Sen. Manka Dhingra

Maddy summarySB 5797 enacts a new tax on certain financial intangible assets, such as stocks and bonds, in Washington State. The bill levies a tax of $0.34 for every $1,000 of true and fair value of these assets. It primarily affects individuals and artificial persons with over $50,000,000 in taxable financial intangible assets, while exempting retirement savings, college savings, and ownership interests in private companies. Revenues generated from this tax are dedicated to the education legacy trust account to support public schools, early learning, child care, and higher education.

Maddy summarySB 5366 amends Washington state sentencing guidelines to explicitly include a victim's pregnancy during a rape as an aggravating factor that allows courts to impose harsher sentences. It specifically adds "the defendant knew the victim was pregnant" to the list of circumstances justifying an "aggravated exceptional sentence" for violent sexual offenses. This provision directly affects rape offenders who knew their victim was pregnant at the time of the crime, enabling judges to exceed standard sentencing ranges. The bill does not create new penalties but expands existing criteria for exceptional sentencing in cases involving rape with pregnancy. It requires courts to document such findings in writing and follows standard appellate review procedures.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5697 expands an existing property tax exemption for qualifying nonprofit organizations in Washington state. It allows these nonprofits to maintain their tax-exempt status even when their property is loaned, leased, or rented to government entities or other nonprofit organizations. This applies specifically when the property is used to provide character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services. The bill also clarifies that selling donated merchandise on such property is considered an exempt use if the proceeds further the organization's purposes, with these changes taking effect for taxes collected in 2026 and later.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Washington's public colleges and universities to ensure students have access to medication abortion by the 2026-27 academic year. It mandates that student health centers offer medication abortion services (via in-person care, telehealth, or referrals) and directs institutions without health centers to provide referrals to qualified providers, telehealth support, and campus accommodations. Schools must also maintain clear online resources about reproductive health services, including appointment scheduling, academic accommodations for pregnancy-related needs, and direct links to state health resources. The law directly affects over 196,000 pregnancy-capable students at Washington's public institutions, aiming to reduce barriers like travel distances (up to 78 miles) and wait times for abortion care.

Maddy summarySB 5052 clarifies that law enforcement may contact juveniles (under age 18) who are witnesses or victims in a crime - without being suspected of involvement - without requiring attorney consultation beforehand. This specifically amends Washington’s juvenile rights law (RCW 13.40.740) to remove ambiguity about when police can speak directly to such juveniles. The bill ensures statements obtained during these contacts generally cannot be used against the juvenile in court unless they’ve had legal advice and knowingly waived rights. It maintains existing protections for juveniles suspected of crimes or in life-threatening situations requiring immediate police action.

Maddy summarySB 5585 streamlines the process for Washington tribes to request the return of tribal fugitives from state custody. It directly affects noncertified tribes (tribes not fully authorized under federal law) and state law enforcement by allowing tribal warrants to be filed with state courts for enforcement as if they were state arrest warrants. Key provisions include requiring tribal courts to provide authenticated waiver documents for extradition, granting tribes standing in state court hearings about extradition legality, and permitting state officers to enforce tribal warrants across county lines. The bill clarifies definitions of "certified" and "noncertified" tribes and establishes procedures for handling tribal fugitives who flee tribal jurisdiction.

Maddy summarySB 5183 bans the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products (like fruit or candy-flavored cigarettes, cigars, or e-cigarettes) and vapor products with interactive gaming features (e.g., Pac-Man displays) in Washington starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects retailers who sell these products, including those marketing to youth with appealing flavors and games. The bill defines "flavored" broadly to include any taste, smell, or cooling sensation beyond tobacco, and "entertainment vapor products" as devices with gaming or video features. This policy change aims to reduce youth initiation and addiction by removing products specifically designed to appeal to young people, based on public health data showing flavored products drive most youth tobacco use.

Maddy summarySB 5035 requires Washington counties or jurisdictions changing their voting methods (such as switching from primaries to single-event elections) to provide comprehensive voter education. It mandates mailed materials explaining the new system compared to the old one, a multilingual 24/7 website with FAQs, and targeted advertising in local media like newspapers and radio. The law also requires translations for all languages required by federal or state voting laws and provides educational materials to high schools about the change. These requirements apply during the transition period before the new voting method is used in an election.

Maddy summaryWashington State's SB 5499 codifies the existing body scanner program at two correctional facilities (Washington Corrections Center for Women and one male facility) to detect contraband and reduce strip searches. The bill requires scanners meeting safety standards to identify items under clothing or in body cavities, mandates gender-responsive policies, and specifies that individuals with positive scans for contraband must undergo substance use disorder assessments and treatment. It also sets radiation safety protocols, requires annual reporting on scanner results and contraband types, and tracks radiation exposure limits for staff and individuals. The law directly affects incarcerated people, staff, visitors, and contractors entering participating facilities by changing security screening procedures.

Maddy summarySB 5795 reduces Washington's state sales and use tax rate from 6.5% to 6% for most retail purchases, effective January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects all Washington residents who make retail purchases, with the largest benefit going to low- and middle-income households who pay a higher percentage of their income in sales tax under the current system. This change modifies RCW 82.08.020 to lower the tax rate while maintaining existing exemptions for items like groceries and medical supplies.