Rep. Stephanie Barnard

Maddy summaryHB 2342 establishes the Washington State Religious Liberty Commission to advise state officials on religious freedom issues and handle complaints of religious discrimination. The commission will review petitions alleging discrimination based on religious belief or practice, then within 90 days either mediate disputes, dismiss claims, or refer cases to the Washington State Human Rights Commission. It will consist of five members appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, with requirements for balanced representation across religious practices, geography, and demographics. The commission’s duties include educating the public and employers about religious liberty protections under state and federal law, without replacing existing human rights enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2368 requires Washington's state department to develop a quantum technology strategy by June 2026, focusing on economic growth and workforce development in this emerging field. The strategy must outline plans to attract investment, identify public-private partnerships, support research at universities and labs, and explore quantum applications in areas like energy and healthcare. It directs the department to seek nonstate funding and partnerships to accelerate the industry, with the plan expiring August 1, 2027. The bill directly affects state agencies and future economic planning, not individual citizens or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 2252 requires the state division of archives to create a preservation plan for historical records from Lakeland Village, a former state facility for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The plan must catalog and protect at-risk documents (like medical records, letters, and photos), assess their condition, outline storage/digitization steps, and include public access provisions. It mandates the plan be submitted to the legislature by September 2025 and prohibits destroying these records until 2030. The bill directly affects state agencies (archives, social services, archaeology departments) and the University of Washington, which will collaborate on the preservation work.

Maddy summaryHB 2335 would repeal tax increases on businesses enacted in 2025, specifically targeting provisions from 2025 Chapter 420. It removes a surcharge on businesses with over $250 million in taxable income (RCW 82.04.288) and eliminates an "Advanced Computing Surcharge," along with 13 other tax provisions from the 2025 law. These changes would directly affect high-grossing businesses and financial institutions subject to the repealed tax rates. The bill takes effect April 1, 2026, reversing specific tax increases implemented by the 2025 legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 2153 prohibits homebuyers from receiving more than one state-funded down payment assistance loan or grant from Washington's housing programs. It directly affects first-time homebuyers who might apply for multiple assistance programs, ensuring they can only accept one offer. The bill amends state law to state that applicants applying for multiple programs (or multiple offers from one program) are eligible for only a single loan or grant. This change aims to fairly distribute limited public funds to more qualified homebuyers instead of concentrating benefits on a single buyer.

Maddy summaryHB 2115 restores a 1985 tax exemption that removes sales tax from transactions involving precious metal bullion (like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) and monetized bullion (coins or money made from precious metals). It directly affects businesses selling these items by exempting the bullion itself from state sales tax, though tax applies only to commissions earned on transactions. The bill defines "precious metal bullion" as refined metals (not items like jewelry) and excludes such sales from tax calculations under Washington’s tax code. It applies retroactively from January 1, 2026, to correct a 2025 repeal of the original exemption.

Maddy summaryHB 2208 exempts health care continuing education courses from Washington State's retail sales and use tax. This bill directly affects licensed health professionals (such as nurses, doctors, and therapists) who must complete these courses to maintain their licenses. The key mechanism removes the tax on these required courses, reducing costs for professionals who otherwise face increased expenses under the state's new service tax. The exemption aims to address workforce shortages by making professional development more affordable and accessible, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Maddy summaryHB 2093 would remove precious metals and bullion from taxable sales under Washington's business and occupation tax code. It specifically excludes "precious metal bullion" (refined gold, silver, platinum, etc.) and "monetized bullion" (coins used as currency) from definitions of taxable "retail" or "wholesale" sales. Businesses selling these items would no longer pay tax on the full sale amount, though tax would still apply to commissions earned. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects dealers and sellers of precious metals.

Maddy summaryHB 2121 exempts nonprofits and schools from paying state sales and use taxes on specific services they purchase, such as repairs, cleaning, installation, and maintenance. The bill amends Washington's tax code (RCW 82.04.050) to clarify that these entities are not subject to tax on qualifying services used for their operations. This directly affects organizations like schools, charities, and community groups that previously paid tax on services like building repairs or landscaping. The policy change creates a clear exemption by updating tax definitions to exclude these services for eligible nonprofits and schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2126 would exempt school districts in Washington state from paying taxes on fuel used in school buses. The bill amends state tax codes to specifically add school buses (operated per education laws) to the list of exempt fuel uses, directly affecting public school districts. This change would reduce operating costs for schools by eliminating a tax on fuel for all school bus operations within the state.