Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public Washington universities to provide medication abortion access through student health centers by the 2027-28 academic year, or offer referral services if they lack a health center. It mandates three specific pathways: connecting students to reproductive health programs, partnering with safety-net abortion providers for telehealth, or using other cost-effective methods. Additionally, all institutions must create a dedicated webpage with clear resources for reproductive health services, including appointment scheduling, academic accommodations, and direct links to state abortion care information. The law directly affects over 196,000 college students at Washington's public institutions who face significant travel and wait-time barriers to abortion care.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 8676), not a legislative bill with policy provisions. It formally congratulates the Seattle Mariners baseball team for winning the 2025 American League West Division title and reaching the American League Championship Series, with specific recognition for catcher Cal Raleigh's record-breaking season (60 home runs, 125 RBI). The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves solely as a symbolic honor from the Washington State Senate. It directly affects the Mariners organization and Cal Raleigh by publicly acknowledging their achievements.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners and direct contractors to jointly pay unpaid wages, benefits, and reimbursements to construction workers when subcontractors fail to pay. It directly affects construction workers, especially those employed by subcontractors who may not receive payment due to misclassification or underpayment. Key provisions include allowing workers to sue owners or direct contractors directly (not just subcontractors), creating a rebuttable presumption that workers are employees (not independent contractors), and mandating that agreements waiving liability are invalid. The law also authorizes the attorney general to investigate violations and pursue enforcement actions. These changes aim to address wage theft in the construction industry by expanding accountability up the project chain.
Maddy summarySB 6275 directs $100 million annually to address racial and economic disparities stemming from historical drug laws in Washington. It requires funds to support community-led initiatives - including small business grants, legal aid for expungement, violence prevention programs, and reentry services - prioritizing organizations run by and for Black, Latino, Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund distribution, a 10-year update cycle for the community reinvestment plan, and a study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to evaluate implementation. These provisions aim to ensure funds create lasting economic benefits without replacing private investment or requiring ongoing state support.
Maddy summarySB 6212 creates a 24-month pilot program providing $300 monthly per child to 1,000 Washington families with school-aged children eligible for free/reduced-price lunch. The Department of Commerce will administer the program, randomly selecting participants while ensuring geographic diversity across urban, rural, and suburban areas. Families in a control group (up to 1,200 households) will receive $20 monthly instead. The pilot aims to evaluate impacts on financial stability, child well-being, and household spending, with a final report due to the legislature by December 2029. The program explicitly prohibits requiring immigration status information for participation.
Maddy summarySB 6028 creates a revolving loan fund administered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to support mixed-income housing developments where a portion of units are permanently affordable for low-income households (defined as those earning under 80% of the county median income). The fund provides loans to eligible developers (nonprofits, for-profits, public agencies) up to $5 million or 50% of project costs, requiring all affordable units to be sold/resold only to low-income households for at least 99 years via deed restrictions. Repaid loans and interest are recycled into new projects, with geographic limits of $5 million per county per funding round to ensure statewide distribution. The bill mandates strict monitoring to verify affordability compliance and penalties for noncompliance, including repayment of full loans plus interest for unmet affordability targets.
Maddy summaryWashington State's SB 6105 increases the exemption from wage garnishment for medical debt judgments. It raises the threshold to 60 times the state's minimum hourly wage or 80% of a person's take-home pay (whichever is greater), compared to 35 times the wage for other consumer debts. This change directly affects individuals facing wage garnishment specifically for unpaid medical bills. The bill amends Washington's garnishment laws (RCW 6.27.150, 6.27.105, and 6.27.140) to provide stronger protection for medical debt cases.
Maddy summarySB 6181 amends Washington state law to change requirements for incorporating new cities. It requires incorporation petitions to be signed by at least 10% of registered voters living in the proposed area, filed with the county auditor within 180 days of a public meeting. The bill adds an exception for counties west of the Cascades with populations between 900,000-2,000,000: these counties can file incorporation petitions without resident signatures if the area is within an urban growth boundary and has over 25,000 residents. This affects communities seeking incorporation and counties meeting the specified population criteria. The bill focuses on procedural changes to the petition process, not substantive policy.
Maddy summarySB 6279 requires Washington counties and cities to adopt the International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) by November 1, 2029, for wildfire-prone areas identified in state hazard maps. It directly affects builders, property owners, and local governments in high-risk zones by mandating specific construction standards to reduce wildfire risks. Key provisions include requiring class A roof materials (resistant to fire embers), fire-resistant exterior walls using noncombustible or treated materials, and ember-proofing for decks and accessory structures. The bill amends existing building code laws to integrate these wildfire safety measures into state enforcement. This is a substantive policy change focused on fire-resistant construction, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
Maddy summarySB 5852 requires Washington employers to notify workers and their representatives within 72 hours if a federal agency conducts an inspection of employment verification forms (I-9) or worker records. It mandates posting multilingual notices in workplaces and sending written notices to all current and recent workers (within the last three years), including details about the federal agency and inspection. The law aims to ensure immigrant workers are informed during federal immigration enforcement actions, with notices required in the five most commonly used non-English languages in the state. Employers must also provide affected workers with copies of federal inspection results. This applies to all Washington employers, including state agencies and businesses.