election types (e.g., single-winner contests use instant runoff voting). The bill creates legal clarity for these election methods during a six-year period, reducing litigation risk while federal voting rights standards evolve, and allows jurisdictions to continue using approved systems beyond the six years. It does not alter existing voting rights protections under state law.

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 2583 amends Washington state law to clarify and limit local governments' authority to impose excise taxes on lodging. It sets specific rate caps: the combined lodging tax rate (including all local taxes) cannot exceed 12% for most areas, or 15.2% for large cities in populous counties. The bill grandfathered existing higher tax rates for municipalities that had them before 1997 or 1998, while prohibiting new taxes in counties with pre-existing rates above 4%. It also allows public facilities districts to impose a separate 2% lodging tax, but only for public facilities and with voter approval if not previously collected. This directly affects cities, counties, and public facilities districts seeking to levy or adjust lodging taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 2116 updates Washington state's school enrichment funding by setting new annual limits on property taxes districts can levy for programs like arts, sports, and after-school activities. For taxes collected through 2029, districts may levy up to $2.50 per $1,000 of property value, increasing to $3.00 per $1,000 starting in 2030. The bill also creates a state-local effort assistance program that provides supplemental funding to districts levying below $1.50 per $1,000, matching a portion of their levy up to a per-student cap adjusted for inflation. School districts must now obtain approval for their enrichment spending plans before seeking voter approval for new levies.