Rep. Amy Walen

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 4675, adopted on January 28, 2026, is a ceremonial resolution expressing the Washington State House of Representatives' gratitude to the Washington National Guard for their service. It specifically acknowledges the Guard's roles in emergency response (including flood operations and search-and-rescue missions), disaster recovery efforts (like adapting from the Oso landslide), and national defense support (such as aerial refueling capabilities). The resolution directs copies to the Adjutant General, Governor, and other officials but does not create new laws or alter policies. It directly honors National Guard members, their families, and employers without imposing any financial or operational requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2460 changes how vacancies in partisan county offices (like county commissioner or council seats) are filled. If a vacancy occurs after an election but before the new term starts, the person appointed must belong to the same political party as the previous officeholder. This rule applies to county-level partisan races but not to nonpartisan offices or state-level positions. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, only if a related constitutional amendment is approved by voters in November 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2672 requires private organizations (like nonprofits under IRS 501(c)) receiving state-funded grants to disclose specific information on a standardized form. This includes details about high-paid employees ($100,000+), staff with past public office, board members and their compensation, political contributions from the last four election cycles, and how grant funds will be spent. State agencies must collect these disclosures during grant applications or renewals, send all completed forms to the Office of Financial Management, and ensure compliance. Noncompliance results in losing the grant and repaying all funds, while the Office will maintain a public database of all disclosures. The bill directly affects grant-seeking private entities and state agencies administering such funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2663 proposes creating a public online registry for Washington residents convicted of repeated or felony-level domestic violence offenses. Courts would automatically add these individuals to the registry after conviction, making their name, birth date, conviction details, neighborhood address (by block), and photo searchable online. The registry would remain active indefinitely for class A felony offenders, or for 15 years (class B felonies) or 10 years (other qualifying cases) without new offenses. This bill is currently in committee review and does not apply to misdemeanor domestic violence cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2122 requires Washington hospitals to offer annual flu vaccinations to two specific patient groups: adults 65 or older, and any patient (regardless of age) with a chronic health condition. This applies each year from October 1 to March 1, beginning July 1, 2027, unless the vaccine is unavailable at the hospital or the immunization is medically unsafe for the patient. Hospitals are exempt during declared state emergencies or disasters, and critical access hospitals certified under federal law are also excluded. The law focuses on expanding access to flu shots for high-risk patients during peak flu season through a straightforward hospital offering requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an alternative to prosecution for juveniles charged with unlawful firearm possession (under RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(v)). It requires juveniles to agree to a 12-month intensive supervision program with a reduced caseload probation officer, including mandatory therapy, mentorship, school attendance, and random consent-based searches for firearms or illegal substances. Participants must comply with conditions like curfews, geographic restrictions, and substance use monitoring, with the charge dismissed if they successfully complete the program. The alternative can be terminated if noncompliance is proven, requiring court hearings to review evidence and circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 2400 requires vloggers earning $12,000+ annually from compensated social media video content to register with Washington’s Department of Revenue as conducting business (Sec. 2). It mandates social media platforms and advertisers to set up trust accounts for minor children appearing in paid videos, withholding a pro-rata percentage of compensation based on the child’s screen time (Sec. 3). Platforms with Washington nexus must annually report detailed data to the Department, including creator counts, revenue from minors’ content, and video segment volumes (Sec. 4). The bill directly affects compensated vloggers, platforms, and advertisers, creating new registration, trust-fund, and reporting obligations.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial House resolution (not a policy bill) introduced on January 19, 2026, by multiple Washington State Representatives. It formally recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, legacy of nonviolent activism, and contributions to civil rights, including his role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution expresses the House's commitment to upholding Dr. King's ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity for all. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any specific individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial House Resolution (not a bill with policy changes), adopted on January 16, 2026. It formally recognizes Washington's joint operating agencies (JOAs) for their role in developing clean energy infrastructure, including renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as new projects like small modular reactors. The resolution highlights JOAs' contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring affordable energy access, and supporting economic growth in Washington State. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or impose requirements - its sole purpose is to acknowledge these agencies' historical and ongoing work.

Maddy summaryHB 1608 bans the sale, possession, transport, or distribution of farmed octopus in Washington State, targeting commercial aquaculture operations. The bill directly affects businesses and individuals involved in octopus farming, as it prohibits these activities under new provisions in Title 19 RCW. Key mechanisms include a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance, enforceable by the attorney general. The legislation is based on the legislature’s findings that octopuses are highly intelligent, sentient creatures requiring protection from farming practices. It expands existing 2024 restrictions on octopus aquaculture by eliminating the commercial market for farmed octopus.