Maddy summaryHB 1381 requires counties in Washington with significant language minority populations to provide election materials (like registration forms, ballots, and instructions) in both English and the designated language(s) of those groups. A county qualifies as "covered" if census data shows at least 2.5% of voting-age residents in a single language group have limited English proficiency and higher illiteracy rates than the national average, or if it contains an Indian reservation meeting similar thresholds. The secretary of state will designate these language groups annually using census data, and counties have one year to comply after designation, with a grant program to support implementation. The bill takes effect only if funding is secured by June 30, 2025, and does not replace existing language assistance requirements under state law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1793 requires authorized insurers in Washington to report specific details about fire loss claims to the Insurance Commissioner within 90 days of closing the claim. The report must include the property's zip code, date of loss, amount paid per coverage, and the known or suspected origin/cause of the loss (including whether it involved criminal activity). This bill amends RCW 48.05.320 to update the reporting requirements for fire losses, replacing a previous provision that directed reports to the Washington State Patrol. The change focuses on standardizing fire loss data collection for the Insurance Commissioner's use, without altering the underlying insurance claims process.
Maddy summaryHB 1807 modifies Washington state law to create a new "caterer's license" allowing caterers to serve alcohol at events held on premises they own, lease, or operate, or at events sponsored by organizations, businesses, or individuals (with some exceptions for public events). It establishes annual fees ($200-$1,000) and waives these fees for certain licenses during a specific 12-month period (2021-2022), excluding licensees with health/safety violations. The bill requires caterers to notify the liquor board about event details and prohibits catering at locations already licensed to sell alcohol. The bill is pending in the House Consumer Protection & Business Committee after a public hearing.
Maddy summaryHB 1132 updates Washington's firearm dealer licensing rules to enhance safety. It requires dealers to implement strict security measures, including alarms monitored by law enforcement, locked storage for firearms during non-business hours, and digital surveillance systems covering all sales areas. The bill mandates annual background checks for all employees selling firearms and prohibits temporary sales outside licensed locations except at designated gun shows. It also requires dealers to annually certify compliance with all licensing conditions and face permanent license loss for violations. These provisions directly affect licensed firearm dealers operating in Washington state.
Maddy summaryHB 1042 allows county treasurers in Washington to recover costs for billing, collecting, and distributing property taxes on behalf of taxing districts (like school, fire, and water districts). It permits treasurers to charge a fee based on each district’s tax roll after excluding the first $50,000 of collections, capped at 1% for counties over 250,000 residents and 2% for smaller counties. Recovered funds must be used directly to cover those specific services and cannot include existing costs like real estate excise tax administration. The bill directly affects taxing districts by requiring them to pay these fees, which are calculated annually and must be communicated by September 1st each year.
Maddy summaryHB 1251 sets strict deadlines for filing death reports in Washington State, requiring funeral directors, medical certifiers, and coroners to submit completed reports within five calendar days of a death (or finding remains). It clarifies procedures for reporting deaths without medical attendance, specifies how to handle unknown death locations (using the remains' discovery site), and mandates that medical certifiers return reports within two days. The bill also requires local registrars to review reports for completeness and ensures timely issuance of burial-transit permits. This directly affects funeral homes, medical providers, coroners, and local health offices responsible for death record processing.
Maddy summaryHB 1464 establishes a new regulatory framework for home equity sharing agreements in Washington State, which are financial arrangements where homeowners receive an upfront payment in exchange for sharing future property equity (not classified as mortgage loans). The bill requires originators of these agreements to obtain a license from the Department of Financial Institutions by July 1, 2026, including background checks, surety bonds, and annual fees. It defines key terms like "agreed home value" and "annualized cost" to standardize agreements for primary residences, while explicitly stating these are not mortgage loans or reverse mortgages. The law applies to all such agreements involving Washington homeowners and aims to create clear oversight for this growing financial product.
Maddy summaryHB 1328 establishes a Clean Energy Development Office within the Department of Commerce to accelerate clean energy project and transmission facility development in Washington. The bill directly affects clean energy developers, tribes, local governments, and communities hosting projects by creating a centralized resource to address barriers like information gaps, zoning uncertainty, and inadequate community engagement. Key mechanisms include developing public geospatial tools for project siting, providing technology and regulatory information, supporting tribal-led projects, and creating templates for community benefits agreements. The office will proactively coordinate state efforts to meet climate goals while ensuring environmental protection and equitable benefits for host communities.
Maddy summaryHB 1226 allocates $2.7 million from the Multimodal Transportation Account to fund the University of Washington’s sidewalk accessibility mapping project, requiring public data sharing and prioritizing overburdened communities. It also appropriates $1 million to the Washington State Transportation Center for engineering internships, training programs, and a workforce analysis addressing shortages in civil engineering and related fields. Additionally, $6 million from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account funds zero-emission electric vehicle charging infrastructure at state facilities, with reporting requirements on installation locations and carbon impact. The bill mandates annual project updates to legislative committees and prioritizes installations based on state environmental goals.
Maddy summaryHB 1049 creates a state-funded stipend program to help registered nurses cover costs for training as specialized sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs). The program reimburses up to $2,500 per nurse for training fees, materials, travel, lodging, and meals. It applies to nurses seeking certification for adult/adolescent or pediatric care, subject to available state funding. The stipend aims to increase the number of qualified SANEs by reducing financial barriers to training.