Maddy summarySB 6305 requires health insurance companies in Washington to annually report detailed, standardized data about mental health and substance use coverage. Insurers must submit information on in-network provider availability, reimbursement rates, out-of-network utilization, and access metrics (like youth services and telehealth) by July 1 each year. The state will publish all raw data and create an interactive public dashboard by October, allowing consumers and employers to compare insurers' coverage transparency. This addresses documented gaps where Washington residents face significantly greater barriers accessing mental health care than medical care, as highlighted by recent studies. The bill directly affects all health insurance carriers operating in Washington and aims to improve transparency for patients seeking behavioral health services.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 5978 establishes Washington's Guaranteed Admissions Program, requiring public four-year colleges to simplify admissions applications and set clear eligibility criteria starting in 2027-28. It mandates high schools to use a statewide digital system to securely share student transcripts with participating colleges for eligible 11th/12th graders, while allowing families to opt out of data sharing. The bill directly affects public universities (with optional participation), high schools, and students applying to college through this program. Key provisions include streamlined admissions forms, annual review of eligibility criteria, and free data transfer via the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative.
Maddy summarySB 6235 prohibits Washington state public universities from entering agreements with private equity firms or foreign government investment funds that transfer revenue rights, ownership stakes, or control over athletic programs. The law bans deals where these entities gain profit shares, influence scheduling/hiring, or control media/sponsorship revenue streams - such as ticket sales, broadcasting, or licensing. Allowed exceptions include standard sponsorships without revenue sharing, charitable gifts, and tax-exempt bond financing. Universities must annually report compliance to the legislature and disclose any permitted agreements.
Maddy summarySB 6241 requires Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement wild broodstock conservation programs in watersheds with native steelhead populations. It mandates using wild steelhead (collected by volunteers) for hatchery breeding to boost recovery, with specific rules to prevent genetic issues like inbreeding and ensure fish health. The law sets population targets, requires conservation-focused hatchery management plans, and establishes protocols for fish handling, spawning, and predator control. This directly affects steelhead trout recovery efforts across Washington’s watersheds and the state’s fish management practices.
Maddy summarySB 6304 requires Washington State’s Investment Board to incorporate ethical investment standards into its management of public retirement and trust funds. It prohibits investments in companies or activities involving serious human rights violations, weapons production, coal energy, tobacco, environmental harm, or other significant ethical risks (as detailed in Section 2). The bill mandates the Board to assess these risks when making investment decisions, develop public proxy voting guidelines supporting ethical standards, and report annually on how these principles are applied. This directly affects how $100+ billion in public funds are managed, ensuring investments align with state values while still aiming for prudent financial returns. The Board must now consider both financial and ethical risks in its investment strategy.
Maddy summarySB 6329 requires Washington's Utilities and Transportation Commission to oversee broadband and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services, directly affecting internet service providers (ISPs). It establishes new minimum standards for network reliability, including requirements for outage reporting, emergency preparedness, power backup systems, and metrics like latency and packet loss. ISPs must complete service orders within five business days (with specific exceptions) or face automatic $5 daily customer credits, and they must report service quality data annually. The law also mandates public disclosure of rates, service standards, and network performance metrics to ensure affordable, resilient, and safe broadband access for residents.
Maddy summarySB 6109 prohibits Washington State's Investment Board from investing state funds in private detention facilities. Starting immediately, the Board cannot make new investments in entities owning or operating such facilities, and must fully divest existing investments by January 1, 2030. The bill requires this transition to avoid financial loss by reinvesting in comparable, productive alternatives. It directly affects state pension and retirement funds managed by the Investment Board, targeting for-profit facilities operating under government contracts.
Maddy summarySB 5945 modifies Washington's "persistent offender" definition to exclude convictions for crimes committed before age 18, directly affecting individuals sentenced as adults for juvenile offenses. The bill requires courts to consider resentencing these individuals to align with current constitutional standards established by U.S. Supreme Court rulings (Miller v. Alabama) and Washington state court decisions (State v. Bassett). Key provisions amend sentencing laws to ensure juvenile offenses no longer count toward "persistent offender" status, reflecting scientific understanding that youth have greater potential for rehabilitation. This change applies to people currently incarcerated for such cases, correcting a legal inconsistency where juvenile offenses were still used to impose harsh sentences despite court rulings.
Maddy summaryWashington's SB 5439 requires the state investment board to fully divest all public funds from thermal coal companies by January 1, 2030. It defines "thermal coal companies" as those deriving significant revenue from coal mining, power generation, or infrastructure (e.g., 10% revenue from coal, 10,000+ tons annual production). The bill prohibits new investments in such companies immediately and allows limited exceptions for companies transitioning to clean energy with a verified timeline. The state must report progress annually to the legislature, aligning with Washington's goal to eliminate coal-fired electricity by 2025.
Maddy summarySB 6175 regulates secondary ticket sales for entertainment and sporting events to prevent consumer deception and price gouging. It caps resale prices at 110% of the original ticket price (including fees) and limits service fees to 10%, while requiring clear disclosures that tickets are purchased from a secondary marketplace, not the original seller. The bill prohibits misleading marketing (e.g., fake "official" sites), bans selling speculative tickets, and mandates resellers notify buyers within 8 hours of event changes. It exempts professional sports teams, small arts organizations ($500,000 annual revenue cap), schools, movie theaters, and tribal venues from most provisions. The law applies to commercial resellers and secondary ticket platforms operating in Washington.