Sen. T'wina Nobles

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5093 aims to ensure dignity for individuals experiencing pregnancy loss in Washington state. It amends existing law to remove specific mentions of abortion, premature birth, and stillbirth from the circumstances that automatically trigger a coroner's investigation, thereby reducing the potential for criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. The bill also repeals the "Concealing birth" statute. Additionally, it establishes a new requirement for correctional institutions and private detention facilities to annually report the aggregate number of people experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal loss while confined, with the Department of Health compiling a statewide report for the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 5357 modifies the actuarial funding process for several Washington state public pension systems, affecting retirement plans for public employees, teachers, and law enforcement, among others. A key provision updates the long-term economic assumptions used by the state actuary for valuation purposes, effective July 1, 2025. These changes include lowering the assumed inflation rate from 3.5% to 2.75% and the investment rate of return from 8% to 7.25%. The bill also sets specific funding goals for different pension plans and suspends contribution rates for Public Employees' Retirement System Plan 1 and Teachers' Retirement System Plan 1 during the 2025-2027 and 2027-2029 fiscal biennia.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5138 updates the authority of public facilities districts (PFDs) to impose lodging taxes. It revises the minimum number of lodging units required for tax applicability and introduces new tax structures for PFDs in counties with populations over 1.5 million that operate convention and trade centers. These specific PFDs can impose lodging taxes up to 7% in their largest city and 2.8% in other areas. The bill also authorizes an additional 2% lodging tax, expiring by July 2029, specifically to repay obligations related to convention center projects. PFDs imposing this additional tax must make annual payments to the state, with provisions for loans if unable to meet these payments due to debt.

Maddy summarySB 5761 mandates the appointment of attorneys for children and youth involved in dependency and termination proceedings in Washington State. The bill establishes a phased-in, statewide schedule over an 11-year period, requiring attorneys to be appointed at specific points in a case based on the child's age and case status. This schedule prioritizes counties without current attorney appointment practices or those with significant racial disparities in dependent children. The Department and guardians ad litem must also notify children aged 12 and older of their right to request an attorney, with the state covering legal costs subject to appropriations and oversight by the statewide children's legal representation program.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5388 revises how behavioral health services, including substance use disorder treatment, are regulated for individuals in Washington state correctional facilities. Rather than requiring these services to be licensed by the Department of Health (DOH), the bill shifts to a monitoring process. The Department of Corrections (DOC) and DOH will jointly establish standards for these services, which the DOH will then monitor through annual inspections for compliance. The DOC must implement these standards by July 1, 2027, with DOH beginning annual inspections and providing technical assistance from that date forward.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5794 aims to improve how tax preferences are managed in Washington state. It implements recommendations from the state's tax preference performance review process, which evaluates the effectiveness of existing tax exemptions. The bill eliminates several tax preferences identified as obsolete or unused and clarifies the legislative intent behind others. This includes updating specific tax code sections and modifying effective or expiration dates for certain industries, such as manufacturing of seafood and dairy products.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5217 expands pregnancy-related accommodations for employees in Washington state, now applying to nearly all employers. It defines "pregnancy" to include related health conditions and the need to express breast milk, requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations like flexible breaks, modified schedules, and assistance with manual labor. The bill prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees requesting these accommodations and mandates paid break time for expressing breast milk for up to two years after childbirth. Additionally, it allows individuals with an infant under 12 months old to be excused from or delay jury service.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5412 provides financial tools for Washington school districts facing severe financial difficulties, specifically those in "binding conditions" or under "enhanced financial oversight." It allows these districts to take temporary, interest-free loans from their capital projects funds, which must be repaid within one year and not detriment existing projects. Additionally, districts in binding conditions may request authorization from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to sell real property. Proceeds from such sales must be used to restore financial stability or fund an authorized interfund loan, with this authorization limited to once every ten years.

Maddy summarySB 5161 establishes the transportation budget for Washington State for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, allocating funds to various state agencies for infrastructure and services. It appropriates specific amounts from designated accounts to cover employee compensation, capital projects, and operational expenses across multiple state departments. Key provisions include funding for road maintenance and programs designed to increase opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses in the transportation sector. Additionally, the bill funds a tribal electric boat grant program and supports a sustainable aviation fuel institute.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5219 concerns partial confinement eligibility and alignment for incarcerated individuals in Washington state. The bill aims to streamline and align the participation timelines for various partial confinement programs. This change is intended to ensure that individuals can engage in programs best suited for their specific rehabilitative needs, supporting their rehabilitation and efforts to reduce reoffending. It amends several state laws, including definitions related to confinement programs.