Rep. Gerry Pollet

Maddy summaryHB 1763 imposes a 6% tax on short-term rental platforms (like Airbnb) starting January 2026. Revenue from this tax funds local affordable housing programs and housing infrastructure projects (such as water, sewer, and transportation systems) in counties and cities. Local governments must use the funds exclusively for homeless services, shelters, or infrastructure, with requirements including limiting single-family units to 2,000 square feet and requiring urban annexation for projects within growth boundaries. The bill directly affects short-term rental platforms (as taxpayers) and local governments (as fund recipients).

Maddy summaryHB 1867 allows Washington counties or cities to impose a real estate excise tax of up to 0.5% on home sales, with proceeds dedicated exclusively to developing affordable housing for very low, low, and moderate-income residents and those with special needs. Local governments must first gain voter approval through a majority vote in an election, either via a resolution from local officials or a petition signed by 10% of eligible voters. The tax revenue must be managed through a competitive grant process for nonprofit housing providers, housing authorities, or public agencies, with spending plans requiring public hearings. Counties and cities cannot levy this tax if the county has already implemented a similar tax under prior law. This bill directly affects local governments and homebuyers/sellers in communities that choose to adopt the tax.

Maddy summaryHB 1328 establishes a Clean Energy Development Office within the Department of Commerce to accelerate clean energy project and transmission facility development in Washington. The bill directly affects clean energy developers, tribes, local governments, and communities hosting projects by creating a centralized resource to address barriers like information gaps, zoning uncertainty, and inadequate community engagement. Key mechanisms include developing public geospatial tools for project siting, providing technology and regulatory information, supporting tribal-led projects, and creating templates for community benefits agreements. The office will proactively coordinate state efforts to meet climate goals while ensuring environmental protection and equitable benefits for host communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers Washington's legal blood alcohol limit for DUI convictions from 0.08 to 0.05 within two hours of driving, and sets a THC concentration threshold of 5.00 or higher for cannabis impairment. It applies to all drivers operating vehicles in the state, directly affecting anyone found driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or drugs. The bill creates new defenses allowing defendants to prove they consumed alcohol or cannabis *after* driving but *before* testing, if they notify prosecutors early. It also adjusts penalties, making certain repeat offenses or severe cases (like vehicular homicide) punishable as class B felonies.

Maddy summaryHB 2021 authorizes Washington's Public Works Board to issue bonds repaid solely by project revenue (not state funds) to finance infrastructure projects for local governments. It directly affects cities, counties, and special districts needing to build or repair roads, bridges, water systems, sewage systems, and solid waste facilities. The bill amends state law to allow these nonrecourse bonds, creating a new financing tool to address over $4 billion in unmet infrastructure needs identified by the legislature. This provides affordable, project-specific funding without using taxpayer money or state credit.

Maddy summaryHB 1901 requires mattress manufacturers and importers to fund recycling programs to reduce landfill waste. It creates a system where producers pay for collection, recycling, and proper disposal of mattresses, directly affecting companies selling mattresses in Washington. The bill mandates "environmentally sound" recycling practices, prioritizing reuse and recycling over landfill disposal, and establishes producer responsibility organizations to manage these programs. This aims to cut illegal dumping, create recycling jobs, and capture materials like metal and foam for reuse, reducing landfill costs and emissions.

Maddy summaryHB 1303 requires Washington state agencies to formally consider environmental justice in government decisions affecting communities disproportionately burdened by pollution. It mandates the Department of Ecology to add environmental justice as a standard element in environmental checklists and rules, and to develop standardized mitigation measures for adverse impacts on these communities. The bill directly affects lead agencies (like state departments) conducting environmental reviews under Chapter 43.21C RCW, requiring them to integrate environmental justice considerations alongside other environmental factors. This builds on existing environmental justice law (RCW 70A.02) without changing its core requirements. The policy change ensures agencies systematically address health and environmental disparities in their decision-making processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1278 requires community college district governing boards to include one student trustee appointed by the governor from a list provided by student governments. The student trustee serves a one-year term as a full-time student in good academic standing, with voting rights except on faculty hiring or collective bargaining matters. The bill also mandates that student government representatives provide in-person reports at all regular board meetings across Washington’s community colleges and four-year institutions. This policy directly affects community college governance by institutionalizing student voice in decision-making processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the University of Washington's Washington National Primate Research Center to publicly report annual data about its primate research operations on its website. It mandates disclosure of specific details, including the number of primates used in research or breeding (by species), housing conditions, animal welfare incidents, funding sources, USDA inspection reports, conservation efforts, and accreditation status. The center must publish these reports annually in an accessible online format. This directly affects the University of Washington's primate research center by increasing transparency around its operations and animal welfare practices. The bill does not change research methods or funding but focuses on making existing data publicly available.

Maddy summaryHB 1482 creates a state-funded Apple Health Expansion program to provide no-cost health coverage to Washington residents ineligible for federal health programs due to immigration status. It directly affects over 1 million immigrants in Washington who face structural barriers to coverage, including undocumented individuals with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. Key provisions include establishing a Medicaid-equivalent program with identical benefits to federal coverage (excluding long-term services), extending financial assistance for health/dental plans to match Affordable Care Act subsidies, and requiring a community accountability committee with immigrant representation to monitor service quality. The bill also mandates culturally appropriate outreach and requires annual reports to the legislature on program implementation and costs.