Sen. Bob Hasegawa

Maddy summarySB 6312 bans grocery stores from using personal data - like shopping habits, location, or inferred traits - to charge different prices to individual shoppers (surveillance-based price discrimination) or raise prices during high demand (surge pricing). It specifically targets large grocery retailers (excluding small businesses under state law) and requires all prices to be clearly posted and consistent for all customers. The bill also imposes a four-year moratorium on electronic shelf label systems that collect consumer data to modify prices, to study impacts on transparency and jobs. This law aims to ensure fair pricing by preventing retailers from exploiting personal information for dynamic pricing.

Maddy summarySB 6224 establishes a diverse work group to improve access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults in Washington State. The group, requiring representation from state agencies, healthcare providers, schools, parents, youth (including two under age six), tribal governments, and underserved communities, will monitor existing programs and remove barriers between education, healthcare, and early learning systems. Key responsibilities include advancing insurance parity for mental health coverage, strengthening support for early childhood development (prenatal to age five), and advising on school-based mental health and suicide prevention. The work group will guide state efforts using the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan to ensure equitable, high-quality care across all communities.

Maddy summarySB 6214 creates a framework for Washington cities and counties to establish land banking authorities - public or nonprofit entities - that hold land tax-exempt for affordable housing development. These land banks must prioritize equity by preventing displacement and addressing historical inequities, and at least 50% of land they lease or sell must include 30-year affordability requirements: rental units must stay affordable to households earning ≤80% of area median income, and owner-occupied units ≤120% of area median income. The bill requires annual public reporting on land acquisitions, dispositions, and how activities align with local housing plans and equity goals. It directly affects local governments, housing developers, and low-to-moderate income residents seeking affordable homes.

Maddy summarySB 6292 establishes a joint committee to study health care financing in Washington state, directly involving state legislators, executive branch agencies (like Health Care Authority and Insurance Commissioner), and tribal representatives. The committee will investigate specific strategies to improve affordability and access - such as prescription drug pricing, payment models, and federal fund coordination - and must deliver preliminary and final reports by 2027. It expires on January 1, 2028, and will not enact new laws but develop recommendations for the legislature. The bill does not change current policies but creates a structured process for analyzing health care financing challenges.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most Washington hospitals to employ a full-time, on-site patient advocate starting January 1, 2027, to help patients navigate healthcare systems. It directly affects licensed hospitals, with exemptions for certain rural hospitals (critical access or sole community hospitals), Skagit County island hospitals, and tribal hospitals meeting specific criteria. Exempt hospitals must instead provide verified access to external advocacy services (like phone/video support) and ensure patients know how to connect with them. The advocate’s role includes assisting with medical records, scheduling, care coordination, and communication with providers or insurers.

Maddy summarySB 5849 requires all Washington high school students to complete financial education instruction to graduate, beginning with the 2033 graduating class at the earliest. It mandates school districts to provide this instruction aligned with state learning standards, through various formats like regular classes or online options, starting in the 2027-28 school year. The bill also requires districts to publicize the requirement to students and families and allows principals to grant individual waivers for students who moved to Washington after the requirement began. This policy directly affects all public high school students in Washington state and builds on existing financial education efforts.

Maddy summarySB 5918 increases state funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs to address inflation-driven budget shortfalls affecting Washington school districts. It amends funding formulas to base allocations on standardized "prototypical" school models (e.g., 400 elementary students, 600 high school students) with specific class size targets, adjusting for actual student counts and school size. The bill requires school districts to link to publicly posted per-pupil funding reports on their websites and mandates transparency in how state funds are distributed across programs like special education. This directly affects all Washington public school districts by changing how they receive and report state education funding.

Maddy summarySB 5784 requires Washington state agencies to collect and report detailed demographic data on race and ethnicity beyond federal minimums, directly affecting all state departments, boards, and commissions that evaluate programs. The bill mandates disaggregating data - like breaking down "Asian" into subgroups (e.g., Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean) and other categories based on program needs - to better assess equity in state services. Agencies must include this data in public reports starting June 2025, explain their data collection choices, and consult state ethnic commissions if unsure about appropriate categories. Compliance is required by June 30, 2026, with limited exemptions allowed for agencies citing undue burden or privacy risks.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 8673), not a legislative bill with binding provisions. It formally celebrates the longstanding relationship between Washington state and Ireland, highlighting historical ties (including connections to Indigenous nations dating to 1847), the 1986 Galway-Seattle city partnership, and annual economic exchanges exceeding $1 billion in sectors like technology and agriculture. The resolution affirms Washington's commitment to strengthening cultural, economic, and technological collaboration with Ireland, acknowledging shared values in innovation and sustainability. It does not create new laws, programs, or funding, serving solely as a symbolic gesture of partnership.

Maddy summarySB 6252 requires Washington transit agencies receiving state grants to provide free rides to students enrolled in degree or certificate programs at community and technical colleges (as defined in RCW 28B.50.030) and to all passengers 18 years and younger. This policy is a condition for grant eligibility, replacing previous requirements for transit agencies to maintain certain sales tax revenues. The bill mandates transit agencies to document this zero-fare policy by October 1, 2022, to qualify for state funding, with the state tracking ridership under this program. It directly affects community/technical college students and transit agencies seeking state transit support grants.