Sen. Rebecca Saldaña

Maddy summarySB 5580 requires corporations, trusts, and other entities owning 20 or more single-family homes or condominium units in Washington to register with the Secretary of State. They must report contact details, property addresses, end use (like rental or sale), purchase prices, and business locations. The law aims to create statewide transparency about corporate housing ownership, which the bill cites as increasing rapidly (22% of single-family purchases in 2022). Exemptions include banks that acquired properties through foreclosure within 12 months and "build to rent" developments. This registration is intended to help policymakers address housing affordability without restricting ownership.

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 summarySenate Bill 5576 allows counties, cities, and towns in Washington State to impose a new special excise tax of up to four percent on short-term rental lodging booked through online platforms. The revenue collected from this tax must be used exclusively for essential affordable housing programs. These funds can support activities such as acquiring, rehabilitating, or constructing affordable housing, covering operations and maintenance costs for such housing, or providing rental assistance to tenants. Local governments are required to publish an annual report detailing how these tax revenues were spent.

Maddy summarySB 5180 requires all Washington public school districts to adopt or update policies ensuring gender-inclusive school environments, directly affecting students, staff, and families in every public school. Key provisions mandate schools to guarantee students' rights to use preferred names/pronouns, participate in sports/activities aligned with their gender identity, access appropriate restrooms, and dress per their gender expression within school dress codes. School districts must designate a primary contact for these policies, provide annual training, and share policies with parents, students, and staff. The bill clarifies and strengthens existing state protections for transgender and gender-expansive students, aiming to eliminate ambiguity in current law and ensure consistent implementation across all school districts.

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 5404 establishes a new funding structure for Washington state public defense services, requiring the state to cover 50% of costs starting in 2026 based on a five-year average of county expenditures. Counties and cities that save funds due to this state contribution must redirect those savings toward specific alternatives like pretrial diversion programs, reentry services, or public defense infrastructure (e.g., IT, staffing). The bill mandates annual reporting of caseloads, attorney hours, and service quality metrics to the Office of Public Defense, which will use this data to review case categorization standards. It also allows low-population counties to transfer public defense responsibilities to the state office, with the state retaining their pro rata funding share for service delivery.

Maddy summaryWashington State Bill SB 5767 gives a 5% scoring boost to certain federal employees in state job hiring exams. It applies specifically to federal workers who left their jobs due to Executive Order 14210 (ending remote work) or voluntary separation under a 2025 presidential memo. This preference increases their exam score by 5% for initial state employment appointments only - not for promotions. The bill defines "federal employee" as those separated under those specific 2025 directives and requires standard military discharge documentation for verification.

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 5140 requires Washington residents to obtain a permit to purchase firearms, directly affecting all firearm buyers and dealers. It mandates proof of completion of a certified firearm safety training program within the past five years (or an exemption) and establishes a permit application process with fingerprinting and fees. Key mechanisms include enhanced background checks using state/federal databases, delays for outstanding warrants or pending charges, and detailed recordkeeping for all firearm transfers. The bill also adds safety warnings for buyers and requires dealers to verify permit eligibility before sales.

Maddy summarySB 5504 would allow Washington Medicaid to pay family caregivers (parents, guardians, or close relatives) for providing complex medical care to children under 18 with high medical needs, as part of existing private duty nursing coverage. To qualify, caregivers must complete 75+ hours of training from an accredited home health agency, receive RN supervision, and work through a licensed home health agency. The bill requires the state health authority to seek federal approval for this payment change by December 2025 and report on feasibility by January 2026. It expires December 31, 2026, and directly affects families caring for medically fragile children covered by Medicaid.