Maddy summarySB 5400 establishes a Washington state grant program to support local news journalism by funding news organizations that employ journalists covering community issues. Eligible applicants - including newspapers and digital platforms meeting specific criteria - must employ at least two to three journalists per quarter (with flexibility for smaller operations) to qualify for grants proportional to journalist hours worked. The program targets underserved communities, aiming to counter declining newsroom staff and advertising revenue by directly supporting journalist employment. Grants require reporting on progress and usage, with the Department of Commerce administering the program based on defined eligibility standards for "news journalists" and "qualifying publications."
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 6350 allows Washington residents enrolled in a federally recognized tribe to voluntarily add a tribal designation to their driver's license, identicard, or driver's instruction permit. The bill requires the Department of Licensing to create a process for verifying tribal enrollment documentation and include this option alongside existing features like veteran status or medical alerts. This designation is optional, does not affect fees, and applies to all state-issued IDs for eligible individuals who choose to provide the necessary tribal enrollment proof. The department must consult with tribes during implementation and educate the public about this new option.
Maddy summarySB 6312 bans grocery stores from using personal data - like shopping habits, location, or inferred traits - to charge different prices to individual shoppers (surveillance-based price discrimination) or raise prices during high demand (surge pricing). It specifically targets large grocery retailers (excluding small businesses under state law) and requires all prices to be clearly posted and consistent for all customers. The bill also imposes a four-year moratorium on electronic shelf label systems that collect consumer data to modify prices, to study impacts on transparency and jobs. This law aims to ensure fair pricing by preventing retailers from exploiting personal information for dynamic pricing.
Maddy summarySB 6271 requires mattress producers (including brands, manufacturers, and importers) in Washington State to fund and manage recycling programs for discarded mattresses, shifting responsibility from taxpayers to the industry. The bill mandates that producers join or create a "producer responsibility organization" (PRO) that implements a stewardship program following a priority hierarchy: waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and then other disposal methods only after higher options are exhausted. The PRO must track mattresses from collection to final disposition, maintain detailed records, ensure worker safety, and use environmentally sound practices like separating recyclable materials (metal, foam, wood) instead of landfilling. This law directly affects mattress producers, distributors, and recyclers, aiming to reduce landfill use (currently 95% of mattresses) and illegal dumping by increasing recycling rates.
Maddy summarySB 6171 regulates large data centers (defined as facilities with ≥20 megawatts of energy demand) by requiring transparency about their electricity, water, and refrigerant use, and mandating that they transition to 100% clean energy over time. The bill directly affects data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence growth, which are projected to become the largest source of new electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest. Key provisions include setting policy priorities for energy affordability, grid reliability, and environmental protection, while ensuring these facilities disclose resource consumption data to the public. The legislation aims to balance the industry’s economic benefits with safeguards for consumers and communities.
Maddy summarySB 6174 requires textile brands and manufacturers selling apparel in Washington to fund and manage the end-of-life recycling and reuse of their products. It directly affects most clothing, footwear, and accessory brands introduced in the state (excluding small businesses with under $1 million annual global turnover, PPE, and secondhand items), making them responsible for creating collection systems. Key provisions include establishing producer responsibility organizations to handle collection, sorting, and recycling through designated sites or mail-back programs, while prioritizing repair and reuse to reduce landfill waste. The bill amends state codes to implement this system, setting penalties for noncompliance.
Maddy summarySB 6206 establishes a two-year pilot program to help child care providers serve children of first responders by offering state grants. Licensed child care providers who care for first responders' children - such as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and behavioral health professionals - may receive incentive payments, with priority given to those offering nonstandard hours, short-notice care, or care during illness. The program selects four Washington jurisdictions (north/south, east/west of the Cascades) to match state grants with local funds, requiring a plan for funding. By November 2029, the state must report on the program’s impact on first responder recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction.
Maddy summaryWashington State's SB 5921 establishes a legal medical program for psilocybin use under the Department of Health, allowing licensed clinicians to prescribe it for qualified patients (18+ years) with diagnosed conditions determined by the clinician. The bill creates clear rules for inpatient treatment sessions, outpatient microdosing, and strict requirements for producers (growers/manufacturers) and clinicians. It provides legal protections from prosecution for program participants but maintains existing laws for non-program activities like driving under influence or recreational use. The program explicitly excludes use for individuals under 18, animals, and does not override federal laws governing clinical trials.
Maddy summarySB 6252 requires Washington transit agencies receiving state grants to provide free rides to students enrolled in degree or certificate programs at community and technical colleges (as defined in RCW 28B.50.030) and to all passengers 18 years and younger. This policy is a condition for grant eligibility, replacing previous requirements for transit agencies to maintain certain sales tax revenues. The bill mandates transit agencies to document this zero-fare policy by October 1, 2022, to qualify for state funding, with the state tracking ridership under this program. It directly affects community/technical college students and transit agencies seeking state transit support grants.
Maddy summaryWashington State's SB 6303 modifies cannabis packaging, product safety, and waste management rules for licensees. It allows edibles to be sold in reusable, child-resistant containers (meeting federal standards) instead of individually wrapped servings, and adjusts concentrate/vapor product packaging to match daily purchase limits without increasing per-transaction amounts. The bill also requires digital batch tracking for cannabis plants (replacing individual tags), creates voluntary recycling programs for open packages/vapor devices, and mandates removable batteries in vapor products to improve safety and recycling. These changes take effect 24 months after the law's effective date, with rules to be adopted within 12 months. The bill directly affects cannabis retailers and producers operating under Washington's cannabis regulations.