Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Washington public K-12 schools to maintain an accessible pulse oximeter for asthma or anaphylaxis emergencies and implement protocols for student self-administration of asthma/anaphylaxis medication. Schools must provide staff training on monitoring symptoms, grant student authorization for self-administering prescribed medication (subject to specific conditions like health provider approval and student demonstration of skill), and store backup medication and emergency plans on-site. It also grants immunity from civil liability for school staff using pulse oximeters in emergencies, unless gross negligence occurs. The policy directly affects school districts, staff, and students with asthma or anaphylaxis requiring medication during school hours or events.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryWashington's SB 5914 increases state funding for public defense services over time, requiring the state to cover 10% of costs in 2027, rising to 30% by 2031. Counties and cities receiving funds must meet specific quality standards, including requiring annual attorney training, reporting case statistics and expenditures, and tracking attorney time per case. The bill also mandates that public defense providers comply with Washington Supreme Court indigent defense standards and adopt legal representation plans addressing key factors. These requirements apply to all counties and cities providing public defense services for both adults and juveniles. The law aims to improve service quality and accountability through structured funding and reporting mechanisms.
Maddy summarySB 5920 would allow Washington school districts to establish supplementary fees for public records requests that are deemed overly burdensome due to volume, staff time, or administrative costs. It directly affects school districts (as record-holding agencies) and requesters seeking school records, such as parents, journalists, or community members. The bill requires districts to notify requesters of these additional fees in advance, explain the costs, and obtain acceptance before processing the request. Fees would cover only direct processing costs like staff time to locate, compile, and copy records - not general overhead. This amendment specifically targets school districts under the Public Records Act, adding a cost mechanism while maintaining standard disclosure requirements.
Maddy summarySB 5926 expands Washington state's public records exemption to protect personal information for all licensed or certified child care providers, not just those operating from home. It exempts details like home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and photos from public disclosure under the Public Records Act. This applies to providers in family homes, child care centers, school-age programs, and all other licensed settings. The bill does not exempt business addresses, licensing status, or safety inspection results, which remain public.
Maddy summarySB 5935 updates Washington's homeless youth program by clarifying rules for HOPE centers, which provide temporary housing for unaccompanied homeless youth. The bill specifies that youth may stay in a HOPE center for a maximum of 90 days (with limited exceptions), requires court approval for stays beyond this period for most youth, and defines key terms like "homeless youth" and "street outreach services." It amends multiple statutes to streamline program administration under the Department of Commerce, ensuring consistent definitions for housing programs and data collection. The bill directly affects homeless youth, HOPE centers, and local governments managing homeless housing plans. (This is a proposed update to existing law, not yet enacted.)
Maddy summarySB 5946 would expand Washington's medical assistance program eligibility to include individuals with income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (adjusted annually for family size). This change would directly affect low-income residents who currently earn above the existing income threshold but fall within this new range. The bill requires the Health Care Authority to submit a state plan amendment to federal Medicaid authorities by July 1, 2027, to implement this expanded eligibility. The policy change would allow more people to enroll in the state's medical assistance program without altering the program's existing structure.
Maddy summarySB 5953 requires Washington health insurance plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to spend at least 90% of premium revenue on actual medical care (not administrative costs). This directly affects health insurers operating in Washington State by mandating a minimum medical loss ratio. The bill adopts the federal definition of "medical loss ratio" from 45 C.F.R. Sec. 158.221 (2025) and authorizes the insurance commissioner to create implementing rules. The law aims to ensure more premium dollars fund patient care rather than overhead.
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 summaryThis bill requires cities to review residential housing permit applications under the zoning rules in effect when a fully completed application is submitted, rather than current rules. It allows cities to pause processing until fees are paid or notices are posted, but does not make applications invalid for missing these items. The law applies to projects in urban growth areas and does not override other requirements like those in chapter 43.21C RCW. It standardizes the timing for permit reviews to reduce delays in housing development.
Maddy summarySB 5369 addresses Washington's critical shortage of school social workers, which currently stands at one worker for every 3,798 students - far below the recommended national standard of one per 250 students. The bill requires educational service districts to partner with universities, mental health agencies, and school districts to expand the workforce through in-school training placements for social work students and conditional certification pathways. It revises statutes to clarify school social workers' roles in providing mental health counseling, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and support for students with individualized education plans. The law directly affects K-12 schools and students, particularly those facing emotional distress, behavioral challenges, or high absenteeism rates, by increasing access to mental health support within educational settings.