Rep. Gerry Pollet

Maddy summaryHB 1093 amends Washington state law to require medical assistance plans (Medicaid) to cover massage therapy as a "related service" under existing coverage for physical and occupational therapy. This change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who need massage therapy for medical conditions, such as chronic pain or injury rehabilitation. The bill updates RCW 74.09.520 to explicitly include massage therapy within covered services, aligning it with other therapeutic treatments. Coverage remains subject to available funding, as specified in other sections of the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 eliminates enforcement of certain court-imposed costs, fees, and interest on legal financial obligations for people convicted of crimes. It automatically nullifies these debts after the effective date, prohibits courts from accepting payments for them, and creates a new process for courts to waive uncollectible portions upon offender request. The bill specifically excludes restitution from these changes but allows clerks to seek judicial orders waiving costs, fees, and accrued interest. This applies to existing debts eliminated by the law, directly affecting individuals with outstanding criminal justice-related financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1569 requires Washington state to include tax exemptions and preferences in the regular biennial budget process, ending their automatic continuation without legislative review. The bill mandates that all tax exemptions without expiration dates must be reviewed, assigned performance measures, and reauthorized every two years or expire, with a maximum 10-year term for new exemptions. It also requires the Department of Revenue to estimate the annual revenue impact of each exemption and include these details in the budget. This affects all taxpayers by ensuring tax preferences are transparently evaluated for their revenue impact, rather than reducing state funds for services like education without oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 2027 increases real estate transfer taxes on property sales above specific thresholds to fund affordable housing programs. The tax applies at 1.1% for sales under $500,000, 1.28% for $500,000-$1.5 million, 2.75% for $1.5-$3 million, and 3% for sales over $3 million. Revenue from these taxes will support state housing programs targeting low- and middle-income households, including seniors, veterans, farmworkers, and others facing housing insecurity. The bill aims to build over 500,000 new affordable homes for residents earning under 50% of area median income by addressing supply shortages.

Maddy summaryHB 1762 prohibits Washington state's public colleges and universities from requiring students to live in on-campus housing or university residence halls. This bill directly affects public higher education institutions (like the University of Washington or community colleges) and their students. The key provision adds a new legal restriction to state law, making it illegal for these public schools to mandate residential living as a condition of enrollment. The bill focuses solely on eliminating this requirement, without changing other housing policies or financial aspects.

Maddy summaryHB 1259 establishes new standards for supervision requirements that behavioral health professionals must meet to work in Washington state public schools. It requires collaboration between the Student Achievement Council, institutions offering behavioral health programs, and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create these standards. The bill specifically affects licensed professionals including advanced clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors working in elementary and secondary schools. These standards will help ensure these professionals meet licensing and certification requirements while providing services in schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1458 requires large new construction, additions, and renovations (50,000+ square feet) to reduce embodied carbon emissions from building materials. It offers three compliance paths: reusing 45% of existing structures, demonstrating a 90% reduction in emissions for covered materials, or conducting a whole-building life-cycle assessment. Projects must report data through a public database managed by the Department of Commerce, including material choices and compliance methods. The law applies to all covered projects under the International Building Code and mandates verification by licensed design professionals.

Maddy summaryHB 1125 allows judges to modify lengthy prison sentences in Washington state when a person's original sentence no longer serves justice. It directly affects incarcerated individuals who meet specific criteria, such as having served 7+ years for an offense committed as a juvenile (starting July 2026), 10+ years for offenses committed as young adults (starting July 2031), or having a terminal illness. The bill requires petitioners to show rehabilitation or low recidivism risk, and courts may only reduce sentences (not increase them), must maintain mandatory minimums, and mandate a 6-month minimum wait after a hearing before release. The law also requires new sentences to include five years of community supervision.

Maddy summaryHB 1965 repeals a Washington State tax provision (RCW 82.04.062) that previously excluded sales of precious metal bullion and monetized bullion from certain tax calculations. This change directly affects businesses and individuals buying or selling these items, as their transactions will now be subject to standard sales tax rules. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and explicitly states it does not impact existing tax liabilities or ongoing proceedings under the repealed law.

Maddy summaryHB 1876 amends Washington State's Death with Dignity Act to clarify requirements for terminally ill residents seeking end-of-life medication. It requires patients to make both an oral and written request to their doctor, with a 7-day waiting period between requests unless the patient is expected to die within 7 days, cannot self-administer within 7 days, or has unrelenting pain not manageable by treatment. The bill also specifies that patients choosing a non-physician attending provider must select a physician as their consulting provider, and prohibits direct supervisory relationships between physician assistants and other providers in this process. These changes directly affect qualified patients (competent Washington residents with a terminal illness expected to end life within six months) and their medical providers.