Sen. Keith Wagoner

Maddy summarySB 5055 promotes agritourism in Washington by adjusting building code requirements for agricultural structures. It specifies that agricultural buildings used for agritourism activities are not subject to standard commercial building permit requirements. This exemption applies if the building is used for agritourism for six months or less per year, provided it still meets all life and fire safety standards. This change directly affects farmers and landowners who host agritourism events on their property, potentially easing regulatory burdens for these activities.

Maddy summarySB 5003 creates a competitive grant program under Washington's Superintendent of Public Instruction to improve physical security at K-12 public schools. Public school districts can apply for grants covering eligible projects like entrance security systems, fencing, perimeter barriers, and infrastructure redesigns to streamline access. Grants are capped at $2 million per district over two years, with no more than 3% of funds allowed for administrative costs. The program requires annual progress reports to the legislature detailing applications, funding requests, and approved projects starting December 2025.

Maddy summarySB 5015 removes the governor from the final approval process for energy facility projects in Washington State, transferring that authority directly to the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. The bill amends state law to change the council’s role from making a recommendation to the governor to issuing a final decision on project certification. This change affects energy developers seeking approval for new or expanded facilities, as they will no longer require gubernatorial sign-off after council review. The bill streamlines the process by eliminating a step where the governor had no substantive role beyond appointing the council chair, according to the legislative findings.

Maddy summarySB 5644 amends Washington state theft statutes by updating definitions related to criminal conduct involving access devices and deception. It clarifies terms like "access device" (including gift cards) and "deception" to better address modern theft methods, affecting anyone potentially charged with property-related crimes. The bill does not create new penalties but refines existing legal language to ensure theft statutes cover digital and physical access devices consistently. It directly impacts law enforcement and courts when prosecuting theft cases involving items like gift cards, credit cards, or digital accounts. The bill was referred to the Law & Justice committee on February 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 5810 is a budget bill allocating funds for Washington State's 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operations. It provides specific appropriations for state agencies, including $61.7 million for the House of Representatives and $46.3 million for the Senate in fiscal year 2026, along with $14.1 million for the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The bill includes a provision requiring the audit committee to review juvenile rehabilitation programs, focusing on staffing, safety, programming, and gender equity, with a report due by July 2026. It directly affects state government operations and agencies funded through this legislation. This is a routine appropriations bill, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 5072 changes how Washington state taxes abandoned vehicles sold by registered tow truck operators. It reclassifies these sales from "automobile towing services" to "tangible personal property," requiring tow truck operators to collect standard sales tax on auction sales or sales to licensed scrap processors. This applies to vehicles sold at public auctions or to licensed wreckers, hulk haulers, or scrap processors under RCW 46.55.130. The bill clarifies that operators can deduct surplus proceeds paid to the Department of Licensing from taxable amounts.

Maddy summarySB 5283 prevents Washington's Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council from overriding local bans on electricity storage facilities in critical areas. It directly affects local governments that have enacted zoning restrictions in critical areas (as defined in RCW 36.70A.030) and developers seeking to build such facilities. The bill amends state law to explicitly prohibit the council from preempting these local land use restrictions, ensuring communities retain authority over siting decisions in environmentally sensitive zones. This change applies specifically to electricity storage facilities and does not alter broader state preemption rules for other energy projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 5132) amends Washington state law to standardize the required content for notices sent to defendants in small claims cases. It mandates that each notice must include: (1) the plaintiff's name and address, (2) a clear summary of the claim's nature and amount, (3) a specific court appearance time (at least five days after service), and (4) a warning that missing the court date could result in a default judgment. The bill directly affects plaintiffs filing small claims and defendants receiving these notices, ensuring they receive clear, consistent information about the case. This change aims to improve transparency and fairness in small claims proceedings by setting uniform notice requirements.

Maddy summarySB 5363 allows regulated businesses like tow truck operators to charge a transaction fee of up to 3% for credit card payments, provided they always offer a no-cost payment option (such as cash or check) and disclose both options simultaneously to consumers. This directly affects registered tow truck operators and other regulated businesses in Washington state, who currently cannot recover credit card processing costs like unregulated businesses or the state itself. The bill requires businesses to display the fee at the same time as credit card information and ensures consumers retain access to fee-free payment methods. It aims to modernize payment systems by creating a fairer framework for regulated businesses facing financial strain from unreimbursed services and compliance costs.

Maddy summarySB 5092 provides a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying farm equipment costing $10,000 or more purchased by small and medium-sized Washington farms with annual gross income under $2 million. The exemption applies to equipment like tractors, harvesters, and irrigation tools used directly in farming, but excludes road vehicles and motorcycles. Farms must submit exemption certificates to sellers, and the income threshold will adjust annually starting in 2031 based on the Consumer Price Index. The tax relief expires on October 1, 2035, with a requirement for a 2034 legislative review of its fiscal impact and effect on farm numbers.