Sen. Vandana Slatter

Maddy summarySB 5625 designates the Pacific geoduck (Panopea generosa) as Washington's official state clam through a ceremonial addition to state law. This bill directly affects Washington residents by establishing a symbolic state emblem for the clam, which is a large, edible bivalve native to Puget Sound and coastal waters. The legislation adds a new section to Washington’s Revised Code, formally recognizing the species without creating new regulations or funding. As a procedural bill, it does not alter existing laws or impact economic policies.

Maddy summaryWashington State's SB 5683 requires health insurance carriers and managed care organizations to publicly report detailed data on how quickly they pay providers' claims. Starting in 2027, these entities must submit metrics including the percentage of claims paid within 30 days, average processing times for clean and incomplete claims, and requests for additional documentation. The data will be published annually by the Insurance Commissioner and Health Care Authority, showing individual carrier performance and statewide trends. This law directly affects health insurers, managed care plans, and the providers who submit claims to them, aiming to increase transparency around payment delays.

Maddy summarySB 5451 establishes a state advisory committee to support quantum technology economic development, with members including state officials, higher education representatives, and industry leaders from tech, aerospace, and quantum computing companies. The committee must produce annual reports and workforce plans by 2027, while the state creates a grant program to help applicants secure federal quantum technology funding through partnerships with higher education institutions. Key provisions include quarterly committee meetings, annual grant awards, and collaboration with industry groups like the Northwest Quantum Nexus Coalition. The bill expires June 30, 2027, and does not create direct regulations or funding but structures support mechanisms for the quantum sector.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5034 eliminates the expiration date for the interagency, multijurisdictional system improvement team, informally known as SYNC. This team, composed of representatives from state infrastructure programs and local government associations, coordinates state investments in projects such as drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and broadband. Its purpose is to identify system improvements to maximize value, minimize costs, and ensure the long-term durability and resilience of infrastructure for communities across Washington. By removing the June 30, 2025 sunset date, the bill makes this coordination team permanent and requires it to submit biennial progress reports to the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 5551 requires all Washington school districts to adopt policies by September 1, 2026, ensuring every K-12 student has access to school library information and technology programs staffed by certified teacher-librarians. The bill mandates districts to define how students access library resources and instruction, while allowing small districts (second-class) to use non-certified staff only after making "reasonable efforts" to hire certified librarians and partnering with libraries or schools. It directly affects all 245 Washington public school districts, particularly those serving low-income communities and communities of color where nearly 60% currently lack certified teacher-librarians. The law defines "teacher-librarian" as a certified educator with library media training and specifies that these programs must support state learning standards and digital literacy skills for all students.

Maddy summarySB 5725 requires Washington state community and technical colleges to review their land use policies and develop affordable housing on underutilized campus land. It directly affects public employees, frontline workers, educators, students, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who face housing instability due to unaffordable rents. The bill removes barriers to housing development by amending state codes to mandate colleges consider affordable housing as part of their land use planning. This creates a concrete policy change allowing colleges to expand housing options near workplaces and schools, addressing a critical shortage identified by the legislature. The law aims to help essential workers and students secure stable housing without long commutes.

Maddy summaryWashington State bill SB 5709 allows counties to levy an additional property tax of up to 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value annually, specifically for public health clinics. This tax can only fund clinic operations, maintenance, and capital expenses, and is exempt from certain existing property tax limits in state law. The bill defines "public health clinic" broadly to include services like primary care, dental, reproductive health, disease prevention, and behavioral health. It directly affects Washington counties (which may choose to adopt this tax) and public health clinics (which would receive dedicated funding). The bill amends existing tax code sections to explicitly include public health clinic funding as an exception to general tax levy restrictions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 5775 expands the authority for counties and cities to impose local sales and use taxes to fund public safety and community protection programs. Counties can impose a sales and use tax up to 0.3%, either through voter approval or by ordinance until January 1, 2028. Cities can also impose a tax, with the total combined county and city rate not exceeding 0.3%. Depending on how the tax is adopted, either one-third or all of the revenue must be used for purposes such as criminal justice, fire protection, community protection, or public safety, including behavioral health and diversion programs. The bill also specifies how these tax revenues are shared between local governments.

Maddy summarySB 5727 requires large utilities (with over 100,000 customers) in Washington to create incentive programs for homeowners to install grid-connected residential battery storage systems. It mandates that at least 40% of incentives target low- and moderate-income households, with programs including either time-of-use electricity rates or integration into utility-run virtual power plants. The bill specifies that incentives must lower customers' annual energy costs and prohibits data sales beyond program operations. It aims to increase grid resilience during outages while supporting clean energy goals through utility-administered programs.

Maddy summarySB 5345 requires Washington employers to provide current and former employees with access to their personnel files within 21 days of a request, including records like performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and payroll information. Employees can request corrections to inaccurate information in their files, and employers must remove verified errors or include the employee's rebuttal. The bill creates a private right to sue employers for violations, with statutory damages ranging from $250 to $1,000 per violation depending on delays (e.g., $250 for missing the 21-day deadline), and mandates a 5-day notice period before filing a lawsuit. It applies to all employers covered by Washington's personnel record laws and does not override existing privacy statutes.