Sen. Bob Hasegawa

Maddy summarySB 5155 extends Washington's 2021 pilot program to make a streamlined permitting pathway permanent for salmon habitat projects. It allows qualifying projects - such as those funded by Puget Sound restoration programs, tribal initiatives, or state fish recovery funds - to use this optional process instead of full environmental reviews, while still requiring compliance with flood risk and cultural resource protections. Projects must be listed in 18 specific restoration programs (e.g., Bonneville Power Administration projects or tribal fish barrier removal) and submit 60-day notices to tribes and archaeology offices before approval. This change speeds up habitat restoration without replacing existing permit requirements.

Maddy summarySB 5222 limits annual rent and fee increases for Washington tenants to 7% (with specific exemptions), requires landlords to provide written notice for increases, and bans excessive or arbitrary fees. It directly affects all renters under Washington’s residential and manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant acts, including households with children, seniors, and communities of color disproportionately impacted by rent hikes. Key provisions include allowing tenants to terminate leases without penalty if increases violate the cap, creating a landlord resource center for compliance support, and establishing parity between month-to-month and fixed-term leases. The bill also authorizes the Attorney General to enforce violations and recover damages for unlawful rent or fee charges.

Maddy summarySB 5344 establishes a state-funded program to provide nursing home workers in Washington with affordable, high-quality health care benefits through participating nursing home employers. The bill allocates supplemental funding to nursing home operators who commit to offering health care via "qualified health funds" (multi-employer plans), distributing funds based on Medicaid bed days and requiring employers to maintain or increase health care spending. Employers must use all funds to improve employee health benefits, provide transparency on spending, and avoid replacing existing health coverage. The program directly affects nursing home workers - primarily older women, women of color, and immigrants - who provide direct care, with eligibility covering all permanent employees in participating facilities.

Maddy summarySB 5335 establishes a state-funded rural nursing education program to address nurse shortages in Washington's underserved rural communities. The program provides distance learning and support services - including childcare, transportation assistance, and internet access - to nursing students who commit to working in rural areas after graduation. It requires collaboration between rural hospitals, academic institutions, and community partners to create tailored training models and address workforce barriers like high urban salaries and pandemic-related burnout. The bill targets Washington’s 39 critical access hospitals and aims to build a sustainable pipeline of local nurses for rural health facilities.

Maddy summarySB 5308 establishes Washington's Guaranteed Admissions Program, requiring participating public four-year colleges (including regional universities, state colleges, and tribal institutions) to simplify admissions applications and guarantee admission to eligible high school seniors starting in 2026-27. The bill mandates schools to share student data (like GPA) with colleges and requires all high schools to notify students in grades 9-12 about college pathways, including this program, the Washington College Grant, and financial aid options. Participating institutions must report annually on admission rates, enrollment, and demographic data to track equity outcomes. This directly affects high school students seeking college access and public institutions managing admissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires taverns, nightclubs, hotels, and sports entertainment venues to offer drug testing devices for sale to customers in designated areas (excluding drink preparation zones). Businesses must ensure devices are within their expiration date, display clear signage about availability, and may charge only the wholesale cost (or offer them free). The law explicitly states venues are not liable for inaccurate test results, such as false positives or negatives. It applies to all licensees under Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board, effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 5421 allows certain small businesses to operate in residential zones across Washington state, directly affecting cities and towns (which must permit these businesses) and qualifying small business owners. The bill defines "neighborhood businesses" as specific types: small food venues (500-2,000 sq ft), local retail stores (up to 10,000 sq ft), licensed childcare centers (serving ≤45 children), and low-impact professional services (≤3 full-time staff). Cities must permit these businesses in residential areas while imposing reasonable rules on noise, signage, hours (minimum 12 hours/day), deliveries, and alcohol sales - without restricting existing licensed operations. The law aims to support local economies and community spaces without altering neighborhood character, requiring cities to adopt compatible regulations.

Maddy summarySB 5242 establishes a confidential, anonymous screening program for licensed health care providers in Washington State to address mental health and burnout. The program, funded by an annual surcharge on health professional licensing fees, provides an evidence-based screening questionnaire reviewed by counselors, with options for email consultation, referrals, or assistance with paid medical leave requests for mental health needs. It directly affects all health professionals licensed under chapter 18.130 RCW, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, by offering immediate access to behavioral health resources. The program’s costs are covered through a uniform surcharge added to licensing fees, with funds dedicated exclusively to the initiative via a new state account. The bill does not create new clinical standards but aims to improve provider access to support services through a structured, confidential pathway.

Maddy summarySB 5279 allows licensed child care providers in Washington to use documented work experience instead of formal early childhood education certificates to meet licensing requirements until August 1, 2028. To qualify, providers must have continuous employment since August 2021 (or seven cumulative years), active work requiring such certificates, and completed health/safety training. The bill also requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to form a stakeholder group - including providers, training organizations, and community advocates - to review and improve qualification systems, with a report due by December 2026. The law expires July 1, 2028, and does not apply to providers serving the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5093 aims to ensure dignity for individuals experiencing pregnancy loss in Washington state. It amends existing law to remove specific mentions of abortion, premature birth, and stillbirth from the circumstances that automatically trigger a coroner's investigation, thereby reducing the potential for criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. The bill also repeals the "Concealing birth" statute. Additionally, it establishes a new requirement for correctional institutions and private detention facilities to annually report the aggregate number of people experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal loss while confined, with the Department of Health compiling a statewide report for the legislature.