Rep. Gerry Pollet

Maddy summaryHB 1809 requires Washington state to develop and implement a standardized 9-hour training program for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics on responding to behavioral health emergencies, such as overdoses and suicidal crises, by July 2026. It creates a voluntary "behavioral health endorsement" for EMTs who complete the training, allowing them to better connect individuals in crisis to community services instead of emergency departments. The bill mandates the Department of Health to adopt rules integrating this training into existing certification programs by January 2027. This aims to reduce reliance on emergency rooms for behavioral health crises while improving first responder preparedness and collaboration with co-response teams.

Maddy summaryHB 2227 would exempt sales of "qualified affordable housing" from Washington's real estate excise tax. This bill amends the state's tax code (RCW 82.45.010) to create this specific exemption for qualifying affordable housing properties. The exemption directly affects sellers of eligible affordable housing units, reducing their tax burden when selling such properties. The bill is currently pending in the House Finance Committee after being prefaced in December 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2585 establishes Washington's first state-level false claims act, creating a legal tool to penalize individuals and entities that submit false or fraudulent claims to the state for payment. It directly affects contractors, grant recipients, and others receiving state funds by imposing civil penalties of $14,308-$28,619 per violation, plus triple damages for knowingly submitting false claims or records. Key provisions include allowing whistleblowers (qui tam relators) to file lawsuits on behalf of the state and requiring cooperation with investigations to potentially reduce penalties. The law provides the state attorney general with enforcement authority to recover funds lost to fraud, mirroring federal false claims act standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2673 proposes a tax exemption for property used as affordable housing owned or operated by social housing agencies in Washington State. This bill directly affects affordable housing providers by removing certain property taxes on qualifying properties. The key mechanism adds an exemption to existing tax codes, specifically excluding from taxation real property used for affordable housing under a social housing agency's ownership or operation. The exemption applies to properties meeting the bill's defined criteria for affordable housing use, without altering other tax obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 2682 requires Washington state environmental agencies (including departments of Ecology, Health, Natural Resources, and Transportation) to integrate environmental justice principles into major decisions. It defines "overburdened communities" and "vulnerable populations" and mandates that covered agencies conduct environmental justice assessments before implementing significant actions like major rules, large projects ($12M+), or new grant programs. The bill also requires the Forest Practices Board and Board of Natural Resources to comply with these standards for all future actions and submit a 2027 report comparing past decisions to the new requirements. This law aims to ensure state environmental policies address disproportionate pollution impacts on marginalized communities through standardized analysis.

Maddy summaryHB 2542 requires Washington-based animal testing facilities, contract testing facilities, and drug manufacturers to use non-animal test methods for drug development when scientifically valid alternatives are available. It prohibits the use of animal test methods in the drug development process (including discovery and preclinical research) if equivalent or better alternatives exist, defined as methods validated by federal bodies that don’t involve animals. The law does not apply if federal regulations mandate animal testing, and violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Washington’s consumer protection law. This directly affects entities conducting drug safety and efficacy testing within the state, aiming to align with federal policy supporting non-animal testing methods.

Maddy summaryHB 2313 authorizes Washington cities to establish publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas with food access gaps. Cities can acquire property (including via eminent domain), apply for state capital grants covering building rehabilitation and 24-hour "food locker systems," and use tax increment financing to fund store development and infrastructure. The bill requires annual reporting on financial status, community access, jobs created, and for third-party operated stores, sales data and compliance with contractual benchmarks like local produce sourcing. This directly affects cities seeking to address food insecurity through municipal grocery initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2098 imposes a surcharge on select large tech companies with global revenue over $25 billion, increasing the rate from 1.22% (2020-2025) to 7.5% (starting 2026) on their taxable gross income. The surcharge applies to businesses engaged in "advanced computing" (including cloud services, software, and platforms), excluding hospitals, health clinics, and certain telecom or financial firms. Revenues from the surcharge fund workforce education programs, with automatic enrollment increases in computer science and engineering degrees at state universities when demand exceeds capacity by 100+ students. The bill also requires quarterly reporting and includes penalties for evasion, while exempting specific healthcare providers from the tax.

Maddy summaryHB 2117 adds a seventh member to Washington's Board of Natural Resources, specifically a tribal representative appointed by the governor from federally recognized tribes in the state. The bill amends the board's composition to include this position, requiring the governor to consult with tribes during appointments and ensuring the representative serves a four-year term starting July 1, 2026. This change directly affects the board's decision-making process on natural resource management and requires collaboration with tribal nations. The bill aims to incorporate tribal perspectives and expertise into state forestland and natural resource policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2183 requires all Washington counties to create and adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027. Each plan must include immediate response strategies, long-term adaptation measures (like building upgrades and cooling assistance), and specific protections for vulnerable groups including seniors, outdoor workers, low-income households, and children. Counties must also establish tribal partnerships, public education programs, medical emergency protocols, and systems to track heat-related illnesses. Existing plans meeting these standards are exempt from the 2027 deadline, and counties must review plans during regular comprehensive plan updates.