Rep. Amy Walen

Maddy summaryHB 1830 requires schools, educational organizations, and their contractors to conduct fingerprint-based background checks through Washington State Patrol and FBI systems for employees and volunteers with regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children under 18 or people with developmental disabilities. This applies to volunteers working with small groups (5 or fewer children under 12, 3 or fewer aged 12-18, or individuals with developmental disabilities) without supervision from staff or guardians. Existing background checks conducted within the previous two years may be used instead of new checks, and costs include state/federal fees plus administrative charges. The bill specifies the process for conducting checks, limits database access, and outlines disqualification notification procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1245 requires large electric utilities (with over 25,000 customers) to develop comprehensive 10-year integrated resource plans. These plans must include detailed forecasts of customer demand, assessments of conservation and renewable energy options, transmission capacity needs, and strategies for meeting clean energy goals. The bill specifically mandates evaluating impacts of zero-emission vehicles, incorporating data from transportation electrification plans, and ensuring plans prioritize "lowest reasonable cost" while maintaining grid reliability. It directly affects utilities serving over 25,000 customers, requiring them to update these plans every four years with annual progress reports. The bill amends existing energy planning laws (RCW 19.280.030) but does not create new funding or direct cost obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1989 amends Washington State law to make assaults against transit employees a class C felony. The bill specifically targets assaults occurring while transit workers - such as operators, drivers, supervisors, mechanics, or security personnel - perform their official duties for public or private transit companies. This expands existing assault penalties to include these workers, increasing the offense level from a gross misdemeanor to a felony. The law applies directly to anyone committing such assaults, with no mention of exceptions or additional requirements beyond the worker's duty status.

Maddy summaryHB 1448 establishes statewide rules for local governments adopting ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections. It allows counties, cities, school districts, fire districts, and port districts to use RCV for local offices, requiring ballots to let voters rank candidates in order of preference (with at least five rankings per office) and setting clear counting rules for single-winner (instant runoff) and multi-winner (single transferable vote) contests. The bill mandates that single-winner RCV elections must first hold a traditional primary to narrow candidates to five, while multi-winner contests skip primaries. It also requires local governments to implement RCV within two years of adoption and directs the Secretary of State to create rules for ballot design and vote tabulation by May 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1716 lowers the maximum number of unspayed or unneutered dogs over six months old a person can own from 50 to 20. It also establishes detailed requirements for owners with more than four such dogs, including minimum enclosure sizes (five times the length and width of the largest dog), two hours of daily exercise, and strict sanitation, ventilation, and safety standards for housing. These rules apply to private breeders and large-scale dog owners but exclude public shelters, non-profit animal groups, veterinarians, pet stores, and other exempted facilities. Violating the law is classified as a gross misdemeanor.

Maddy summaryHB 1831 requires employers with 15 or more employees to disclose wage ranges and benefits in all job postings, including internal transfers and promotions. It adds a 10-day correction window for employers to fix posting errors after receiving written notice from applicants or employees, preventing penalties if corrected within that time. The bill amends Washington’s existing wage transparency law (RCW 49.58.110) to clarify this correction process. It directly affects employers and job seekers in Washington state by standardizing disclosure requirements and reducing enforcement penalties for minor, fixable errors.

Maddy summaryHB 1525 exempts sales and use tax on motor vehicles purchased by federally recognized tribes or enrolled tribal members in Washington State. It requires sellers to verify tribal membership using a tribal card, enrollment certificate, or official letter, but does not mandate delivery within Indian country. The exemption applies to all such vehicle purchases and expires January 1, 2037, with a provision to potentially extend it if vehicle sales to tribal members increase by 20% by 2034. This policy change directly affects tribal members and tribes purchasing vehicles in Washington, removing a sales tax burden for these transactions.

Maddy summaryHB 1773 creates a state-administered wage replacement program for Washington workers excluded from traditional unemployment insurance, such as gig workers, domestic workers, and others not covered by standard UI. It directly affects eligible residents who meet specific Washington residency requirements (e.g., utility bills, school enrollment, or state ID) and experienced job loss. Key provisions include establishing a dedicated wage replacement account for funding payments, requiring the state to contract a third-party administrator to process applications and disburse funds, and forming an advisory committee with worker, immigrant, and employer representation. The program aims to provide financial support during unemployment for this excluded group, with implementation required by July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1346 removes a restriction requiring cannabis business investors to be Washington residents, allowing out-of-state investment like venture capital and equity funding for the first time. This change directly affects cannabis businesses seeking growth capital, particularly small or community-based operators, by aligning Washington's rules with other legal cannabis states. The bill also adds provisions to suspend inactive cannabis producer licenses to address market oversupply, pending potential federal or interstate cannabis markets. These updates amend licensing rules under RCW 69.50.325 and 69.50.331 without altering product regulations or safety standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1163 enhances requirements for firearm purchases, transfers, and possession in Washington state. The bill mandates that individuals obtain a valid permit to purchase firearms from the Washington State Patrol firearms background check program before acquiring a firearm. It also specifies requirements for firearms safety training programs, outlines circumstances for delayed firearm transfers, and requires recordkeeping for all transfers. These changes directly affect individuals seeking to purchase or transfer firearms and licensed firearm dealers, modifying the existing background check and sales processes.