Sen. Noel Frame

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington state to preserve historical records and artifacts related to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who lived or worked at Northern State Hospital. It mandates the Secretary of State, in collaboration with the University of Washington and state agencies, to create a detailed preservation plan by September 2027, including cataloging medical records, letters, photos, and artifacts at risk of destruction. The plan must outline storage, digitization, restoration, and public access for educational use, with no records destroyed until the plan is completed and funded. The bill expires June 30, 2028, and directly affects state archives, the University of Washington, and future researchers accessing these historical materials.

Maddy summarySB 5910 clarifies that Washington school districts may communicate directly with the public about school operations, including curriculum, student achievement, safety, budgets, facility conditions, and funding sources like ballot propositions. The bill removes restrictions on school districts' communication methods, allowing them to use any medium (including social media) without limitations on content, format, or frequency. It explicitly prohibits using this authority to influence school district election outcomes. The law aims to improve transparency amid declining local media and misinformation challenges, ensuring communities receive factual information about their schools.

Maddy summarySB 5426 expands access to non-court alternatives for youth in Washington state by requiring courts to offer standardized diversion programs. It defines community-based rehabilitation services (like counseling, education, or restorative justice programs) and sets requirements for residential treatment referrals. The bill mandates data tracking to monitor diversion effectiveness across counties, addressing inconsistent access to these programs. These changes aim to reduce reliance on formal court processing for youth offenders while improving accountability.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Washington state laws governing transportation network companies (like ride-hailing apps), focusing on driver classification and support systems - not event-specific regulation as the title suggests. It defines key terms (e.g., "driver platform," "dispatch platform time"), clarifies that drivers are not employees unless specific conditions are met, and establishes a "driver resource center fund" to support nonprofit organizations helping drivers with deactivation appeals. The bill directly affects drivers (through clearer protections against unfair platform restrictions) and transportation network companies (requiring them to fund the driver resource center). It does not address large-scale events, as its provisions apply to standard operations.

Maddy summarySB 5797 enacts a new tax on certain financial intangible assets, such as stocks and bonds, in Washington State. The bill levies a tax of $0.34 for every $1,000 of true and fair value of these assets. It primarily affects individuals and artificial persons with over $50,000,000 in taxable financial intangible assets, while exempting retirement savings, college savings, and ownership interests in private companies. Revenues generated from this tax are dedicated to the education legacy trust account to support public schools, early learning, child care, and higher education.

Maddy summarySB 5366 amends Washington state sentencing guidelines to explicitly include a victim's pregnancy during a rape as an aggravating factor that allows courts to impose harsher sentences. It specifically adds "the defendant knew the victim was pregnant" to the list of circumstances justifying an "aggravated exceptional sentence" for violent sexual offenses. This provision directly affects rape offenders who knew their victim was pregnant at the time of the crime, enabling judges to exceed standard sentencing ranges. The bill does not create new penalties but expands existing criteria for exceptional sentencing in cases involving rape with pregnancy. It requires courts to document such findings in writing and follows standard appellate review procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington's public colleges and universities to ensure students have access to medication abortion by the 2026-27 academic year. It mandates that student health centers offer medication abortion services (via in-person care, telehealth, or referrals) and directs institutions without health centers to provide referrals to qualified providers, telehealth support, and campus accommodations. Schools must also maintain clear online resources about reproductive health services, including appointment scheduling, academic accommodations for pregnancy-related needs, and direct links to state health resources. The law directly affects over 196,000 pregnancy-capable students at Washington's public institutions, aiming to reduce barriers like travel distances (up to 78 miles) and wait times for abortion care.

Maddy summarySB 5254 strengthens patients' rights to access their electronic health care information by limiting fees charged by health care providers. It prohibits providers from charging more than $50 for electronic records delivered to patients, their representatives, attorneys, or other treating health care providers. The bill also requires the Department of Health to establish fee standards based on actual costs (not per page) for accessing records. This directly affects patients seeking their health data and health care facilities handling record requests.

Maddy summarySB 5052 clarifies that law enforcement may contact juveniles (under age 18) who are witnesses or victims in a crime - without being suspected of involvement - without requiring attorney consultation beforehand. This specifically amends Washington’s juvenile rights law (RCW 13.40.740) to remove ambiguity about when police can speak directly to such juveniles. The bill ensures statements obtained during these contacts generally cannot be used against the juvenile in court unless they’ve had legal advice and knowingly waived rights. It maintains existing protections for juveniles suspected of crimes or in life-threatening situations requiring immediate police action.

Maddy summarySB 5812 aims to increase funding for K-12 education and public safety across Washington state. The bill proposes to increase the levy authority for state and local property tax limits from one percent to three percent, providing more revenue flexibility for local governments and school districts. It also adjusts the school funding formula, including changes to enrichment levies and per-pupil limits, with the intent to ensure equitable funding for all school districts, particularly those in rural or historically underinvested areas.