Sen. Judy Warnick

Maddy summarySB 5563 creates the Washington Horse Racing Commission, consisting of three gubernatorial appointees (one must be a horse breeder), to oversee state horse racing regulations. It requires at least one Washington-bred horse race daily at all licensed meets, sets license fees ($500 per live race day), and mandates that commission funds be used for operational costs or distributed to equestrian nonprofits. The bill also defines key terms like "parimutuel wagering" (betting pools) and requires racecourses to maintain safety standards for horses and the public. This directly affects horse racing operators, breeders, and nonprofit equestrian organizations that receive funding from the commission.

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 5008 creates a temporary grant program (expiring December 31, 2028) to help Washington public schools, school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools purchase or maintain digital assessment tools for math and English language arts in grades K-12. Schools applying for grants must outline plans for tool use and staff training, and funds prioritize districts based on need and geographic diversity. The program requires annual reports on fund usage, student demographics, and impacts on math and English test scores. This bill directly supports schools seeking tools to identify individual student needs and track progress.

Maddy summarySB 5623 creates a 13-member committee to review Washington state's public records exemptions. The committee, appointed by the governor, attorney general, state auditor, and legislative leaders, must annually examine all exemptions, develop a review schedule, and recommend whether each exemption should be kept, modified, scheduled for future review, or terminated. By November 15 each year, the committee submits these recommendations to the governor and legislative committees. This process directly affects how state agencies handle public records by requiring regular, transparent evaluation of exemptions. The bill establishes a structured, annual review mechanism for public records exemptions without changing existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill would permanently implement Pacific Standard Time year-round in Washington State, replacing the current practice of switching to daylight saving time in spring and back in fall. It amends state law to exempt Washington from daylight saving time changes, requiring all cities, counties, and state entities to observe Pacific Standard Time consistently. The bill repeals previous time-related statutes and aligns with the state's 2019 authorization to pursue year-round standard time, pending federal action. It takes effect November 3, 2025, affecting all residents and local governments across Washington.

Maddy summarySB 5213 changes the penalty for possessing fentanyl from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony in Washington State. It applies to anyone knowingly holding fentanyl without a valid prescription, excluding medical cannabis users under existing laws. The bill includes provisions for law enforcement to refer some cases to treatment programs instead of jail, while maintaining criminal penalties for fentanyl possession.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program establishing a state fund to reimburse landowners, fire districts, certified burn managers, and tribal cultural fire practitioners for property damage caused by properly conducted prescribed burns or cultural burns. The fund covers losses up to $2 million per claim for damage meeting specific criteria (e.g., burns following approved plans by certified practitioners), excluding cases involving criminal or negligent acts. It expires on June 30, 2033, and requires annual appropriations to operate. The program aims to reduce financial liability concerns that have limited the use of prescribed fire as a forest health tool.

Maddy summaryWashington State bill SB 5472 restricts nonresident aliens (foreign nationals not living in the U.S.) from directly purchasing agricultural, forest, or mineral land after August 1, 2025, unless their home country allows U.S. citizens to own similar land there. It specifically exempts U.S. citizens with dual citizenship, land acquired through inheritance or debt collection (requiring disposal within three years), and land covered by treaties or reciprocal ownership agreements. The bill also excludes agricultural land associated with food processing facilities from these restrictions. This policy directly affects foreign individuals or entities seeking to buy farmland in Washington, while maintaining existing rights for U.S. citizens and treaty-protected owners.

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.