Rep. Sharon Wylie

Maddy summaryHB 1165 expands Washington state's property tax exemption program to help seniors, people retired due to disability, and veterans with disabilities keep their homes. The bill creates three income thresholds based on combined disposable income (including certain medical expenses), setting limits at 50%, 60%, and 70% of county median household income for 2024-2026. Homeowners meeting these income thresholds for their primary residence qualify for reduced property taxes, with thresholds adjusted every three years. This directly affects eligible residents who own or rent their primary home and meet the income criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Washington's child fatality review process to better identify preventable causes of death for children up to age 19. It requires local health departments to conduct confidential reviews of child deaths, protecting all private information collected from families, health staff, and medical providers. The law mandates that hospitals, schools, law enforcement, and other agencies must provide medical records and related data without charge for these reviews, while prohibiting the use of review materials in court proceedings. It also creates legal immunity for review participants and allows health departments to track trends through anonymized data. The policy change replaces outdated "mortality" terminology with "fatality" throughout the statute.

Maddy summaryHB 1223 tightens rules for challenging voter registrations in Washington State to reduce baseless claims. It requires challengers to provide specific evidence (like certified mail receipts, property records, or verified address checks) before a registration can be challenged, rather than allowing vague or anonymous accusations. The bill also mandates that challengers personally verify facts and sign affidavits under penalty of perjury, and specifies valid grounds for challenges (e.g., felony convictions, mental incompetency, or incorrect address). This directly affects voters whose registrations might be challenged and those attempting to challenge others’ registrations, while aiming to prevent misuse of the process.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1394 modifies the requirements for how long hospitals in Washington State must retain medical records. It mandates that hospitals preserve all medical records for a minimum of 26 years from the date the record was created, replacing the prior 10-year retention period. This new rule applies to both existing records currently held by hospitals and all future medical records, allowing for retention in paper, electronic, or other formats. It also clarifies that all information from each unique patient visit is considered a medical record under this section.

Maddy summaryHB 1108 proposed establishing a legislative task force on housing cost driver analysis in Washington state. This task force would have included legislators, economists, and representatives from various housing sectors, such as developers, landlords, tenants, realtors, and city/county officials. Its main purpose was to research and identify the primary factors contributing to the cost of homeownership and rental housing. The task force was intended to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. However, the Governor vetoed this bill on May 20, 2025.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 1131 updates state laws regarding clemency, pardons, and the supervision of individuals by the Department of Corrections. The bill clarifies the department's responsibilities for supervising individuals on probation or community custody, including those convicted of specific offenses or identified as high-risk. It explicitly mandates departmental supervision for individuals granted conditional clemency by the governor, provided a term of community custody is included in the commutation conditions. Additionally, the legislation consistently replaces the term "offenders" with "individuals" throughout the relevant statutes governing supervision.

Maddy summaryHB 2049 aims to enhance funding for K-12 education and communities by modifying state and local property tax authority and adjusting the school funding formula. The bill revises the maximum dollar amount school districts can levy for enrichment, setting it as the lesser of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value or a per-pupil limit. This per-pupil limit is updated with specific "inflation enhancements" through 2030 and establishes a new base amount starting in 2031, impacting funding based on student enrollment. Additionally, it adjusts how the state provides local effort assistance funding to supplement these school district enrichment levies.

Maddy summaryHB 1958 authorizes Washington State to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds to fund the design, construction, and replacement of the aging I-5 bridge across the Columbia River, in partnership with Oregon. The bonds would be repaid solely from toll revenue collected on the bridge and specific excise taxes on fuel and vehicle-related fees, not general state funds. The bill establishes that tolls and these taxes must continue to cover bond payments, with the legislature pledging to maintain these revenue streams. It also requires legislative approval for bond issuance and specifies that proceeds can only be used for the bridge project, bond costs, or related financing. This law, effective July 2025, provides a dedicated financing mechanism for the bridge replacement without creating direct state debt.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1902 establishes a temporary work group to develop recommendations for making the permitting process for transportation projects more efficient. This group will involve various state agencies, local government representatives, industry groups, and tribal representatives. The work group's main goal is to identify ways to reduce project costs and completion times by aligning permitting requirements and processes, while ensuring environmental and regulatory protections are maintained. The group must submit an interim report by January 1, 2026, and a final report, including any legislative recommendations, by November 1, 2026, after which the group will expire.