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.
Sponsored bills
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 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.
Maddy summarySB 5884 expands a sales and use tax deferral program to incentivize redevelopment of underutilized property in qualifying cities (with populations of 135,000-275,000). It directly affects property owners who develop affordable housing - both rental and homeownership - for low- or moderate-income households, as defined by federal income thresholds. The key mechanism allows qualifying developers to defer paying sales and use taxes on eligible projects, provided they maintain affordable housing for at least 10 years. This applies to vacant land, partially used land, or underutilized property (like surface parking lots) identified by city authorities as suitable for affordable housing redevelopment.
Maddy summarySB 6305 requires health insurance companies in Washington to annually report detailed, standardized data about mental health and substance use coverage. Insurers must submit information on in-network provider availability, reimbursement rates, out-of-network utilization, and access metrics (like youth services and telehealth) by July 1 each year. The state will publish all raw data and create an interactive public dashboard by October, allowing consumers and employers to compare insurers' coverage transparency. This addresses documented gaps where Washington residents face significantly greater barriers accessing mental health care than medical care, as highlighted by recent studies. The bill directly affects all health insurance carriers operating in Washington and aims to improve transparency for patients seeking behavioral health services.
Maddy summarySB 6235 prohibits Washington state public universities from entering agreements with private equity firms or foreign government investment funds that transfer revenue rights, ownership stakes, or control over athletic programs. The law bans deals where these entities gain profit shares, influence scheduling/hiring, or control media/sponsorship revenue streams - such as ticket sales, broadcasting, or licensing. Allowed exceptions include standard sponsorships without revenue sharing, charitable gifts, and tax-exempt bond financing. Universities must annually report compliance to the legislature and disclose any permitted agreements.
Maddy summarySB 5903 changes election rules for cemetery district commissioners in Washington. It eliminates primaries for these positions, requiring all qualified candidates to appear on the general election ballot, with the top vote-getter winning each seat. If only one candidate files, they are automatically elected without appearing on the ballot. Vacancies on cemetery district boards would be filled using standard procedures under chapter 42.12 RCW, aligning with broader local government vacancy rules. This directly affects cemetery district voters and commissioners by altering election mechanics.
Maddy summarySB 6175 regulates secondary ticket sales for entertainment and sporting events to prevent consumer deception and price gouging. It caps resale prices at 110% of the original ticket price (including fees) and limits service fees to 10%, while requiring clear disclosures that tickets are purchased from a secondary marketplace, not the original seller. The bill prohibits misleading marketing (e.g., fake "official" sites), bans selling speculative tickets, and mandates resellers notify buyers within 8 hours of event changes. It exempts professional sports teams, small arts organizations ($500,000 annual revenue cap), schools, movie theaters, and tribal venues from most provisions. The law applies to commercial resellers and secondary ticket platforms operating in Washington.
Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Washington State Senate's formal appreciation for the National Guard's service. It recognizes their emergency response work (like 2025 flood support in Skagit and Snohomish counties), election security efforts, and youth programs such as the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. The Senate thanks the Guard's families and employers for their support and acknowledges the Guard's contributions to state safety, community well-being, and economic vitality. Adopted in January 2026, this symbolic resolution was sent to state and federal officials but does not create new laws or policies.
Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate resolution (not a bill with binding law), adopted January 2026, that recognizes the importance of youth sports in Washington state. It highlights benefits like improved well-being, academic engagement, and reduced mental health risks, while noting unequal access for marginalized groups (girls, youth of color, low-income families, and others). The resolution calls for promoting inclusive, affordable programs, trained coaches, injury prevention, and nontraditional sports like pickleball or adaptive athletics to increase participation. It does not create new programs or funding but formally encourages state support for these goals.