Sen. Javier Valdez

Maddy summarySB 5779 designates the last full calendar week in July each year as "African diaspora heritage week" in Washington state. The bill aims to recognize and celebrate the cultural heritage, history, and contributions of people of African descent through community events, educational activities, and cultural awareness. It does not establish a paid holiday or alter existing legal holidays - this designation is purely commemorative under state law. The recognition applies to all Washington residents and institutions, encouraging community participation in honoring this heritage.

Maddy summarySB 5663 allows Washington community and technical colleges to advertise their entirely online course offerings to potential students statewide, beyond their traditional district boundaries. Colleges can use various methods, including digital advertising and direct mail, to distribute information about these online courses. The bill also permits colleges to inform their local citizens about online programs offered exclusively by neighboring districts. However, it explicitly states that community and technical colleges are not allowed to compete with each other or other higher education institutions for student enrollment.

Maddy summarySB 5676 requires ticket sellers in Washington State to immediately deliver electronic admission tickets to customers upon confirmation of payment. This law directly affects businesses selling event tickets (like concerts, sports, or festivals) and their customers. The key provision mandates that electronic tickets must be sent without delay once payment is processed, eliminating waiting periods. The bill applies to all electronic ticket sales under Washington law, ensuring faster access for attendees.

Maddy summarySB 5164 proposes creating a state-funded program to place "postsecondary enrollment specialists" in high schools across Washington, working at a 1:600 ratio with seniors. These specialists will directly assist students - especially those from lower-income backgrounds - with completing financial aid applications (like FAFSA and WASFA), connecting to scholarships, and navigating college enrollment processes. The bill requires school districts to partner with community colleges, tribal organizations, or community groups to hire these specialists and mandates free training for school staff on financial aid. It also requires annual reports tracking how the program increases financial aid completion rates and enrollment, targeting schools with historically low application rates. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Maddy summarySB 5295 updates Washington's sexual assault survivor bill of rights to align with federal grant requirements. It directly affects survivors of sexual assault (including minors through guardians) and requires medical facilities, law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to provide specific protections. Key provisions include: free medical forensic exams, written notices about victim compensation and evidence handling, referrals to sexual assault programs, access to advocates throughout legal proceedings, preservation of sexual assault kits upon request, and free copies of police reports. The bill ensures survivors retain all rights regardless of participation in criminal proceedings, with legal remedies limited to court orders for denied rights.

Maddy summarySB 5336 requires employers (including hotels, retail stores, security companies, and property services contractors) to implement specific protections for "isolated employees" - workers like janitors, security guards, and hotel housekeepers who spend most of their time working alone. Key provisions mandate employers to adopt sexual harassment policies, provide mandatory training on preventing harassment and using panic buttons, supply panic buttons to isolated employees, and maintain records of training and button usage. Employers must also submit annual reports on training and work locations to the Department of Labor and Industries. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per repeat willful offense, with enforcement handled through department investigations and citations.

Maddy summarySB 5162 requires Washington health care facilities (like hospitals and clinics) to create and annually update safety plans addressing workplace violence risks. These plans must cover security systems, staffing patterns, incident reporting, employee training, and specific high-risk areas like parking lots. Facilities must investigate every violent incident, analyze causes (including staffing levels), and submit quarterly reports to safety committees with de-identified data and recommendations for improving prevention. The law directly affects health care workers and facilities by mandating concrete safety measures and accountability for workplace violence incidents.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5469 aims to prevent certain data-sharing practices in the rental housing market that could lead to coordinated rent pricing. The bill makes it unlawful for "service providers" to collect and analyze rental data from multiple landlords and then recommend rental prices or terms to more than one landlord. It also prohibits landlords from subscribing to or contracting with these coordinating service providers. Violations would be considered unfair trade practices under the state's consumer protection act, allowing for enforcement by the attorney general or civil lawsuits by injured individuals.

Maddy summarySB 5066 would authorize Washington's attorney general to investigate and sue local law enforcement agencies (like city police departments) and local corrections agencies (like county jails) for violating constitutional or civil rights. It creates new procedures allowing the attorney general to issue demands for documents, conduct investigations, and seek court orders for systemic reforms - such as improved training or policies - to address misconduct patterns. The bill requires agencies to meet compliance timelines for fixes and prohibits the attorney general from pursuing actions that conflict with ongoing federal investigations. This bill does not apply to state agencies (e.g., Washington State Patrol) or hold individual officers liable for misconduct. The bill was referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee in February 2025 but has not advanced further.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a statewide cardiac and stroke care registry requiring hospitals and emergency medical services to submit quarterly data starting in 2027. It directs the Washington Department of Health to analyze this data to improve care coordination, identify gaps, and provide annual public reports on system performance. The law specifically supports rural and critical access hospitals with technical assistance and equipment training, while also funding public education on stroke and heart attack symptoms. The focus is on using collected data to enhance timely, evidence-based care and reduce preventable deaths from cardiac and stroke events.