Sen. Bob Hasegawa

Maddy summarySB 5629 mandates that large group health plans in Washington, issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, must include coverage for medically necessary prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces. This coverage applies when devices are needed for daily living, essential job activities, or to maximize physical function. The bill also requires coverage for materials, instruction, and reasonable repair or replacement of these devices. It prohibits denying coverage for individuals with disabilities if similar services would be covered for non-disabled persons and requires health plans to report claims data.

Maddy summarySB 5638 imposes a 7.5% tax on the portion of annual compensation exceeding 10 times the state's average wage for the top five non-clinical employees and the hospital's lead administrator at Washington hospitals. The tax, effective January 1, 2026, applies to compensation reported to the Department of Health under state law. Revenue from this tax will fund programs to expand affordable health care access, including reproductive services and health equity initiatives. The bill targets hospitals with high executive pay levels, using the tax as a funding mechanism rather than penalizing specific hospital practices.

Maddy summarySB 5540 repeals a Washington state law (RCW 50.20.095) that previously disqualified students enrolled in school from receiving unemployment insurance benefits. This change directly affects students attending school or higher education who are otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits. The bill removes the automatic disqualification, allowing these students to receive benefits without losing eligibility solely due to their enrollment. The policy change simplifies access to unemployment support for student workers who meet other eligibility criteria.

Maddy summarySB 5133 amends Washington State's sentencing guidelines (RCW 9.94A.535) to allow courts to consider a defendant's primary caregiver status as a mitigating factor for imposing a lower sentence, provided there are no disqualifying factors like abuse findings, restraining orders, or prior convictions involving the person they care for. It directly affects defendants who are parents, legal guardians, or caregivers for family members (including elders or grandchildren) without certain legal barriers. The key provision adds caregiver status to the list of specific circumstances courts must evaluate when determining if an exceptional sentence below the standard range is justified. This change aims to address cases where caregiving responsibilities significantly impact a defendant's conduct or circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 5422 requires public employers in Washington State, including universities and state agencies, to negotiate with employee unions over decisions to adopt or change artificial intelligence (AI) technology when those changes affect employees' wages or performance evaluations. This bill amends existing labor laws (RCW 41.56 and 41.80) to specifically include AI-related workplace changes in mandatory bargaining topics. The law applies only to AI uses impacting wages or evaluations, not all technology decisions, and does not affect existing contracts until their renewal. Public sector employees covered under these labor codes are the direct beneficiaries of this requirement.

Maddy summarySB 5715 retroactively removes sentencing points from certain juvenile convictions that were previously counted toward adult prison sentences. It allows eligible incarcerated individuals (who had juvenile convictions counted in their sentence before July 2023) to petition for resentencing if they meet specific time-served thresholds (e.g., 50% served by 2027 or 15 years served). The bill requires courts to grant resentencing hearings unless the person has serious disciplinary records, lacks rehabilitation evidence, or poses a high risk of reoffending, while ensuring victims can provide input. It also guarantees free legal counsel for eligible petitioners and sets a minimum six-month release wait after resentencing. This applies only to people currently incarcerated with sentences ending on or after July 2026.

Maddy summarySB 5771 adds a new $300 annual tax credit for low-income renters in Washington who paid rent for their primary residence (including mobile home lots) for at least 183 days during the year. This credit directly affects eligible individuals who already qualify for the existing Working Families Tax Credit but also face property taxes included in their rent. The credit is calculated based on rental duration (183+ days), adjusted for inflation starting in 2027, and reduces at specific income levels as outlined in the bill. It expands the existing credit program to specifically address the financial impact of property taxes embedded in rental costs.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5542 expands eligibility for tuition waivers at community and technical colleges in Washington state. The bill removes the current age requirement, which states students must be nineteen years or older, to receive these waivers. This change allows any resident-eligible student enrolled in a program to complete their high school education at a community or technical college to potentially receive a full or partial tuition waiver, regardless of their age.

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.

Maddy summaryWashington State's Senate Joint Memorial 8001 (SJM 8001) is a non-binding request to Congress, urging it to propose a constitutional amendment under Article V. The memorial asks Congress to seek an amendment that would grant authority to regulate campaign contributions (including size, timing, and disclosure), ban anonymous political spending, and distinguish between natural persons and artificial entities like corporations in election finance. It specifically aims to clarify that spending money isn't protected "free speech" under the First Amendment and requires timely public disclosure of all political donations. The bill does not create new laws but seeks to change constitutional interpretation regarding campaign finance rules.