Maddy summarySenate Bill 5589 directs the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to conduct a comprehensive study on how personal insurance rates are determined. The study will examine insurers' use of credit history, credit-based insurance scores, and other rate factors that may disproportionately affect Washington residents based on race, ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, or national origin. The OIC will collect information from insurers and contract with actuaries and consultants to analyze these practices. It will also identify and analyze alternative rate factors that do not rely on credit history or disparately impact residents. The OIC is required to submit preliminary and final reports to the legislature with findings, policy options, and recommendations on the use of these factors for personal insurance.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 5770 creates a new state property tax exemption for Washington homeowners' primary residences, reducing taxes on a portion of their home's value. The exemption equals the greater of $100,000 or 60% of the county's median home value (updated annually), applied to state taxes only (not local taxes). Homeowners must apply yearly by April 1st with proof of residency and personal information like Social Security numbers, and it applies to all primary homes including community land trusts and cooperatives. The bill aims to prevent displacement and help middle- and fixed-income families maintain housing stability by making home ownership more affordable. This policy change directly affects homeowners who qualify as primary residents, with the exemption taking effect for taxes levied in 2028 and later.
Maddy summarySB 5756 amends Washington State law to strengthen penalties for employers violating safety and health rules for minor workers (under 18). It establishes tiered civil fines starting at $100 for minor permit violations, up to $71,000 for violations causing serious harm or death, with higher penalties for repeat offenses. Employers with three or more violations in two years face a 12-month ban on obtaining minor work permits. The bill also allows immediate workplace safety orders when a minor’s life is at risk and requires annual inflation adjustments to penalty amounts starting in 2027. It directly affects employers hiring minors who fail to comply with work permit, hours, break, or safety requirements.
Maddy summarySB 5377 prevents auto manufacturers from treating dealers unfairly by banning price discrimination, unequal allocation of vehicles or parts, and restricting dealers' ability to earn documentary fees on certain programs. It also prohibits manufacturers from competing with dealers by owning or operating dealerships, except for limited cases like temporary ownership during transitions or partnerships with underrepresented groups. The bill requires manufacturers to disclose allocation methods to dealers upon request and adds a 4% cap on dealership ownership for certain partnerships. These changes directly affect new vehicle dealers and manufacturers in Washington State by creating a more equitable marketplace.
Maddy summarySB 5474 requires Washington's Department of Agriculture to develop an organic agriculture action plan by June 2027, aiming to support farmers transitioning to organic, regenerative, and sustainable practices. The plan must address barriers to organic certification, expand organic markets and acreage, support job creation (especially for youth and underrepresented communities), and identify gaps in farmer training and infrastructure. The bill also modifies fee rules to allow reduced certification costs when state funds are appropriated, with fees funding the program directly. It expires June 30, 2028. The bill directly affects Washington farmers seeking organic certification and those aiming to adopt climate-smart agricultural methods.
Maddy summarySB 5038 clarifies Washington's hate crime law by defining specific acts that qualify as hate crimes when motivated by bias against a person's race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It makes offenses like assaulting someone, damaging property, or threatening someone (with context indicating a credible threat) a class C felony if done because of the victim's protected characteristic. The bill adds concrete examples for prosecutors, such as burning crosses on African American property or defacing Jewish property with Nazi symbols, and specifies that mistaken identity about a victim's protected characteristic is not a defense. It also clarifies that threatening words alone don't count as hate crimes unless they're credible threats, and that victims can pursue additional legal remedies beyond the felony charge.
Maddy summarySB 5373 would allow Washington local governments (cities, towns, and special districts) to choose holding general elections in even-numbered years instead of the current odd-numbered years, aiming to boost voter turnout. The bill amends election statutes to permit this shift through local ordinances, charter amendments, or voter initiatives, requiring public hearings and specifying transition rules for election terms. It directly affects all local jurisdictions that opt to change their election timing, with the stated goal of increasing participation - particularly among younger voters, working families, and people with disabilities - by aligning local elections with higher-turnout even-year state/federal cycles. The bill does not mandate the change but provides a structured process for local governments to adopt it.
Maddy summarySB 5264 modifies tax compacts between Washington State and federally recognized tribes by increasing revenue-sharing percentages for tribes that complete qualified capital investments. It directly affects tribes with existing compacts, requiring the state to pay them 100% of state sales/use tax revenue above a $500,000 annual cap (instead of 25%) on transactions not meeting "new development" requirements, starting in the fourth year after the compact's effective date. The bill also establishes processes for verifying capital investments, resolving disputes, and maintaining confidentiality of tax records. This change aims to incentivize tribal infrastructure projects while clarifying revenue distribution terms under current compacts.
Maddy summarySB 5064 establishes an advisory council on rare diseases within the University of Washington School of Medicine to advise Washington's Secretary of Health. The council, composed of 12 members including clinicians, rare disease patients, caregivers, patient advocates, and industry representatives, must ensure geographic representation across the Cascade Mountains. It will focus on improving research, diagnosis, treatment, and public education about rare diseases, identify effective care strategies, and recommend creating a centralized online resource for patients. The council must submit biennial reports to the legislature starting in 2026, but it serves only in an advisory capacity without overriding local health authority.
Maddy summarySB 5044 allows public employers in Washington to negotiate with employee unions over contributions for supplemental retirement benefits (such as medical plans) that are administered by or on behalf of employee organizations. This bill amends state law to explicitly permit bargaining on contribution levels for these supplemental benefits, while still keeping core retirement plans and benefits administered by the Department of Retirement Systems off-limits to negotiation. The change directly affects public employees covered under Washington's retirement systems who participate in supplemental benefit programs. The policy shift clarifies that contributions for these specific supplemental benefits - distinct from basic pension plans - are subject to collective bargaining.