Rep. Gerry Pollet

Maddy summaryHB 2366 raises the daily compensation for Washington school board members from $50 to $100 (capping annual pay at $13,750, with excess pay over $3,000 requiring specific board approval). It requires school districts to cover training costs for board members on funding and finance, mandating all current and new directors to complete this training within one year of their term. The bill also establishes automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments for compensation based on the consumer price index. School districts must fund these changes using local tax revenue, and the training program provisions depend on specific budget appropriations by June 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2300 requires large Washington employers (with 500+ total workers in the state during a quarter) to reimburse the state for health care costs paid through public programs like Apple Health for their workers. Employers must pay an assessment based on the state's per-person cost for each worker enrolled in medical assistance programs who is under 65 years old. This applies to most employers, but excludes those already providing health coverage to all workers or seasonal businesses meeting specific criteria. The program aims to preserve public health funding by shifting costs to employers whose workers rely on state-funded care, with payments due quarterly starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates supplemental funding for school districts that have extra costs transporting homeless students (per federal McKinney-Vento law) and foster youth (per federal Every Student Succeeds Act) beyond what's already covered by other funding sources. Districts must report verified excess costs and specific services creating those costs to qualify. Funding covers only the documented excess transportation expenses for eligible students, with awards limited to specific time periods (semester or school year) and not exceeding the state's annual appropriation. Charter schools and tribal education compact schools are explicitly included as eligible recipients.

Maddy summaryHB 2277 requires insurers in Washington to disclose wildfire risk scores and related details to homeowners. Specifically, insurers must provide property owners with their current wildfire risk score, the score range, who created it, when it was generated, and key factors that increased the score - along with actionable steps to improve it - within 15 days of coverage decisions or renewals. The bill also mandates insurers to file wildfire risk models with the insurance commissioner, explain how these models impact premiums, and incorporate property-specific or community wildfire mitigation efforts (like defensible space or forest treatments) into their scoring systems. Homeowners can appeal inaccurate scores, and insurers must respond to appeals within 30 days. This bill directly affects residential property owners in wildfire-prone areas and insurers selling property insurance in Washington.

Maddy summaryHB 2392 requires building and construction contractors working at specific hazardous facilities - including pulp mills, power plants, and nuclear facilities - to use a "skilled and trained workforce" for all on-site construction work in apprenticeable trades. This means contractors must ensure their on-site workers are either registered apprentices or skilled journeypersons (with at least 30% of journeypersons being apprenticeship graduates by 2027, rising to 60% by 2028) and have completed 20 hours of approved safety training within the prior three years. The law applies to contracts awarded on or after January 1, 2027, with limited exemptions for owner-employees, temporary workforce shortages, and emergencies. It directly affects contractors performing work at covered facilities, aiming to standardize workforce qualifications and safety training for high-risk environments.

Maddy summaryHB 2391 amends Washington's public records law to restrict how agencies disclose lists of individuals. It prohibits state and local agencies from providing personal contact lists for commercial, solicitation, or fundraising purposes, unless the request is from a recognized professional association or educational organization for licensed professionals (e.g., medical or legal licensees) who pay a reasonable fee. The bill requires agencies to refuse such requests by default, with exceptions only for professional licensing data and after verifying an organization's recognition status. This directly affects anyone seeking personal contact information from government records, ensuring greater privacy protections for individuals' data.

Maddy summaryHB 2097 would allow Washington counties to impose a business and occupation tax to fund local services like public safety and waste management, directly affecting businesses operating within county jurisdictions. Counties must adopt a standardized model ordinance developed with business stakeholder input, including a minimum $20,000 annual gross income threshold for small businesses and provisions to prevent double taxation with city taxes. Before implementing or raising the tax, counties must hold a voter referendum requiring signatures from at least 15% of registered voters. The law specifies that existing tax classifications under state law remain exempt and mandates uniform reporting and penalty rules for all counties using this tax.

Maddy summaryHB 2147 increases state funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs in Washington State to address inflation-driven budget shortfalls affecting school districts. It establishes a new funding formula based on prototypical schools (600 high school students, 432 middle school students, 400 elementary students) with specific class size standards (e.g., K-3 at 17 students per teacher) and minimum staffing allocations. The bill requires transparency by mandating the Superintendent of Public Instruction to publish per-pupil funding reports online, which school districts must link to their websites. It also includes targeted provisions for career-technical education, lab science class size reduction, and high-poverty schools with over 50% free/reduced lunch eligibility. The legislation amends existing law (RCW 28A.150.260) to adjust funding allocations based on actual student enrollment and school type.

Maddy summaryHB 2164 simplifies access to DNA testing for people convicted of felonies in Washington state who seek to prove innocence. It requires courts to approve such requests unless the state proves with "clear and convincing evidence" the DNA could not demonstrate innocence. The bill removes prior barriers that forced convicted people to prove DNA testing met scientific standards at trial or was unavailable at the time. This affects courts, prosecutors, and crime labs by streamlining postconviction DNA testing while preserving evidence as required by law.

Maddy summaryHB 2121 exempts nonprofits and schools from paying state sales and use taxes on specific services they purchase, such as repairs, cleaning, installation, and maintenance. The bill amends Washington's tax code (RCW 82.04.050) to clarify that these entities are not subject to tax on qualifying services used for their operations. This directly affects organizations like schools, charities, and community groups that previously paid tax on services like building repairs or landscaping. The policy change creates a clear exemption by updating tax definitions to exclude these services for eligible nonprofits and schools.