Sen. Phil Fortunato

Maddy summarySB 5057 restricts ownership of agricultural, forest, and mineral land in Washington State by nonresident aliens and entities tied to China's government. Starting August 1, 2025, it prohibits direct or indirect acquisition of such land interests by Chinese-associated entities, including businesses where over 20% of ownership is held by them. Exceptions include land acquired through inheritance, debt collection (with a 3-year sale requirement), or under treaty agreements, and it does not apply to agricultural land linked to food processing facilities. The bill amends existing land ownership laws to implement these new restrictions on foreign ownership in key sectors.

Maddy summarySB 5781 requires Washington state health departments, agencies, and local health entities to follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling rules when promoting or distributing FDA-regulated medical products (like drugs, vaccines, or devices). It mandates that all public health communications - such as educational materials or campaign messaging - must align with FDA-approved claims and avoid unproven statements about benefits. Existing materials that don’t comply must be removed within 30 days, and agencies must implement internal reviews and annual reporting to ensure adherence. Violations could lead to disciplinary action against staff, and corrections must be issued through the same channels as the original non-compliant message. The bill aims to rebuild public trust by ensuring state health communications match federal regulatory standards.

Maddy summarySB 5011 requires all ballot drop boxes in Washington State to prominently display two specific labels on each visible side: "Property of [county/agency name]" and a warning that tampering violates state election laws. This applies to county auditors managing drop boxes, ensuring voters see clear ownership and legal consequences for interference. The bill mandates these labels as part of standard operational requirements for drop box security. It does not change drop box placement rules or handling procedures, focusing solely on visible labeling for voter awareness.

Maddy summarySB 5340 would permanently exempt bottled water, prepared food, and clothing from Washington State's sales and use tax. The bill defines "prepared food" as items sold heated, with utensils provided, or mixed by the seller (excluding basic bakery items or raw ingredients), and specifies bottled water as calorie-free with minimal additives. It excludes soft drinks, dietary supplements, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and cannabis from the exemption. This policy change, if enacted, would eliminate tax on these specific consumer goods for all Washington residents and businesses selling them.

Maddy summarySB 5012 requires Washington public schools and colleges to organize interscholastic athletics based on students' chromosomal makeup (XX or XY) and gender identity, creating five specific team groupings: XX identifying as woman/girl, XX identifying as man/boy, XY identifying as man/boy, XY identifying as woman/girl, and a fifth category for others. The bill mandates that eligibility be verified through medical documentation of chromosomal status and establishes private legal claims for students or schools harmed by non-compliance, including damages for psychological harm. It also prohibits athletic associations from penalizing schools for following these grouping rules and exempts kindergarten through sixth-grade activities from the requirements. The law amends existing statutes governing school athletics to enforce these structural changes.

Maddy summarySB 5136, the "Given Name Act," requires Washington public schools to use students' birth certificate names and pronouns matching their biological sex (as listed on their birth certificate) without parental written permission. School staff - including teachers, administrators, and support workers - must follow this rule unless parents provide specific written consent for alternative names or pronouns. The bill also allows school employees to refuse using non-biological-sex pronouns based on religious or moral beliefs and permits affected individuals to seek legal recourse for violations. It applies to all K-12 public school employees and students under 18, with no exceptions for discussing gender identity outside school duties.

Maddy summarySB 5064 establishes an advisory council on rare diseases within the University of Washington School of Medicine to advise Washington's Secretary of Health. The council, composed of 12 members including clinicians, rare disease patients, caregivers, patient advocates, and industry representatives, must ensure geographic representation across the Cascade Mountains. It will focus on improving research, diagnosis, treatment, and public education about rare diseases, identify effective care strategies, and recommend creating a centralized online resource for patients. The council must submit biennial reports to the legislature starting in 2026, but it serves only in an advisory capacity without overriding local health authority.

Maddy summaryWashington State's SB 5348 (titled "Creating a sentencing enhancement for organized retail theft") actually amends sentencing guidelines to add mandatory enhancements when offenders are armed with firearms or deadly weapons during felony crimes - not specifically for retail theft. The bill requires judges to add fixed time periods to sentences (e.g., 5 years for class A felonies with a firearm) that must be served consecutively, with no reduction even if the total exceeds the standard maximum sentence. It applies broadly to felony convictions involving weapons, excluding specific offenses like firearm theft or machine gun use. The bill does not create new retail theft penalties but modifies existing sentencing rules for weapon-related felonies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows senior centers, senior housing organizations, and senior living communities (with a 55+ age minimum) to operate bingo games weekly, instead of the standard limit of twice yearly. It specifically amends Washington’s gambling laws to permit these senior-focused groups to conduct weekly bingo, with revenue from bingo capped at $10,000 annually. All proceeds must fund the organization’s charitable or nonprofit purposes, and they must follow standard reporting and notice requirements. This change directly affects senior living communities meeting the age criteria, providing them greater flexibility for fundraising through bingo.

Maddy summarySB 5783 prohibits Washington courts and administrative agencies from using a person's vaccination status as evidence or a factor in specific legal decisions. The law applies to guardianship cases (for minors or incapacitated adults), child custody/visitation disputes, adoption proceedings, and related family law matters under chapters 11.130, 26.09, 26.33, and 26.44 of the Revised Code of Washington. It explicitly bans courts from admitting vaccination status in evidence or considering it when making rulings on these issues. This change directly affects parents, children, adoptive applicants, and family courts handling such cases within the state.