Rep. Gerry Pollet

Maddy summaryHB 2435 creates a new legislative office on Indian affairs to provide educational resources and support to Washington State legislators and professional legislative staff regarding tribal affairs and the state's government-to-government relationship with tribes. The office will offer mandatory annual training for staff on tribal sovereignty, cultural awareness, policy best practices, and terminology, plus assistance in locating resources on tribal issues. It aims to complement the governor's office of Indian affairs - without replacing it or acting as a direct liaison to tribal leaders - by coordinating with legislative committees to incorporate tribal policy guidance into bill drafting. The office will operate under existing legislative funding and administrative structures, with defined roles for its director and staff.

Maddy summaryHB 2291 establishes Washington state regulations for kratom products, requiring retailers and processors to obtain licenses and comply with safety standards. It mandates background checks for license applicants, prohibits packaging that resembles candy to prevent child access, and requires independent lab testing to ensure products contain no dangerous substances or excessive solvents. The law defines "kratom" and "kratom products" (including edibles like powders and beverages) and prohibits sales to minors or through deceptive packaging. Violating licensing rules is a class C felony, and enforcement officers can inspect business locations to verify compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 2503 requires developers of commercial generative artificial intelligence systems (like chatbots or image generators) to publicly disclose detailed information about the data used to train their systems by January 1, 2027. This includes sources, dataset types, whether personal or copyrighted data was used, steps taken to remove child sexual abuse material, and if synthetic data was generated. The law applies to developers making systems publicly available in Washington, excluding systems solely for security, aircraft operation, or national defense. Developers must provide this information without compromising trade secrets, and violations are treated as unfair business practices under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act.

Maddy summaryHB 2708 removes a tax exemption for data center equipment replacement in Washington State, directly affecting data center operators currently using this exemption. The bill eliminates the tax break for purchasing new server equipment and power infrastructure, with existing exemptions set to expire by July 2048. It also requires qualifying data centers to meet new employment thresholds - adding 35 family wage jobs or 3 per 20,000 sq ft of new server space - to maintain their exemption. New exemption certificates for refurbished data centers can no longer be issued after July 2026, and all new applications for this exemption are prohibited after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 2372 updates Washington state's workers' compensation benefits for permanently disabled workers with injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2026. It establishes new monthly benefit percentages based on marital status and number of dependent children, ranging from 60% of wages for unmarried workers with no children up to 75% for those with six or more children. The bill also sets minimum benefit protections (including $10 per child up to five or six children) and caps benefits at 105-120% of the state's average wage. These changes apply only to claims filed after the effective date, while pre-2026 claims remain governed by existing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2579 establishes two new state-funded programs to expand public media access and digital equity in Washington. It creates a public media broadcaster program prioritizing community-based, noncommercial radio/TV stations that provide public safety information and arts access, with 85% of funds going to larger organizations ($1M+ budget) and 15% to smaller rural or hyper-local broadcasters. The digital equity program funds resource coordinators and multimedia trainers at community anchor institutions (like libraries and schools) to improve internet access, online safety training, and multilingual resources for underserved communities. Both programs require annual reporting and mandate that all funding be spent within Washington.

Maddy summaryHB 2707 ends a tax exemption for drug wholesalers and retailers that warehouse and resell prescription drugs, requiring them to pay a 0.5% tax on their gross income starting January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects businesses registered with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and licensed by Washington’s Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission. It repeals the existing tax exemption (RCW 82.04.272) and adds the activity to the state’s taxable business list under RCW 82.04.280. The change aims to generate revenue for state services by updating outdated tax preferences.

Maddy summaryHB 1571 removes specific time limits and exposure conditions for presuming heart problems as occupational diseases among firefighters and law enforcement officers. It amends Washington’s law (RCW 51.32.185) to eliminate requirements that heart issues must occur within 72 hours of smoke exposure or 24 hours of strenuous exertion during work. This change directly affects firefighters and law enforcement officers who develop heart conditions, simplifying their path to claim benefits under workers’ compensation. The bill updates the statutory presumption to apply without these prior qualifiers, aligning with broader occupational disease protections for these professions.

Maddy summaryHB 2038 creates a "youth behavioral health account" funded by a 0.4% tax on the gross income of social media platforms operating in Washington, starting January 2026. The tax applies to platforms defined as services allowing social interaction (like Facebook or TikTok), excluding email, gaming, or review sites. Funds will support telebehavioral health services for school-aged youth, a state coordinator for youth behavioral health, and implementation of a statewide strategic plan for prenatal through age 25 care. The bill explicitly states the tax does not apply to 501(c)(3) non-profits.

Maddy summaryHB 2705 amends Washington state campaign finance laws to allow candidates and their committees to use surplus campaign funds for legal expenses related to ethics complaints, investigations, or hearings. Specifically, it permits holding surplus funds in a separate account to cover eligible legal fees incurred after January 1, 2025, such as those from investigations under Chapter 42.52 RCW or local ethics codes. Candidates must document these expenses and report them per existing campaign finance rules. This change clarifies that such disbursements do not count as campaign contributions.