Sen. Mike Chapman

Maddy summarySB 5744 requires Washington's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to study whether the state should transition from its current part-time legislature to a full-time model. The study must compare Washington's legislature with other states on key factors including legislative structure (full-time vs. part-time), compensation, demographic representation (race, gender, income), session schedules, and oversight capabilities. It will specifically examine barriers preventing diverse participation, such as time constraints for working people and how session lengths affect constituent responsiveness. The committee must submit findings to the legislature by December 1, 2027, with the requirement expiring January 1, 2028.

Maddy summarySB 5026 redirects a growing portion of Washington’s vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation funding. Starting in 2026, 16.66% of tax revenue from all new and used vehicle sales (including private-party sales) will fund transportation, increasing by 16.66% each year until 2031, when 100% will be dedicated to this purpose. The bill excludes certain vehicles like farm tractors, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and bicycles from this tax allocation. This policy change affects all vehicle buyers and sellers in Washington, with the tax revenue directly supporting transportation infrastructure projects.

Maddy summarySB 5442 establishes a college promise pilot program in 10 eastern Washington counties (east of the Cascade Mountains) to help students afford postsecondary education. It provides eligible students with up to $5,000 annually for tuition and fees at local institutions, apprenticeships, or credential programs, targeting those graduating from region high schools, meeting income limits (≤150% of state median family income), and participating in mentoring programs. The program is funded through private contributions matched dollar-for-dollar by state funds ($500,000 for 2026, $1,000,000 for 2027), with a separate high school component offering full two-year community college tuition at three selected schools. The pilot program expires August 1, 2029, and requires annual reporting on student outcomes like degree completion and transfers.

Maddy summarySB 5261 allows Washington's Department of Ecology to issue water permits for nonconsumptive hydropower projects (which don't consume water) in water resource inventory areas where minimum instream flows aren't currently met. Permits must include measures to protect fish and wildlife flows or require mitigation for any flow impacts. The bill clarifies that only the Department of Ecology can establish minimum flow requirements and mandates consultation with wildlife agencies and tribal representatives during flow planning. It directly affects hydropower operators seeking permits in designated areas with insufficient water flow.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington's public colleges and universities to ensure students have access to medication abortion by the 2026-27 academic year. It mandates that student health centers offer medication abortion services (via in-person care, telehealth, or referrals) and directs institutions without health centers to provide referrals to qualified providers, telehealth support, and campus accommodations. Schools must also maintain clear online resources about reproductive health services, including appointment scheduling, academic accommodations for pregnancy-related needs, and direct links to state health resources. The law directly affects over 196,000 pregnancy-capable students at Washington's public institutions, aiming to reduce barriers like travel distances (up to 78 miles) and wait times for abortion care.

Maddy summarySB 5513 allows pharmacists in Washington to prescribe certain medications and devices to improve patient access to care, particularly for chronic diseases and behavioral health conditions. This expands pharmacists' current authority beyond dispensing drugs, enabling them to directly prescribe within their expertise. The bill directly affects pharmacists, patients in rural and underserved communities facing provider shortages, and healthcare systems seeking to address gaps in care. Key provisions include amending state laws to define pharmacists' new prescribing powers and align with their education and training, aiming to reduce barriers to treatment without requiring additional physician visits.

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.

Maddy summarySB 5560 designates the Pacific razor clam (*Siliqua patula*) as Washington's official state clam, a symbolic gesture with no regulatory or economic impact. The bill cites the clam's cultural significance to coastal Indigenous communities and Washingtonians, its role in recreation and sustainable harvesting (up to 8 million clams annually), and its status as a "living tradition" attracting tourists. It adds a new section to state code stating the Pacific razor clam is the official state clam, emphasizing its "golden hued" shell and cultural icon status. This is purely a ceremonial designation with no changes to fishing laws, management, or state spending.

Maddy summarySB 5089 provides six years of state funding (2025-2030) to cover new or increased coroner and medical examiner costs for Washington counties with populations under 40,000. This directly supports rural counties facing budget challenges in meeting legal requirements for these services. The bill amends state law to require the legislature to appropriate funds during this period, allowing counties to prepare for fully covering these costs themselves starting in 2031. It does not change existing county election requirements for coroners or medical examiners but ensures state financial assistance during the transition.

Maddy summarySB 5130 eliminates all fees for child care licensing in Washington State, directly affecting child care providers who previously paid annual licensing costs. The bill amends state law to remove the requirement that the department charge fees for issuing or renewing licenses, replacing the prior cost-based fee structure with a fee-free system. Key provisions include removing fee-related language from licensing statutes and requiring providers to instead submit annual declarations of intent to operate and compliance with rules. This change simplifies the licensing process by removing financial barriers for providers while maintaining oversight through required declarations and background checks.