Sen. Lisa Wellman

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts Washington State's financial aid program for students attending private four-year colleges. It sets specific maximum grant amounts for private non-profit institutions ($9,739 through 2025-26, then 50% of public research institution awards starting 2026-27) and for private for-profit institutions (similar fixed amounts through 2025-26, transitioning to 50% of public awards in 2026-27). The policy directly affects students enrolled at eligible private four-year colleges in Washington, including both non-profit and for-profit institutions. The key change is shifting from fixed annual amounts to a formula tied to public institution awards beginning in 2026-27.

Maddy summarySB 6125 provides enrollment stabilization funding to Washington school districts, charter schools, and tribal schools if their state funding for the 2026-27 or 2027-28 school years drops below what it would have been using 2025-26 enrollment data. The bill requires the state superintendent to calculate and pay the difference (the "stabilization amount") when current funding falls short of projected funding based on prior enrollment. This funding covers all state education allocations, including general funding, special education, learning assistance, and career programs, but cannot be used to replace basic education funding. The program expires on July 1, 2028.

Maddy summarySB 6241 requires Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement wild broodstock conservation programs in watersheds with native steelhead populations. It mandates using wild steelhead (collected by volunteers) for hatchery breeding to boost recovery, with specific rules to prevent genetic issues like inbreeding and ensure fish health. The law sets population targets, requires conservation-focused hatchery management plans, and establishes protocols for fish handling, spawning, and predator control. This directly affects steelhead trout recovery efforts across Washington’s watersheds and the state’s fish management practices.

Maddy summarySB 6175 regulates secondary ticket sales for entertainment and sporting events to prevent consumer deception and price gouging. It caps resale prices at 110% of the original ticket price (including fees) and limits service fees to 10%, while requiring clear disclosures that tickets are purchased from a secondary marketplace, not the original seller. The bill prohibits misleading marketing (e.g., fake "official" sites), bans selling speculative tickets, and mandates resellers notify buyers within 8 hours of event changes. It exempts professional sports teams, small arts organizations ($500,000 annual revenue cap), schools, movie theaters, and tribal venues from most provisions. The law applies to commercial resellers and secondary ticket platforms operating in Washington.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires parents who choose home-based instruction for their children to submit written declarations of their education plans when their child turns 6 and 7 years old. The declaration must include the child's name, age, and details about whether they are currently using home instruction or plan to enroll in public/private school. Parents must file this by September 15th each school year or within two weeks of the term start, with the local school superintendent. It also establishes annual testing requirements for home-schooled children and clarifies that home instruction rules apply only after age 8. This affects parents opting for home-based education instead of public or private school enrollment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Washington State Senate's formal appreciation for the National Guard's service. It recognizes their emergency response work (like 2025 flood support in Skagit and Snohomish counties), election security efforts, and youth programs such as the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. The Senate thanks the Guard's families and employers for their support and acknowledges the Guard's contributions to state safety, community well-being, and economic vitality. Adopted in January 2026, this symbolic resolution was sent to state and federal officials but does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summarySB 6326 requires Washington school districts to maintain minimum fund balances based on size: large districts (2,000+ students) must keep at least 6% of prior year state funding, while smaller districts must keep 8%. Districts cannot use these funds for salaries or benefits but may access them for unexpected enrollment changes, short-term cash flow, emergencies, or preapproved one-time costs. Starting in 2028-29, districts must submit monthly financial reports to the state superintendent, including expenditures, revenue, and cash balances, with late submissions risking withheld state payments. Failure to restore required fund balances triggers state intervention to redirect funding over 12 months. The bill directly affects all public school districts in Washington State.

Maddy summarySB 6041 updates Washington State's law to clarify that individuals (living and deceased) have a permanent property right to control the use of their name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness. The bill ensures these rights do not expire after death and can be transferred through wills, trusts, contracts, or passed to heirs under state law. It specifically applies to people whose image had commercial value (a "personality"), even if they didn’t personally exploit it during life. The law defines key terms like "deceased personality" to cover those whose identity retained commercial value after death, regardless of their domicile. This change affects all Washington residents and their successors, streamlining how these rights are managed and enforced posthumously.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits state and local government liability for injuries to inmates caused by their voluntary use of controlled substances under specific conditions. It protects correctional facilities (jails, prisons, or similar facilities owned/operated by the state or local government) if they lawfully screened inmates for drugs upon admission, removed any found substances, and the injury resulted from the inmate’s own drug use. Exceptions apply if facility staff provided the drugs or failed to provide medical care when they knew an inmate needed it. The law applies to cases occurring after its effective date and does not affect liability for injuries caused by facility-provided substances.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate resolution (not a bill with binding law), adopted January 2026, that recognizes the importance of youth sports in Washington state. It highlights benefits like improved well-being, academic engagement, and reduced mental health risks, while noting unequal access for marginalized groups (girls, youth of color, low-income families, and others). The resolution calls for promoting inclusive, affordable programs, trained coaches, injury prevention, and nontraditional sports like pickleball or adaptive athletics to increase participation. It does not create new programs or funding but formally encourages state support for these goals.