Maddy summarySB 5117, the "FEAST Act" (Food Economics, Availability, and Security Over Time), creates a new state policy framework to support Washington's agricultural sector. It requires the state to analyze the fiscal impact of proposed legislation on agricultural businesses, including regulatory cost changes, and produce written fiscal notes for lawmakers upon request. These notes must detail annual impacts for the first two years and a six-year forecast, focusing on how policy decisions affect farmers' ability to produce food. The bill directly affects agricultural entities (like farms and processors) and state agencies responsible for drafting and reviewing legislation. It does not change existing agricultural regulations but establishes a process for evaluating future policy impacts.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 5063 creates a tax credit program for Washington state rail infrastructure improvements. It provides a 50% tax credit against state taxes for eligible rail operators (including class II/III railroads, port/city-owned rail, and industrial spur owners) on qualifying maintenance, new construction, and modernization costs. Credits are capped at $500,000 per company annually and $8 million statewide, with unused credits carryable for up to five years or transferable to other taxpayers. The bill directly affects smaller rail carriers and industrial facilities by reducing costs for upgrading tracks, bridges, and safety infrastructure to support modern freight needs.
Maddy summarySB 5055 promotes agritourism in Washington by adjusting building code requirements for agricultural structures. It specifies that agricultural buildings used for agritourism activities are not subject to standard commercial building permit requirements. This exemption applies if the building is used for agritourism for six months or less per year, provided it still meets all life and fire safety standards. This change directly affects farmers and landowners who host agritourism events on their property, potentially easing regulatory burdens for these activities.
Maddy summarySB 5003 creates a competitive grant program under Washington's Superintendent of Public Instruction to improve physical security at K-12 public schools. Public school districts can apply for grants covering eligible projects like entrance security systems, fencing, perimeter barriers, and infrastructure redesigns to streamline access. Grants are capped at $2 million per district over two years, with no more than 3% of funds allowed for administrative costs. The program requires annual progress reports to the legislature detailing applications, funding requests, and approved projects starting December 2025.
Maddy summarySB 5285 would allow Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers. Jurisdictions must use the revenue solely for hiring officers unless their current officer-to-population ratio exceeds the national average (calculated using FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data), in which case funds can support broader criminal justice programs like domestic violence services or homelessness initiatives. The bill targets Washington's high violent crime rates and low officer staffing - ranking last in the nation for officers per capita - by creating a dedicated funding stream for local law enforcement expansion. It requires jurisdictions to report staffing data annually and mandates that tax revenue directly supports law enforcement employment.
Maddy summarySB 5144 requires legislative hearings when Washington state agencies pay $1 million or more in settlements or judgments for negligence (tortious conduct) causing harm to citizens. The hearings, to be held within 12 months of the payment, involve the Senate and House committees reviewing reports from the attorney general, risk management, and the agency about the incident and legal context. The goal is to examine how future harm could be prevented through policy changes, without disclosing privileged legal information. This bill directly affects state agencies that make large tort payments and the legislative committees conducting the oversight. It does not change liability laws but adds a review process for significant cases.
Maddy summarySB 5607 requires all Washington state public colleges and universities to provide a mandatory "free speech fundamentals workshop" to every incoming student beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. The workshop must cover each institution's free speech policies, examples of policy violations, and types of protected speech, and must be offered during orientation or early in the academic year. Institutions are encouraged to use materials developed with constitutional law experts. This bill directly affects all incoming students at Washington's public higher education institutions and aims to educate them about First Amendment rights and campus speech policies. The requirement applies to all public institutions of higher education under Chapter 28B.10 RCW.
Maddy summarySB 5087 requires Columbia Basin College, Yakima Valley College, and Walla Walla College to offer prelaw associate's degree programs if funding is approved. It also creates a program to financially support community colleges in eastern Washington (east of the Cascades) to establish new, American Bar Association-approved paralegal programs in regions without them, aiming for one program in central Washington and one in eastern Washington. The bill directly affects these colleges and students seeking legal education pathways in underserved areas. Funding availability is a key condition for both provisions. The legislation focuses on expanding accessible legal education opportunities through community colleges.
Maddy summarySB 5810 is a budget bill allocating funds for Washington State's 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operations. It provides specific appropriations for state agencies, including $61.7 million for the House of Representatives and $46.3 million for the Senate in fiscal year 2026, along with $14.1 million for the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The bill includes a provision requiring the audit committee to review juvenile rehabilitation programs, focusing on staffing, safety, programming, and gender equity, with a report due by July 2026. It directly affects state government operations and agencies funded through this legislation. This is a routine appropriations bill, not a policy change.
Maddy summarySB 5495 adjusts life insurance policy terms in Washington State. It shortens the suicide exclusion period from two years to one year for standard life insurance policies and removes most exceptions (like suicide) from credit life insurance policies after January 1, 2026, except for fraud. The bill also requires clearer disclosure of policy terms, including coverage details and premium costs, to borrowers at the time of debt issuance. These changes directly affect policyholders, insurers, and creditors who provide or use credit-related insurance. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, for all policies issued or renewed after that date.