Sen. Vandana Slatter

Maddy summarySB 5096 removes a clause from Washington's standard healthcare directive form that previously stated a directive would be invalid during pregnancy. This change ensures that advance directives for life-sustaining treatment apply equally during pregnancy, without requiring separate documentation. The bill amends the model form under the Natural Death Act (RCW 70.122.030) by deleting the specific pregnancy reference in section (d). It directly affects individuals using advance healthcare directives, particularly pregnant people or those with pregnancy-related health concerns, by eliminating an outdated exclusion. The policy change is procedural, updating the standard form to reflect current medical practice without altering other directive provisions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5123 expands protections against discrimination for students in Washington public schools. The bill amends existing state law to prohibit discrimination based on additional categories, including ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence. It also provides specific definitions for these new protected characteristics within the relevant chapter of state education code. This aims to promote inclusivity and ensure equity for all students in public schools.

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 5401 amends Washington state law to clarify definitions related to wholesale power purchases by electric utilities under the Clean Energy Transformation Act. It defines key terms like "coal-fired resource" (excluding short-term purchases for reliability or Bonneville power) and "biomass energy" (specifying acceptable sources and exclusions). The bill directly affects investor-owned and consumer-owned utilities purchasing wholesale electricity, ensuring consistent application of clean energy rules. By standardizing terminology, it provides clarity for utilities, regulators, and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission when implementing the Act’s requirements. This is a definitional update, not a new policy change.

Maddy summarySB 5513 allows pharmacists in Washington to prescribe certain medications and devices to improve patient access to care, particularly for chronic diseases and behavioral health conditions. This expands pharmacists' current authority beyond dispensing drugs, enabling them to directly prescribe within their expertise. The bill directly affects pharmacists, patients in rural and underserved communities facing provider shortages, and healthcare systems seeking to address gaps in care. Key provisions include amending state laws to define pharmacists' new prescribing powers and align with their education and training, aiming to reduce barriers to treatment without requiring additional physician visits.

Maddy summarySB 5658 modifies Washington state's college grant program to expand financial aid eligibility, raising the income threshold for maximum grants from 55% to 70% of the state median family income. It also creates a new $500 annual "bridge grant" for low-income students receiving the maximum college grant (excluding those in the college-bound scholarship program), to cover non-tuition expenses like books and housing. The bill establishes a "workforce education investment account" funded by a surcharge, directing all revenues to advanced computing programs at institutions like the University of Washington, with automatic enrollment increases when demand exceeds 100 students. This account must supplement, not replace, other funding, and the bill creates an oversight board to manage allocations. The changes primarily affect low-income undergraduate students pursuing higher education in STEM fields, especially those from underserved communities.

Maddy summarySB 5397 limits the percentage of courses taught by non-tenure-track faculty at Washington state community and technical colleges. Starting July 1, 2030, these institutions must ensure no more than 45% of annual courses are taught by such faculty, requiring them to adopt policies by July 2026. Colleges must also submit annual reports starting in 2028 detailing their progress toward this 45% cap, including current course percentages. This bill directly affects all Washington community and technical colleges and their faculty hiring practices.

Maddy summarySB 5453 creates two key programs to address Washington's public defense staffing shortage. It requires the Office of Public Defense to establish a mandatory training program for new public defense paralegals and mitigation specialists by June 2027, covering ethics, client communication, and networking. The bill also mandates creating a pool of at least 10 full-time paralegals by 2027 to support contracted attorneys, prioritizing solo practitioners and small firms, with outreach to justice-impacted individuals. These provisions directly aim to improve recruitment and retention for public defense staff across the state, particularly in underserved areas.

Maddy summarySB 5307 eliminates Washington's cap on students eligible for state special education funding, ensuring all public school districts receive full state support without needing local funds to cover costs. It increases per-student funding multipliers based on inclusion rates: districts serving students in general education settings 80%+ of the day receive a higher multiplier (1.5289) versus those with lower inclusion (1.447). The bill also requires the state to monitor inclusion rates, reduce disproportionate identification of students with disabilities, and provide technical assistance to school districts. This directly affects all public school districts in Washington serving students with special education needs.