Sen. Keith Wagoner

Maddy summarySB 5836 would increase the number of superior court judges in Skagit County from four to five by amending Washington State law (RCW 2.08.063). The bill directly affects Skagit County's court system by adding judicial capacity to handle caseloads. A key provision requires specific funding for this change to be included in the 2026 omnibus appropriations act by June 30, or the bill becomes void. This is a procedural adjustment to court staffing levels with no substantive policy changes beyond the judge count.

Maddy summarySB 5850 protects citizens participating in Washington's initiative and referendum process by making it illegal to pay for signatures, intimidate voters, or destroy petitions. It creates new penalties, including gross misdemeanors for offering money based on signature counts and class C felonies for altering or destroying signed petitions. The bill directly affects individuals gathering signatures for ballot measures and organizers seeking to manipulate the process. These changes aim to prevent corruption and ensure free participation in direct democracy, without altering existing campaign finance reporting rules.

Maddy summarySB 5846 requires Washington's Department of Social and Health Services to provide written notice to local law enforcement, community members, and specified victims when a sex offender is placed in a less restrictive community setting (like a home or apartment). The bill mandates that notices include the offender's specific residence address and requires courts to impose conditions such as electronic monitoring with real-time tracking and a minimum two-mile distance restriction from schools and childcare facilities. It directly affects sex offenders on conditional release, local police/sheriffs, and residents in the offender's new neighborhood, while also giving victims and witnesses the option to receive notifications. The law aims to balance community safety with less restrictive placements by establishing clear notification protocols and safety conditions.

Maddy summarySB 5851 adds a voluntary $1 or more donation option during Washington state vessel registration (initial or renewal) to fund salmon preservation efforts. The donations, collected by the Department of Licensing, are deposited into a dedicated "sea lion predation control account" in the state treasury. Funds from this account can only be spent - after legislative appropriation - to manage sea lion populations in the lower Columbia River, aiming to reduce their predation on salmon. This bill directly affects boat owners at registration time and creates a new funding mechanism for salmon conservation, separate from existing state agency budgets.

Maddy summarySB 5854 modifies Washington state procedures for releasing sexually violent predators from secure facilities to community-based treatment settings. It requires courts to consider "fair share principles" before approving such releases, meaning counties must have adequate local placement options proportional to their population of committed individuals. The bill also gives counties the authority to reject placements from other counties if the proposed location violates these fair share requirements. This applies to individuals committed under Washington’s sexually violent predator laws and aims to balance the geographic burden of community placements. The bill does not change release criteria for individuals but alters the administrative process for where they may be placed.

Maddy summarySB 5843 strengthens protections for people who collect signatures for voter initiatives and referendums by making harassment against them a more serious crime. The bill amends Washington’s harassment law to explicitly include signature gatherers under the definition of "election official," meaning threats or intimidation directed at them can now trigger felony charges if the threats involve violence, prior harassment, or targeting during official duties. Penalties increase from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony for certain threats, such as those involving violence or targeting election workers. The law also ensures targeted individuals and their household members qualify for address confidentiality programs.

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 5908 would change the court filing location for lawsuits challenging wildlife management decisions by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Instead of filing in counties like Thurston or the petitioner's residence, appeals must now be filed in the county where the affected wildlife is located. This applies specifically to cases involving the Fish and Wildlife Commission or the Department of Fish and Wildlife's wildlife management actions. The bill does not alter public participation rules (as suggested by its title), but only modifies court jurisdiction for related appeals.

Maddy summarySB 5026 redirects a growing portion of Washington’s vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation funding. Starting in 2026, 16.66% of tax revenue from all new and used vehicle sales (including private-party sales) will fund transportation, increasing by 16.66% each year until 2031, when 100% will be dedicated to this purpose. The bill excludes certain vehicles like farm tractors, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and bicycles from this tax allocation. This policy change affects all vehicle buyers and sellers in Washington, with the tax revenue directly supporting transportation infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Washington state law to expand the criteria for involuntary treatment (civil commitment) for people with substance use disorders. Specifically, it adds to the definition of "gravely disabled" that a person required opioid overdose reversal medication within two weeks and is not receiving appropriate treatment. This change would allow courts to order inpatient care for individuals who've recently survived opioid overdoses but aren't accessing treatment services. The bill focuses on facilitating access to care for this specific group, not on new penalties or programs. (Note: The bill is currently in committee and not yet law.)