Sen. Steve Conway

Maddy summarySB 5625 designates the Pacific geoduck (Panopea generosa) as Washington's official state clam through a ceremonial addition to state law. This bill directly affects Washington residents by establishing a symbolic state emblem for the clam, which is a large, edible bivalve native to Puget Sound and coastal waters. The legislation adds a new section to Washington’s Revised Code, formally recognizing the species without creating new regulations or funding. As a procedural bill, it does not alter existing laws or impact economic policies.

Maddy summarySB 5100 would require family members providing in-home long-term care for relatives (such as spouses, parents, siblings, or grandparents) to complete specific training hours before starting care. It sets different requirements: 12 hours for parents of developmentally disabled children, 15 hours for spouses/partners, and up to 35 hours for others, all within 120 days of hire. Training must include safety, orientation, and care-specific modules, with some hours needed before care begins. This applies to workers previously exempt from certification, while maintaining exemptions for professionals like nurses and certain respite caregivers. The bill is pending legislative action and would standardize training previously not required for these family caregivers.

Maddy summarySB 5621 exempts electronic raffles held at live sporting events from Washington State's standard raffle regulations, provided the total prize amount equals no more than 50% of the gross gambling receipts collected. This directly affects sporting venues, event organizers, and ticket purchasers at games or events where such raffles are offered. The key provision clarifies that these specific electronic raffles - where prizes are capped at half the revenue - are not considered traditional raffles under state law, removing them from requirements like charitable organization oversight and revenue distribution rules. The bill does not change how raffles operate but defines a clear exemption for this common event feature.

Maddy summarySB 5039 removes an exclusion that previously prevented Washington management service employees at the Department of Corrections from using interest arbitration to resolve workplace disputes. The bill amends state law (RCW 41.80.200) to include these employees under the existing interest arbitration process, allowing them to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions through mediation and binding arbitration if negotiations fail. This change directly affects management service employees within the Department of Corrections, granting them the same dispute resolution pathway as other covered DOC staff. The bill does not alter the arbitration procedures but expands eligibility to this specific employee group.

Maddy summarySB 5367 creates grant programs to fund community-led safety initiatives that build trust between law enforcement and residents. It directly affects public agencies and nonprofits in Washington state by providing funding for neighborhood organizing, youth engagement, business partnerships, and antiracist law enforcement practices. Key provisions require grantees to implement specific activities like community-led crime prevention, regular dialogue between police and residents, and youth leadership development, while tracking data on impacts. The bill also establishes a new program placing newly hired officers in community organizations for 45 days before academy training. All grant recipients must report outcomes to the state annually, with the program expiring in 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill would permanently implement Pacific Standard Time year-round in Washington State, replacing the current practice of switching to daylight saving time in spring and back in fall. It amends state law to exempt Washington from daylight saving time changes, requiring all cities, counties, and state entities to observe Pacific Standard Time consistently. The bill repeals previous time-related statutes and aligns with the state's 2019 authorization to pursue year-round standard time, pending federal action. It takes effect November 3, 2025, affecting all residents and local governments across Washington.

Maddy summarySB 5345 requires Washington employers to provide current and former employees with access to their personnel files within 21 days of a request, including records like performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and payroll information. Employees can request corrections to inaccurate information in their files, and employers must remove verified errors or include the employee's rebuttal. The bill creates a private right to sue employers for violations, with statutory damages ranging from $250 to $1,000 per violation depending on delays (e.g., $250 for missing the 21-day deadline), and mandates a 5-day notice period before filing a lawsuit. It applies to all employers covered by Washington's personnel record laws and does not override existing privacy statutes.

Maddy summarySB 5578 updates Washington's labor standards by clarifying who qualifies as an "employee" for wage and leave protections, directly affecting most workers while maintaining specific exemptions. Key provisions include requiring paid vacation leave for exempt employees (like managers and professionals) under new accrual rules, expanding the definition of "family member" for leave purposes, and adding new exclusions for certain agricultural, domestic, and volunteer roles. The bill amends existing labor codes to strengthen coverage for workers not currently protected under current definitions, such as those in executive or professional roles. It does not change basic overtime rules but ensures consistent paid leave standards across more job categories.

Maddy summarySB 5222 limits annual rent and fee increases for Washington tenants to 7% (with specific exemptions), requires landlords to provide written notice for increases, and bans excessive or arbitrary fees. It directly affects all renters under Washington’s residential and manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant acts, including households with children, seniors, and communities of color disproportionately impacted by rent hikes. Key provisions include allowing tenants to terminate leases without penalty if increases violate the cap, creating a landlord resource center for compliance support, and establishing parity between month-to-month and fixed-term leases. The bill also authorizes the Attorney General to enforce violations and recover damages for unlawful rent or fee charges.

Maddy summarySB 5526 raises the minimum age for purchasing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and related products to 21 in Washington State, directly affecting retailers and underage buyers. It requires retailers to verify age using valid ID (like driver’s licenses or tribal cards) and clarifies definitions for "vapor products" and "alternative nicotine products." The bill increases penalties for violations, including fines up to $15,000 and license suspension/revocation for repeated offenses. These changes amend existing laws to strengthen enforcement of age restrictions and product safety regulations.