Rep. Joe Schmick

Maddy summaryHB 2250 limits hospital charity care eligibility to Washington state residents, directly affecting hospitals and patients seeking free care. The bill requires hospitals to restrict charity care to individuals meeting specific residency criteria, such as living in Washington with intent to stay indefinitely, entering for work, or being a child with a resident parent. Exceptions include emergency care under federal law, children under 18, and those receiving state/federal payments (like foster care assistance), while explicitly prohibiting immigration status from being considered. It clarifies that non-residents, including those seeking routine care, cannot access charity care, aiming to prevent strain on hospital capacity and cost increases for Washington residents. The law takes immediate effect and amends existing hospital charity care statutes.

Maddy summaryHJM 4013 is a joint memorial urging Governor Ferguson to opt Washington state into a federal tax-credit scholarship program for K-12 education. It would direct approximately $732 million annually in unused federal funds to Washington students from working-class and middle-class families (household income ≤300% of area median income) through tax credits for donors. The program requires no state funding, imposes no budget obligation, and mandates scholarship organizations to spend at least 90% of funds on student expenses like tutoring and technology while meeting strict federal accountability standards. Failure to opt in would prevent Washington families from accessing these federal resources, which would instead benefit students in states that have joined the program.

Maddy summaryHB 2642 exempts emissions from lubricants (and certain other fuel products) combusted outside Washington from the state's cap-and-invest program requirements. It amends the definition of "covered entities" under Washington's climate law to exclude emissions associated with lubricants produced or imported for use outside the state. This means companies manufacturing or importing lubricants that are shipped out of Washington for combustion elsewhere would no longer have those emissions counted toward the 25,000 metric ton CO2e threshold that triggers participation in the cap-and-invest program. The bill directly affects lubricant producers and importers whose products are delivered outside Washington for end-use. This change reduces reporting obligations for these entities under the program's current structure.

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 2488 changes how Washington state pays rural emergency hospitals for services provided to Medicaid patients. It makes these payments dependent on annual state budget appropriations rather than automatic funding. This directly affects rural hospitals federally designated as "rural emergency hospitals" (not critical access hospitals). The bill replaces previous automatic payment rules with a system requiring yearly legislative funding approval for these hospitals to receive Medicaid reimbursement. The change applies to all services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries, regardless of their managed care enrollment.

Maddy summaryHB 2154 amends Washington State law to clarify how conservation districts may acquire and manage land for conservation purposes. The bill allows districts to obtain land (through purchase, lease, gift, etc.) without condemnation, but requires consent from land occupiers before using their property for demonstrations or conservation projects. It also specifies that district supervisors who are also land occupiers are exempt from certain conflict-of-interest rules. The bill directly affects conservation districts and landowners within their districts by changing land acquisition and usage procedures under RCW 89.08.220. These changes aim to streamline conservation work while requiring landowner agreement for district activities.

Maddy summaryHB 1311 changes the regulatory status of gray wolves in Washington from "endangered" to "sensitive" under state wildlife law. This directly affects gray wolves by prohibiting hunting and harassment while prioritizing their conservation, as the "sensitive" classification requires cooperative management and protection under existing law. The bill amends state code to implement the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2024 recommendation, maintaining current protections without allowing hunting. The status must be reviewed within two years, and wolves cannot revert to "endangered" unless population declines below current levels. This is a procedural change to wildlife classification, not a new hunting regulation.

Maddy summaryHB 2450 creates a Washington state food assistance program to replace federal SNAP benefits for specific vulnerable groups disqualified due to federal work requirements. It directly affects seniors (55+), foster youth (age 24 or younger who were in foster care at 18), veterans, homeless individuals, and families with children under 18. The bill allows the state to mirror federal SNAP rules but exempts these groups from work requirements, limits state benefits to the remaining federal work requirement period, and permits using the federal coupon system or state vouchers. This policy change ensures continued food assistance for those losing federal eligibility due to federal policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2449 requires Washington state agencies to conduct zero-based budget reviews for 20% of state programs every two years, starting in 2026, ensuring every program receives a review at least once every decade. The legislature selects which programs are reviewed each biennium (e.g., by area like education or health care), and agencies must submit detailed reports analyzing each program's purpose, costs, effectiveness, and alignment with agency goals. These reports must include data on funding, staffing, performance measures, and service levels, with public hearings required for review consideration. The governor and legislature must factor these reviews into budget decisions, aiming to improve transparency and efficiency in state spending.