Sen. Bob Hasegawa

Maddy summaryThis bill would require electronic media services (like streaming or music subscriptions) to refund consumers who cancel annual subscriptions early, calculating refunds based on the time the service was used (pro-rata) up to the end of the month of cancellation. It mandates that companies disclose refund policies and fees before sign-up and issue refunds within six months. The law applies only to individual consumers (not businesses or government) and covers subscriptions for intangible content like music, news, or entertainment. The bill is currently pending in the legislature and has not yet become law.

Maddy summarySB 5608 requires Washington's public universities, community colleges, and technical colleges to adopt written free speech policy statements aligned with the Chicago Principles. These policies must be developed with faculty and student input and explicitly commit to protecting open inquiry, respectful discussion of ideas, non-judgmental debate, and not obstructing expression. The bill mandates that institutions formally adopt these statements to uphold free expression principles, directly affecting all 34 public higher education institutions in the state. It does not alter existing speech laws but sets a standard for institutional policy.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5034 eliminates the expiration date for the interagency, multijurisdictional system improvement team, informally known as SYNC. This team, composed of representatives from state infrastructure programs and local government associations, coordinates state investments in projects such as drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and broadband. Its purpose is to identify system improvements to maximize value, minimize costs, and ensure the long-term durability and resilience of infrastructure for communities across Washington. By removing the June 30, 2025 sunset date, the bill makes this coordination team permanent and requires it to submit biennial progress reports to the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 5082 creates a state housing assistance program for youth in Washington’s extended foster care system (ages 18-21). It provides rental assistance for up to 36 months (until age 21) to eligible youth who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, capping rent at 30% of their income (max 40% if rent exceeds fair market value). The program ensures youth can access housing support while remaining in foster care, avoiding the current gap where they must exit foster care to qualify for federal housing vouchers. The bill also requires transition planning at age 21 to connect youth with housing, financial, education, and health services. This directly affects approximately 13% of foster youth experiencing homelessness in extended care, as noted in the bill’s findings.

Maddy summarySB 5476 modifies Washington State's criteria for contractors to qualify as "responsible bidders" on public works projects. It requires bidders to either have completed at least one public project in the last three years without violations or have at least one trained employee (certified by the Department of Labor and Industries on public works rules), with exemptions for contractors with three+ projects and three+ years of business. The bill also mandates new apprentice utilization plans for projects subject to apprenticeship rules, including specific details like projected hours and program contacts, which must be submitted within 60 days of winning a contract. Contractors must verify compliance with all criteria through a sworn statement and the Department's public website, while state/municipalities may add supplemental requirements with clear appeal processes. These changes directly affect construction contractors bidding on state or local government projects requiring licensing or apprenticeship compliance.

Maddy summarySB 5126 creates a statewide network to coordinate school-based mental and behavioral health services for Washington K-12 students. It directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to lead strategic planning, streamline access to resources, and establish regional programs through Educational Service Districts. The bill requires schools to implement evidence-based screening, prevention, and intervention services - including substance use education - and coordinate with community partners. This directly affects all public schools, students, and local education agencies by standardizing support systems currently fragmented across multiple state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 5551 requires all Washington school districts to adopt policies by September 1, 2026, ensuring every K-12 student has access to school library information and technology programs staffed by certified teacher-librarians. The bill mandates districts to define how students access library resources and instruction, while allowing small districts (second-class) to use non-certified staff only after making "reasonable efforts" to hire certified librarians and partnering with libraries or schools. It directly affects all 245 Washington public school districts, particularly those serving low-income communities and communities of color where nearly 60% currently lack certified teacher-librarians. The law defines "teacher-librarian" as a certified educator with library media training and specifies that these programs must support state learning standards and digital literacy skills for all students.

Maddy summarySB 5120 revises Washington's basic education funding formula to determine how state money is allocated to school districts. It establishes standard school models (e.g., a high school with 600 students) with specific class size requirements (like 17 students per teacher in K-3) to calculate funding, adjusting for actual enrollment and factors like high-poverty schools. School districts must publicly report per-student funding data on their websites, and the state must publish statewide averages for transparency. The bill affects all Washington public school districts by changing how instructional funds are distributed based on these updated formulas.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5701 expands the definition of an "interested party" under Washington's prevailing wage laws. This change includes Taft-Hartley trusts and joint labor-management cooperation committees within this definition. By becoming "interested parties," these groups gain expanded access to records related to public works projects. The bill aims to strengthen the enforcement of prevailing wage laws, helping ensure that contractors and subcontractors pay the legally required wages and benefits to workers.

Maddy summarySB 5725 requires Washington state community and technical colleges to review their land use policies and develop affordable housing on underutilized campus land. It directly affects public employees, frontline workers, educators, students, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who face housing instability due to unaffordable rents. The bill removes barriers to housing development by amending state codes to mandate colleges consider affordable housing as part of their land use planning. This creates a concrete policy change allowing colleges to expand housing options near workplaces and schools, addressing a critical shortage identified by the legislature. The law aims to help essential workers and students secure stable housing without long commutes.