Rep. Amy Walen

Maddy summarySubstitute House Bill 1811 aims to enhance crisis response services in Washington state by integrating and supporting "co-response" teams. The bill formalizes co-response as a multidisciplinary partnership between first responders (like law enforcement and EMTs) and human services professionals (such as social workers and behavioral health clinicians). These teams respond to emergency situations, including 911 and 988 calls, involving behavioral health crises and complex medical needs. The goal is to de-escalate situations, divert individuals from the criminal justice system, and provide immediate medical and behavioral health care in the field, benefiting vulnerable populations.

Maddy summaryHB 1498 establishes a grant program to help cities and counties create and operate domestic violence co-responder programs. These programs deploy domestic violence victim advocates alongside law enforcement to provide on-scene support, resources, and care navigation for victims and their families. The bill creates a dedicated state treasury account, funded primarily by an additional $100 fee on marriage licenses, to support this initiative. The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy will administer these grants, also providing technical assistance and support for billing health insurance for services.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1515 modernizes the regulation of alcohol service in public spaces for liquor licensees and local governments in Washington state. Until December 31, 2026, it allows local governments to request expanded outdoor alcohol service for certain licensees, offering flexibility for outdoor area enclosures and the ability for multiple businesses to share these spaces. Additionally, until December 31, 2027, the bill authorizes expanded indoor and outdoor alcohol service in designated fan zones or host cities during specific events. This enables multiple licensees to operate within a shared, approved event area, provided local governments ensure public safety and cleanliness. The bill aims to facilitate safe event experiences, particularly in preparation for a major international sports event in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2015 establishes a new grant program to improve public safety by providing direct financial support to local and tribal law enforcement agencies. These grants are intended to help agencies with hiring, retaining, and training law enforcement officers, as well as peer counselors and behavioral health personnel for co-response teams. To qualify for funding, agencies must meet specific requirements, including implementing state policies on use of force and de-escalation, participating in mandated trainings, and demonstrating compliance with data collection standards. Grant funds can cover up to 75 percent of entry-level salaries and benefits for new officers and support costs for required officer training.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1539 establishes a work group to study and develop recommendations for wildfire mitigation and resiliency standards in Washington state. This work group, composed of state officials, insurance industry representatives, landowners, and utilities, is tasked with coordinating state wildfire mitigation standards with national guidelines and enhancing community-level efforts. It will also focus on improving consumer transparency regarding wildfire risk and insurance non-renewals. Additionally, the group will recommend a framework for a grant program to help homeowners retrofit their properties against wildfire damage. The work group must submit its report of recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2025, and the section creating the work group expires at the end of 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1014 updates Washington state's child support schedule, directly affecting parents and children involved in child support orders. It raises the combined monthly net income threshold where courts can exceed the standard economic table from $12,000 to $50,000. The bill also adjusts the presumptive minimum support obligation, increasing the federal poverty guideline percentage used for its determination from 125% to 180% for a one-person family. Additionally, it clarifies how a parent's self-support reserve is applied and specifies which income sources, such as overtime and second jobs, are included or excluded when calculating gross monthly income for support.

Maddy summaryHB 1308 enhances the rights of employees and recent former employees in Washington state to access their own personnel records. It requires most employers to provide copies of personnel files, which explicitly include records like job applications, performance evaluations, and payroll, within 21 calendar days of a request at no cost. The bill also allows employees to petition for the removal of irrelevant information and to add rebuttals to their files. To ensure compliance, it establishes a private cause of action for violations, enabling individuals to sue employers for statutory damages ranging from $250 to $1,000, along with attorney's fees.

Maddy summaryHB 1576 sets new rules for how cities in Washington can designate historic landmarks, affecting local governments and property owners. The bill prohibits cities from designating a property as a historic landmark if it is less than 40 years old. It also requires the written consent of the property owner if the designation would restrict the property's use, alteration, or demolition. These restrictions do not apply if the property is within an established historic district or is more than 125 years old. Cities must adopt these requirements into their local ordinances within one year, or the state rules will apply.

Maddy summaryHB 1149 updates and clarifies Washington State's animal cruelty laws, specifically within RCW 16.52, to enhance the prevention of cruelty to animals. The bill redefines key terms such as "abandons," "necessary food," "necessary medical attention," "necessary sanitation," "necessary shelter," "necessary space," and "necessary water." These changes establish more explicit standards for the adequate care of nonhuman mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It also introduces a comprehensive definition of "minimum care," providing clearer guidelines for animal owners, animal care and control agencies, and law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 1757 modifies regulations for existing buildings in Washington state, aiming to streamline the process for adding residential units. It requires cities to allow up to 50% more housing density within an existing building's footprint in multifamily zones and prohibits new parking requirements for these additional units. The bill also limits local governments from imposing certain permitting, design, and energy code requirements on these conversions beyond what is generally applicable. Cities must adopt these changes by June 30, 2026, or the state requirements will automatically take effect.