Sen. Mike Chapman

Maddy summarySB 5904 restricts the use of specific nursing titles in Washington State. Only licensed registered nurses (R.N.), advanced practice nurse practitioners (A.P.R.N.), and licensed practical nurses (L.P.N.) may use those titles or their abbreviations. The bill prohibits all others - including unlicensed individuals and nonhuman entities - from using these titles or similar designations to imply licensed status. It includes an exception for Christian Science nurses listed in the Christian Science Journal, provided they do not claim to be licensed nurses. The law takes effect June 30, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 5906 is a proposed bill that would protect students and families in Washington state's early learning programs (like child care centers, preschools, and schools) from immigration enforcement activities. It prohibits providers from collecting immigration status information and requires officers to show a warrant before entering school or child care facilities for immigration enforcement. The bill also mandates that providers inform parents about their children's program eligibility regardless of immigration status and distribute "know your rights" materials annually. It directly affects licensed early learning providers and school districts, requiring them to follow these safety protocols while complying with federal law. The bill is currently in the legislative process but has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryWashington State's SB 5916 requires health plans and managed care organizations to treat nonopioid pain medications equally with opioids in coverage. Starting January 1, 2027, plans cannot label nonopioid drugs as "nonpreferred" when opioids are preferred, or apply stricter rules like prior authorization to nonopioids compared to opioids. The bill also mandates that the state develop an educational pamphlet about nonopioid pain treatment options, including their benefits and limitations. This directly affects health plans covering employees and their dependents, ensuring nonopioid alternatives face no coverage barriers relative to opioids.

Maddy summarySB 5924 would allow Washington pharmacists to prescribe medications and devices without needing separate collaborative agreements with doctors, expanding their current authority. This change directly affects pharmacists - particularly in rural and underserved communities - and patients who rely on access to care for chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and behavioral health. The bill removes the administrative burden of maintaining collaborative agreements, which the legislature states has not improved patient safety or oversight, while recognizing pharmacists' existing 1,740+ hours of patient care training. The policy change aims to improve health outcomes by leveraging pharmacists' full scope of practice as highly trained providers.

Maddy summarySB 5947 establishes a 19-member Washington Health Care Board to design a universal health care plan for all state residents. The board must develop the plan, secure federal approval and funding through a waiver, and recommend legislative changes before implementation. It includes specific representation: employers, health providers (like primary care doctors and nurses), tribal leaders, labor, and health financing experts. The bill cannot take effect until federal law permits states to create such a plan with federal funding.

Maddy summarySB 5000 officially designates "the evergreen state" as the state nickname for Washington. This act formalizes a nickname long associated with the state, but does not require any entity to update existing materials or documents.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5061 changes how wages are determined for laborers, workers, and mechanics on public works projects in Washington state. It requires that the hourly minimum wage paid on these contracts must be adjusted to the prevailing rate of wage in effect at the time the work is performed. This means wages will no longer be frozen at the rate from when project bids were submitted, but will update according to current prevailing wage adjustments published by the Department of Labor and Industries. The bill aims to ensure fair labor standards for workers throughout the duration of public construction projects.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5436 makes it unlawful to willfully or recklessly interfere with access to or from a place of religious worship, or to disrupt religious services in Washington state. Prohibited actions include physically obstructing passage, trespassing, repeatedly contacting the place of worship, or threatening harm to its attendees or property. A violation of this act is classified as a gross misdemeanor. The bill also allows individuals or religious organizations whose access or services are disrupted to seek civil damages and injunctive relief to prevent further interference.

Maddy summarySB 5649 establishes the Washington state supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program to enhance the state's ability to compete in global trade. The bill creates a collaborative process involving state agencies and various supply chain stakeholders to set priorities for infrastructure investments. It also creates a dedicated account in the state treasury to provide grants and revolving loans. These funds are for public ports and federally recognized tribal governments with port operations, to improve ground and maritime transportation and facilities. Projects must align with goals such as economic, safety, or environmental benefits for freight movement, and sustaining international trade.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors Senator Rebecca Saldaña for her decade of service to the 37th Legislative District and the state of Washington. The bill formally commends her legislative work, including sponsoring landmark laws on environmental justice, domestic workers' rights, and adult entertainment worker protections. It recognizes her role as chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and her advocacy for frontline communities, workers, and communities of color. The resolution is transmitted to Senator Saldaña by the Secretary of the Senate as an official expression of gratitude for her contributions to Washington state policy.