Sen. Sharon Shewmake

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5319 establishes and modifies fees for surface mine reclamation permits in Washington State, affecting both public and private mine operators. It sets a nonrefundable application fee of $4,500 for new permits, expansions, and revisions to existing reclamation plans, increasing the fee for revisions. The bill also raises the general annual permit fee for most holders from $2,000 to $3,500. For mines used exclusively for public works projects, it maintains a $1,000 annual fee for small county operations and establishes a $2,500 annual fee for other public permit holders. All collected fees are deposited into the surface mining reclamation account and may be subject to collection agency action if unpaid.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5463 expands and clarifies the duties of all self-insured employers and their third-party administrators concerning industrial insurance claims in Washington state. It establishes a clear duty of good faith and fair dealing towards workers, prohibiting actions like coercing workers to accept less than due compensation. The bill empowers the Department of Labor & Industries to investigate violations, impose penalties payable to workers, and mandate corrective actions for repeated failures to uphold this duty. Employers who repeatedly violate these good faith requirements or fail to comply with corrective actions may ultimately have their self-insurer certification withdrawn.

Maddy summarySB 5212 allows water users in Whatcom and Skagit counties (Water Resource Inventory Area 1) to file claims for long-standing groundwater and surface water uses that predate established water codes, as part of a new water rights adjudication process. It amends existing law to ensure that submitting a specific adjudication claim form satisfies the requirements for these "precode" water uses. The bill aims to apply procedures similar to those used in the Yakima basin adjudication to ensure these historical water users can participate. However, any new claims filed under this provision will be subordinate to certain established water rights, including those with permits, certificates, or federal bases.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5284 aims to improve Washington's solid waste management and increase recycling rates, which have remained static. It establishes an extended producer responsibility program for consumer packaging and paper products. Under this program, producers are required to fund and manage the lifecycle of these materials, from design to end-of-life. The goal is to make convenient and affordable curbside recycling more widely available to residents, particularly those in rural and multifamily areas, by building upon existing waste and recycling infrastructure.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5595 allows local authorities to designate certain nonarterial highways as "shared streets," which are areas where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles share the roadway. On these designated streets, vehicular traffic must yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and micromobility devices, and bicyclists/micromobility users must yield to pedestrians. The bill also permits local authorities to establish a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour on shared streets without requiring an engineering study. Additionally, local authorities must publish annual reports on traffic accidents, speeding, and DUI violations occurring on these shared streets.

Maddy summarySB 5556 modernizes Washington's adopt-a-highway program, affecting volunteer groups, businesses, and sponsors who participate in roadside clean-up and maintenance. The bill explicitly links the program's operation and recognition efforts to specific legislative appropriations, emphasizing fiscal limitations. It expands adoptable locations to include rest areas and park-and-ride lots, and clarifies that activities can include planting pollinator-friendly vegetation and graffiti removal. Additionally, it requires the Department of Transportation to submit annual reports on program participants and prohibits politically active organizations from participating.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5627 aims to improve safe excavation practices and prevent damage to underground utilities throughout Washington state. It establishes a comprehensive damage prevention program by assigning clear responsibilities for providing notice of proposed excavation, free locating and marking of underground utilities, and reporting any damage. The bill also sets safeguards for construction near hazardous liquid and gas pipelines and outlines processes for collecting damage data and enforcing compliance. This legislation directly affects excavators, facility operators, and the general public by protecting vital utility services and enhancing safety.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5628 regulates the lead content in aluminum and brass cookware, utensils, and their components sold in Washington state. Beginning January 1, 2026, manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers are prohibited from selling these products if they contain more than 90 parts per million of lead. This limit will further decrease to 10 parts per million starting January 1, 2028. The bill aims to reduce potential lead exposure for consumers from these kitchen items, and the Department of Ecology may further lower the limit after 2030 if necessary for public health.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5253 extends the eligibility for special education services for students with disabilities in Washington state. Under this bill, services will now continue until the end of the school year in which a student turns 22, rather than 21. This change addresses a federal court ruling that found the state's previous age-out policy violated federal law. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to update an implementation plan by October 2026 to improve transition planning for students with disabilities moving to post-school life.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5351 aims to ensure patient choice and access to dental care by regulating dental insurance practices. It prohibits dental-only plans from denying coverage solely because multiple procedures were performed on the same day, while still allowing denials for reasons like fraud or medical necessity. The bill also requires dental insurers to offer providers a fee-free alternative if they pay claims using credit cards. Additionally, it mandates annual public reporting of dental-only plan financial data and establishes a collaborative forum to study dental loss ratios and provider payment rates, with recommendations due by June 2026.