Sen. Keith Goehner

Maddy summarySB 5624 requires the Washington State Patrol, in collaboration with the Department of Ecology, fire districts, and the towing industry, to create best practices for responding to electric vehicle (EV) fires. The guidelines must cover first responder protocols during EV collisions or fires and procedures for safely transporting, towing, and storing damaged EVs. The State Patrol must also develop checklists to improve coordination between agencies during EV fire responses, which will be shared with all fire departments across Washington. These practical tools aim to standardize safety measures as EV adoption increases.

Maddy summarySB 5404 establishes a new funding structure for Washington state public defense services, requiring the state to cover 50% of costs starting in 2026 based on a five-year average of county expenditures. Counties and cities that save funds due to this state contribution must redirect those savings toward specific alternatives like pretrial diversion programs, reentry services, or public defense infrastructure (e.g., IT, staffing). The bill mandates annual reporting of caseloads, attorney hours, and service quality metrics to the Office of Public Defense, which will use this data to review case categorization standards. It also allows low-population counties to transfer public defense responsibilities to the state office, with the state retaining their pro rata funding share for service delivery.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington counties, cities, and towns with authority to approve new home construction to permit enough housing to cover their portion of the state's estimated 1 million+ housing shortage by 2035. The Department of Commerce will calculate each local government's specific housing target by April 2026 and publish it online. Local governments must review their zoning and permitting rules to remove barriers to construction, and if over 33% of building permits are denied, they must address the causes. The bill also establishes a process for local governments to report state laws hindering housing, prompting the legislature to consider amendments.

Maddy summarySB 5218 updates Washington’s vehicle and driver licensing laws to align with federal standards, primarily affecting vehicle owners, law enforcement, and businesses requesting vehicle records. It tightens privacy rules by requiring written agreements for business requests, limiting disclosure to specific purposes, and notifying owners when their information is shared with attorneys or private investigators. The bill also standardizes odometer disclosure requirements for vehicle title transfers, mandating mileage statements at ownership changes. These changes streamline existing processes while enhancing privacy protections for vehicle owners under state law.

Maddy summarySB 5699 amends Washington State law requiring counties and cities to update their comprehensive plans. It mandates specific additions to the land use element, including wildfire risk mitigation (like adopting firewise standards), groundwater protection, and environmental justice considerations. The housing element must address racial disparities in housing access, identify anti-displacement policies, and ensure affordable housing options for low- to moderate-income households, including accessory dwelling units. This bill directly affects all local governments required to maintain comprehensive plans under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington law enforcement to provide juveniles (under age 18) with immediate access to an attorney before questioning or when they might waive constitutional rights during police contact. For jurisdictions over 1 million people, the attorney must consult in person; smaller areas may use phone or video. Statements made without this consultation are inadmissible in court unless the juvenile properly waived rights after meeting with a lawyer, or if exceptions apply (like imminent life threats or trafficking victim situations). The law aims to prevent coerced statements and ensure juveniles understand their rights before interacting with police.

Maddy summarySB 5670 creates a state grant program to help rural school districts with large geographic areas (450 square miles or more) offset rising transportation costs from increased fuel prices. The program, administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, provides direct financial assistance for fuel-related expenses in school transportation. It specifically targets districts facing higher costs due to their extensive service areas. The grant is funded through appropriations and focuses solely on mitigating fuel cost impacts for eligible rural schools.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5471 authorizes counties to permit "middle housing" in specific unincorporated areas, including designated urban growth areas and certain limited rural development areas. This allows for up to four residential units on parcels typically zoned for single-family homes. Counties implementing this must ensure middle housing development standards are no more restrictive than those for single-family residences, while still allowing objective standards like setbacks to apply. All such housing must be served by appropriate water and sewer services, and county actions to implement these provisions are exempt from certain administrative and judicial appeals.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5702 streamlines the process for setting and adjusting toll rates in Washington state. It exempts the Transportation Commission, when acting as the state's tolling authority, from the standard administrative procedure act for these decisions. This change is intended to allow for quicker adjustments to tolls, enabling the commission to meet financial obligations and performance requirements for tolled facilities more efficiently. The bill aims to establish a faster, more flexible toll setting process while still maintaining public transparency.

Maddy summarySB 5323 increases the penalties for stealing or possessing stolen property that belongs to firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) providers. It expands the definitions of first-degree theft and first-degree possession of stolen property to include essential equipment taken from fire stations, EMS buildings, or their vehicles. These actions become a Class B felony if the equipment is critical to emergency work and its loss significantly delayed a response, or if the equipment is valued over $1,000. This bill aims to protect the vital tools first responders use by applying stricter penalties to those who steal or possess their equipment under these specific circumstances.