Rep. Darya Farivar

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 2453 amends multiple sections of Washington’s behavioral health statutes (RCW 71.05.020, 71.05.148, etc.) to update definitions related to mental health services. The bill primarily revises terms like "antipsychotic medications," "behavioral health service provider," and "crisis stabilization unit" without establishing new requirements for psychiatric pharmacists. It does not specify changes to pharmacists' practice authority or direct patient care protocols. The bill's focus is on clarifying terminology within existing mental health frameworks rather than creating new policy for psychiatric pharmacists.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 2684 establishes state guidelines to define "socially disadvantaged individuals" for business certification under Washington state programs. It directly affects minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises seeking state contracts by creating a standardized certification process. The bill presumes individuals who are women, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, Middle Eastern/North African, or LGBTQ+ qualify as socially disadvantaged, with the state office able to add other groups via rule. This centralizes certification under one state office to prevent duplication and streamline participation in state and local government contracting programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits force-feeding birds (such as chickens, turkeys, or ducks) to enlarge their livers for foie gras production, and bans the sale, possession, or distribution of foie gras made through this method. It applies directly to restaurants, retailers, and producers handling foie gras, with exceptions only for veterinary care. Violations carry civil fines up to $1,000 per day, and the law takes effect January 1, 2028. The legislation targets specific production practices without restricting other bird-related activities.

Maddy summaryHB 1239 modifies Washington state's earned release time policies to improve reentry outcomes for incarcerated individuals. It allows inmates to earn time off sentences through good behavior and participation in rehabilitative programs, with limits (up to 50% for eligible offenders) based on offense type and risk assessment. The bill requires participation in reentry programming to qualify for maximum earned time and creates an option for transfer to community supervision instead of earning additional time. These changes directly affect incarcerated people in Washington correctional facilities and aim to reduce repeat offenses by aligning sentence reductions with reentry readiness.

Maddy summaryHB 2480 requires cities and counties with populations over 30,000 to allow residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones, prohibiting local governments from banning homes in these areas. It removes requirements that residential projects must include ground-floor commercial space or mixed-use as a condition for permits. Exceptions include industrial zones, areas within 3,200 feet of oil/gas refineries, historic preservation sites, and certain waterfront or critical areas. The law would override conflicting local zoning rules one year after enactment, applying to all affected jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2573 requires supermarkets, full-service grocery stores, and pharmacies to provide advance notice of closures or major operational changes to local governments and the public. Specifically, these businesses must give six months' notice for general areas and one year's notice in "overburdened communities" (defined under Chapter 70A.02 RCW), including posting notices in primary languages spoken by 5% of residents. Local governments must include these notices in land use permits and public outreach, and can use zoning tools to prioritize redeveloping vacant properties for these essential services. The bill aims to prevent "food and pharmacy deserts" by ensuring continued access to healthy food, medicine, and health services in communities planning for increased density, affordable housing, and transit-oriented development.

Maddy summaryHB 2161 expands the Washington Attorney General's authority to issue written civil investigative demands for documents, testimony, or answers to questions during investigations into potential violations of specific state and federal laws. It directly affects individuals and entities that may possess relevant records or information related to these investigations. The bill establishes clear procedures for these demands, requiring specific details about the investigation, reasonable descriptions of requested materials, and defined timelines, while prohibiting demands that would be unreasonable or require privileged information. It also includes strict confidentiality rules about disclosing the demand itself and limits how produced materials can be shared or used, ensuring the process aligns with standard civil court procedures.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1622 allows public sector employees in Washington state to collectively bargain with their employers over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The bill amends existing state law to remove the "use of technology" from a list of management rights that are typically not subject to negotiation for employees in higher education and other state agencies. It defines artificial intelligence as machine learning and related technologies that enable computer systems to perform tasks like computer vision or natural language processing. This change empowers unions and public employers to negotiate agreements on the implementation and utilization of AI technologies.