Sen. T'wina Nobles

Maddy summarySB 5575 amends Washington state law to clarify when courts must limit a parent's residential time with a child in parenting plans. It specifically requires limitations if a parent has committed physical/sexual abuse, domestic violence, a sex offense against a child, or willful abandonment, or if they knowingly live with someone who has committed such acts. The bill defines "protective actions" (like reporting abuse or seeking restraining orders) as not constituting "abusive use of conflict," ensuring parents taking safety steps aren't penalized. This directly affects parents and children in custody cases where abuse or safety risks are alleged, changing how courts evaluate residential time restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 5450 requires Washington's Department of Ecology to create a public website showing detailed information about sewage spills by July 2026, including spill location, volume, duration, and impacted areas. It also mandates a real-time alert system for the public (with notifications within four hours of a spill report) by July 2027, allowing people to sign up for updates about spills near them. The bill directly affects wastewater facility operators (who must report spills) and the public, including fishermen, aquaculture workers, and recreational users who rely on clean water. The website and annual reports must be accessible to people with limited English proficiency, ensuring transparency about sewage discharges that violate water quality permits.

Maddy summarySB 5154 clarifies and updates the duties of county auditors in Washington State. It amends state law to require county commissioners to designate one of their own employees as clerk (replacing the auditor's previous role as clerk), mandates this clerk to record all board proceedings and votes, and requires publishing a summary of each legislative session within 15 days. The bill also removes outdated requirements about the auditor serving as clerk and handling the commissioners' seal. These changes directly affect county auditors, commissioners, and clerks by clarifying their responsibilities and improving transparency in county governance.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5469 aims to prevent certain data-sharing practices in the rental housing market that could lead to coordinated rent pricing. The bill makes it unlawful for "service providers" to collect and analyze rental data from multiple landlords and then recommend rental prices or terms to more than one landlord. It also prohibits landlords from subscribing to or contracting with these coordinating service providers. Violations would be considered unfair trade practices under the state's consumer protection act, allowing for enforcement by the attorney general or civil lawsuits by injured individuals.

Maddy summarySB 5066 would authorize Washington's attorney general to investigate and sue local law enforcement agencies (like city police departments) and local corrections agencies (like county jails) for violating constitutional or civil rights. It creates new procedures allowing the attorney general to issue demands for documents, conduct investigations, and seek court orders for systemic reforms - such as improved training or policies - to address misconduct patterns. The bill requires agencies to meet compliance timelines for fixes and prohibits the attorney general from pursuing actions that conflict with ongoing federal investigations. This bill does not apply to state agencies (e.g., Washington State Patrol) or hold individual officers liable for misconduct. The bill was referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee in February 2025 but has not advanced further.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a statewide cardiac and stroke care registry requiring hospitals and emergency medical services to submit quarterly data starting in 2027. It directs the Washington Department of Health to analyze this data to improve care coordination, identify gaps, and provide annual public reports on system performance. The law specifically supports rural and critical access hospitals with technical assistance and equipment training, while also funding public education on stroke and heart attack symptoms. The focus is on using collected data to enhance timely, evidence-based care and reduce preventable deaths from cardiac and stroke events.

Maddy summarySB 5614 requires Washington counties and cities to create systems deferring impact fees for single-family and attached residential construction. Local governments must allow homeowners to delay full payment until final inspection, certificate of occupancy, or the first property sale after a building permit is issued, documented through a promissory note. If fees aren’t paid within one month of the first sale, penalties (5% escalating to 20%) and interest apply, but these are personal liabilities - not property liens. The bill affects homebuilders (who must arrange deferrals), buyers (who may pay fees at closing), and local governments (which must implement the system by September 2026).

Maddy summarySB 5205 sets specific maximum grant amounts for Washington state college students attending different types of institutions. It establishes fixed dollar amounts (e.g., $9,739 for four-year private nonprofits, $3,694 for two-year private nonprofits) that increase annually based on Washington's wage growth rate starting in 2025-26. To receive these amounts, institutions must sign an affidavit and avoid certain legal settlements; otherwise, students get fixed 2024-25 rates. The bill directly affects students at public, private nonprofit, private for-profit, and approved apprenticeship programs in Washington.

Maddy summarySB 5378 expands financial assistance for small school districts and small businesses under Washington’s paid family and medical leave program. It allows eligible employers (including second-class school districts and businesses with 50-150 employees) to receive up to $3,000 for hiring temporary workers during employee leave or up to $1,000 to cover extra wage costs from leave. Grants are limited to 10 per year per employer, require documentation linking costs to leave, and apply only to employees using the program. Small businesses (under 50 employees) receiving grants face three years of full premium assessments under the program.

Maddy summarySB 5524 creates a new "Donate Life" special license plate option for Washington vehicle owners. The bill adds this plate to the state's existing special plate program, requiring a $40 initial fee and $30 annual renewal fee. Vehicle owners who choose this plate will display a "Donate Life" logo, with fees supporting related causes as specified in the plate description. This is a procedural change that expands the current list of special license plate options without altering registration requirements or creating new administrative processes.