Sen. Mike Chapman

Maddy summarySB 5801 amends Washington's fuel tax structure to generate revenue for transportation infrastructure. Starting July 1, 2025, it adds a 6-cent-per-gallon tax on regular fuel and a 3-cent tax on special fuel (with an additional 3-cent tax on special fuel beginning July 1, 2027). The bill also mandates annual 2% increases to regular fuel tax rates starting July 1, 2026, and to special fuel rates starting July 1, 2028. These changes directly affect fuel licensees (businesses selling fuel) and will increase costs for consumers purchasing gasoline or special fuels. The legislation repeals outdated tax provisions and establishes new funding mechanisms to support state transportation system development.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5412 provides financial tools for Washington school districts facing severe financial difficulties, specifically those in "binding conditions" or under "enhanced financial oversight." It allows these districts to take temporary, interest-free loans from their capital projects funds, which must be repaid within one year and not detriment existing projects. Additionally, districts in binding conditions may request authorization from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to sell real property. Proceeds from such sales must be used to restore financial stability or fund an authorized interfund loan, with this authorization limited to once every ten years.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary moratorium on most new special license plates until January 1, 2029, though it allows for special plates specifically created within this act. It creates a Special License Work Group within the Department of Licensing to review the current special license plate program. This work group will develop recommendations by 2028 to improve the application process, cost management, transparency of funds

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5471 authorizes counties to permit "middle housing" in specific unincorporated areas, including designated urban growth areas and certain limited rural development areas. This allows for up to four residential units on parcels typically zoned for single-family homes. Counties implementing this must ensure middle housing development standards are no more restrictive than those for single-family residences, while still allowing objective standards like setbacks to apply. All such housing must be served by appropriate water and sewer services, and county actions to implement these provisions are exempt from certain administrative and judicial appeals.

Maddy summarySB 5195 adopts the capital budget for the state of Washington for the period ending June 30, 2027. This bill appropriates specific dollar amounts from various state funds to be spent on capital projects. Key provisions include funding for infrastructure improvements like the Puget Sound Regional Archives HVAC system and allocations for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It also provides grants for the development, expansion, and renovation of public and private early learning education facilities. This bill directly affects state agencies, educational institutions, and communities benefiting from these capital investments.

Maddy summarySB 5194 authorizes the state of Washington to issue nearly $4.7 billion in general obligation bonds. These bonds will finance various state capital projects outlined in the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia and future biennia. The proceeds are deposited into state building construction accounts and then transferred to specific accounts, including those for outdoor recreation, habitat conservation, farm and forest preservation, and early learning facilities. The state pledges its full faith and credit for repayment, using general state revenues to cover the principal and interest on these bonds.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5263 modifies how special education programs are funded in Washington state, directly affecting local school districts and students with disabilities. The bill increases the state's funding multipliers used to calculate excess costs for special education students, including a higher multiplier for younger students and a new single multiplier for older students, while also removing a previous enrollment cap on these allocations. Additionally, it revises the criteria for "safety net" funding, removing a provision that considered extraordinary costs related to community demographics, and continues to focus on high-cost needs for individual students. This bill was signed by the Governor on May 19, 2025, and becomes effective on July 27, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5033 establishes requirements for sampling and testing biosolids for PFAS chemicals in Washington state. It directs the Department of Ecology to issue guidance on PFAS sampling for facilities that generate biosolids by July 2026. These facilities will then be required to conduct quarterly PFAS chemical testing of their biosolids from January 2027 to June 2028, submitting the results to the department. Septic tank sludge is excluded from these specific sampling requirements. Based on the collected data, the Department of Ecology must report to the legislature by July 2029 with a summary of PFAS levels and recommendations for future actions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5319 establishes and modifies fees for surface mine reclamation permits in Washington State, affecting both public and private mine operators. It sets a nonrefundable application fee of $4,500 for new permits, expansions, and revisions to existing reclamation plans, increasing the fee for revisions. The bill also raises the general annual permit fee for most holders from $2,000 to $3,500. For mines used exclusively for public works projects, it maintains a $1,000 annual fee for small county operations and establishes a $2,500 annual fee for other public permit holders. All collected fees are deposited into the surface mining reclamation account and may be subject to collection agency action if unpaid.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5463 expands and clarifies the duties of all self-insured employers and their third-party administrators concerning industrial insurance claims in Washington state. It establishes a clear duty of good faith and fair dealing towards workers, prohibiting actions like coercing workers to accept less than due compensation. The bill empowers the Department of Labor & Industries to investigate violations, impose penalties payable to workers, and mandate corrective actions for repeated failures to uphold this duty. Employers who repeatedly violate these good faith requirements or fail to comply with corrective actions may ultimately have their self-insurer certification withdrawn.