Maddy summarySB 5410 amends Washington State law to expand eligibility for disability parking privileges to include veterans. Specifically, it adds veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who use a service animal (as defined by federal regulations) to the list of qualifying individuals under existing parking rules. The bill does not create new benefits but extends current disability parking access to this veteran group, requiring the same medical certification as other applicants. It maintains all existing requirements for documentation, application, and issuance of parking placards or license plates. This change directly affects eligible veterans seeking parking accommodations under Washington’s disability parking program.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 5630 amends Washington's climate commitment act to clarify which entities must report emissions under the state's program. It establishes a 25,000 metric ton carbon dioxide equivalent threshold for coverage, affecting farm fuel users, transporters, electricity importers, fossil fuel suppliers, and natural gas companies. The bill defines specific criteria for when these entities become "covered" (e.g., based on emissions from facilities or operations) and outlines transition rules for new or modified operations. It does not address payments to farm fuel users, as the title suggests, but focuses solely on defining reporting obligations under the existing climate program. This procedural amendment ensures consistent application of emissions reporting requirements across covered sectors.
Maddy summarySB 5146 proposes creating a public portal where state employees and residents can report wasteful, duplicative, or inefficient government spending. The portal would require users to submit details about specific agencies, policy areas, and examples of inefficiency (with anonymous options), and it must be accessible to people with disabilities and mobile users. Submitted reports would be sent annually to legislative budget committees, and state employees whose suggestions lead to actual savings may qualify for cash awards. The bill directly affects state employees and the public by providing a structured way to identify government waste, aiming to improve taxpayer spending efficiency. It does not change existing laws but establishes a new process for gathering and reviewing efficiency suggestions.
Maddy summarySB 5276 modifies how Washington counties are reimbursed for criminal justice costs linked to crimes committed by people in state-run institutions. It creates an "institutional impact account" to fund reimbursements for law enforcement, prosecutorial, judicial, and jail costs directly tied to offenders in facilities managed by the Secretary of Children, Youth, and Families or Secretary of Corrections. Reimbursement rates are set using each county's average hourly costs (for law enforcement/prosecution/judicial) or daily bed rates (for jail) from the previous fiscal year. The bill requires both agencies to update their rules to implement these new rate calculations and reimbursement procedures.
Maddy summarySB 5777 creates a tax deduction for payment card processors in Washington, allowing them to subtract interchange fees and network fees from their business and occupation tax base. The bill also increases the tax rate for these processors, establishing a 1.5% rate for businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenue and a 1.75% rate for others. This directly affects companies that process electronic payments for merchants, such as credit and debit card transactions. The deduction is intended to address the unique fee structure of payment processing activities.
Maddy summarySB 5717 requires applicants under age 26 applying for their first Washington driver's license to complete a free online course on work zone and first responder safety. The course must be provided at no cost by the state through a contracted provider for residents aged 15-25. This requirement applies specifically to new license applicants (those without prior Washington licenses) and is added to intermediate license eligibility standards. The bill amends existing law to include this course as a mandatory step for new drivers, with limited waivers if the course isn't available during application. It does not impose new penalties but integrates safety education into the licensing process.
Maddy summarySB 5256 requires the Washington Indeterminate Sentence Review Board to formally consider victims' objections when deciding whether to release offenders convicted of sex offenses. The bill mandates that victims of these crimes can present statements and object on record during hearings, with the board giving "great weight" to their objections and making written findings on them. It also requires county prosecutors to forward victim impact statements and contact information to the board as part of the review process. This policy change directly affects victims of sex offense convictions and the board's decision-making during parole hearings for such offenders.
Maddy summarySB 5621 exempts electronic raffles held at live sporting events from Washington State's standard raffle regulations, provided the total prize amount equals no more than 50% of the gross gambling receipts collected. This directly affects sporting venues, event organizers, and ticket purchasers at games or events where such raffles are offered. The key provision clarifies that these specific electronic raffles - where prizes are capped at half the revenue - are not considered traditional raffles under state law, removing them from requirements like charitable organization oversight and revenue distribution rules. The bill does not change how raffles operate but defines a clear exemption for this common event feature.
Maddy summarySB 5153 changes Washington state law to transfer youth convicted of felonies under age 18 from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to the Department of Corrections (DOC) at age 18, instead of keeping them in DCYF until age 25. This applies to most felony convictions, with an exception requiring immediate transfer at 18 for "serious violent offenses" (as defined in RCW 9.94A.030). The bill amends RCW 72.01.410 and 13.40.280 to eliminate required hearings for these transfers. It directly affects youth under 18 convicted as adults who were previously retained in juvenile facilities beyond age 18.
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.