Maddy summaryWashington's SB 5914 increases state funding for public defense services over time, requiring the state to cover 10% of costs in 2027, rising to 30% by 2031. Counties and cities receiving funds must meet specific quality standards, including requiring annual attorney training, reporting case statistics and expenditures, and tracking attorney time per case. The bill also mandates that public defense providers comply with Washington Supreme Court indigent defense standards and adopt legal representation plans addressing key factors. These requirements apply to all counties and cities providing public defense services for both adults and juveniles. The law aims to improve service quality and accountability through structured funding and reporting mechanisms.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies which investment income businesses can deduct when paying Washington's business and occupation tax. It defines "investment income" broadly to include dividends, interest from related entities (with a 5% gross receipts cap), and standard investments like stocks and bonds, while explicitly excluding banking, lending, factoring, and loan income not meeting the 5% rule. The changes apply retroactively to past tax periods but do not create new refund rights for taxes paid before the bill's effective date. It directly affects businesses filing B&O tax returns with investment income, providing certainty after recent court disputes over tax deductibility.
Maddy summarySB 5642 requires Washington’s Health Care Authority to develop education materials by December 2025 to improve breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, prenatal care timing, and postpartum care for Medicaid clients. It mandates an implementation plan to incentivize Medicaid insurance plans and standard care settings to meet these health metrics, including adopting a new billing code (0500F) for early pregnancy identification. The bill also requires annual reports starting in 2028 tracking specific outcomes like screening rates, care timeliness, and cost savings. This directly affects Medicaid clients in Washington, particularly women needing preventive cancer screenings and maternal health services.
Maddy summarySB 5566 increases penalties for assaulting certain public safety personnel, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, transit workers, school bus drivers, healthcare providers, and court staff while they are performing their duties. It reclassifies assault against law enforcement from a class C felony to a class B felony (a more serious charge) and adds a mandatory minimum 180-day prison sentence for such assaults committed during riots. The bill also expands protections to include assaults against healthcare providers, transit operators, and court personnel under specific duty-related circumstances. These changes apply to anyone who physically harms these workers while they are on duty, with no additional policy implications or outcomes speculated.
Maddy summarySB 5453 creates two key programs to address Washington's public defense staffing shortage. It requires the Office of Public Defense to establish a mandatory training program for new public defense paralegals and mitigation specialists by June 2027, covering ethics, client communication, and networking. The bill also mandates creating a pool of at least 10 full-time paralegals by 2027 to support contracted attorneys, prioritizing solo practitioners and small firms, with outreach to justice-impacted individuals. These provisions directly aim to improve recruitment and retention for public defense staff across the state, particularly in underserved areas.
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 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 5692 creates a special Washington state license plate featuring the Seattle Reign FC logo, the women's professional soccer team. Washington drivers who choose this plate will pay a $40 initial fee and $30 annual renewal fee, consistent with other team-themed plates like those for the Mariners or Seahawks. The bill adds this plate to the state's list of special license plate options under existing law, with fees distributed to the team or its designated organization. This is a procedural change that provides a new plate option for fans without altering broader vehicle registration rules.
Maddy summarySB 5483 prohibits Washington school districts from censoring or restricting instruction about U.S. or Washington state history and heritage when using original source documents containing religious references. The bill specifically protects teaching from 13 listed historical materials, including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Gettysburg Address, Pledge of Allegiance, and Northwest Ordinance. It directly affects public school districts by requiring them to teach these documents without removing or altering religious content. The law aims to preserve the full historical context of foundational American texts in classroom instruction.