Maddy summarySB 5176 requires Washington state and local governments to pay public works contractors within 30 days of receiving a properly completed invoice, replacing previous timelines. It mandates that contractors pay subcontractors within 10 days of receiving payment from the government, with 1% monthly interest accruing on late payments. The bill also establishes clear procedures for handling disputes (without delaying payments to non-disputing parties) and requires change orders for additional work within 30 days. This directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and public agencies working on public construction projects, ensuring faster payment flows and reducing financial strain on smaller businesses. The law amends existing payment rules in Washington statutes to enforce these timelines and penalties.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill changes Washington State's developmental disabilities program to provide employment services starting at age 19 (previously age 21). It requires the state department to offer clients a choice to transition from employment programs to community inclusion services after nine months, with no prior approval needed for this switch. The bill mandates that clients and their legal representatives receive clear information about all service options, including activity types and service duration. It also directs the department to expand community inclusion programs that support community integration and independent living skills. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 6312 bans grocery stores from using personal data - like shopping habits, location, or inferred traits - to charge different prices to individual shoppers (surveillance-based price discrimination) or raise prices during high demand (surge pricing). It specifically targets large grocery retailers (excluding small businesses under state law) and requires all prices to be clearly posted and consistent for all customers. The bill also imposes a four-year moratorium on electronic shelf label systems that collect consumer data to modify prices, to study impacts on transparency and jobs. This law aims to ensure fair pricing by preventing retailers from exploiting personal information for dynamic pricing.
Maddy summarySB 6271 requires mattress producers (including brands, manufacturers, and importers) in Washington State to fund and manage recycling programs for discarded mattresses, shifting responsibility from taxpayers to the industry. The bill mandates that producers join or create a "producer responsibility organization" (PRO) that implements a stewardship program following a priority hierarchy: waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and then other disposal methods only after higher options are exhausted. The PRO must track mattresses from collection to final disposition, maintain detailed records, ensure worker safety, and use environmentally sound practices like separating recyclable materials (metal, foam, wood) instead of landfilling. This law directly affects mattress producers, distributors, and recyclers, aiming to reduce landfill use (currently 95% of mattresses) and illegal dumping by increasing recycling rates.
Maddy summarySB 6171 regulates large data centers (defined as facilities with ≥20 megawatts of energy demand) by requiring transparency about their electricity, water, and refrigerant use, and mandating that they transition to 100% clean energy over time. The bill directly affects data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence growth, which are projected to become the largest source of new electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest. Key provisions include setting policy priorities for energy affordability, grid reliability, and environmental protection, while ensuring these facilities disclose resource consumption data to the public. The legislation aims to balance the industry’s economic benefits with safeguards for consumers and communities.
Maddy summarySB 6224 establishes a diverse work group to improve access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults in Washington State. The group, requiring representation from state agencies, healthcare providers, schools, parents, youth (including two under age six), tribal governments, and underserved communities, will monitor existing programs and remove barriers between education, healthcare, and early learning systems. Key responsibilities include advancing insurance parity for mental health coverage, strengthening support for early childhood development (prenatal to age five), and advising on school-based mental health and suicide prevention. The work group will guide state efforts using the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan to ensure equitable, high-quality care across all communities.
Maddy summarySB 6174 requires textile brands and manufacturers selling apparel in Washington to fund and manage the end-of-life recycling and reuse of their products. It directly affects most clothing, footwear, and accessory brands introduced in the state (excluding small businesses with under $1 million annual global turnover, PPE, and secondhand items), making them responsible for creating collection systems. Key provisions include establishing producer responsibility organizations to handle collection, sorting, and recycling through designated sites or mail-back programs, while prioritizing repair and reuse to reduce landfill waste. The bill amends state codes to implement this system, setting penalties for noncompliance.
Maddy summarySB 5976 amends Washington's Commercial Electronic Mail Act to strengthen protections against deceptive email practices. It prohibits commercial email senders from misrepresenting email origins or using misleading subject lines that could deceive recipients about material transaction details. The bill increases statutory damages to $500 per violation for individuals and $1,000 for businesses, while clarifying that violations also constitute unfair business practices under Washington's Consumer Protection Act. These changes directly affect businesses sending commercial emails to Washington residents, requiring greater transparency in email content and subject lines. The law applies retroactively to ongoing cases but takes effect prospectively for new claims.
Maddy summarySB 6201 creates a property tax exemption for housing units classified as "affordable" when owned or operated by social housing agencies in Washington State. The bill amends tax code sections to exclude qualifying affordable housing properties from standard property tax calculations, directly benefiting social housing agencies and their tenants. Key provisions require properties to meet affordability standards (likely defined in other state regulations) and be managed by eligible agencies to qualify for the exemption. This policy change reduces operational costs for social housing providers without altering existing tax structures for other property types.
Maddy summarySB 6118 requires Washington school districts to create cardiac emergency response plans for all schools and athletic facilities, focusing on rapid response to cardiac arrests. The plans must include designated response teams (staff, coaches, nurses), strategic placement of AEDs (aiming for 3-minute access), annual team training per American Heart Association guidelines, and coordination with local emergency services. Implementation depends on state funding for AEDs, staff training, and plan maintenance, with schools updating plans annually. The bill directly affects school districts, staff, and students by mandating concrete emergency protocols to improve cardiac arrest outcomes on school property.