Sen. Jeff Holy

Maddy summarySB 5850 protects citizens participating in Washington's initiative and referendum process by making it illegal to pay for signatures, intimidate voters, or destroy petitions. It creates new penalties, including gross misdemeanors for offering money based on signature counts and class C felonies for altering or destroying signed petitions. The bill directly affects individuals gathering signatures for ballot measures and organizers seeking to manipulate the process. These changes aim to prevent corruption and ensure free participation in direct democracy, without altering existing campaign finance reporting rules.

Maddy summarySB 5851 adds a voluntary $1 or more donation option during Washington state vessel registration (initial or renewal) to fund salmon preservation efforts. The donations, collected by the Department of Licensing, are deposited into a dedicated "sea lion predation control account" in the state treasury. Funds from this account can only be spent - after legislative appropriation - to manage sea lion populations in the lower Columbia River, aiming to reduce their predation on salmon. This bill directly affects boat owners at registration time and creates a new funding mechanism for salmon conservation, separate from existing state agency budgets.

Maddy summarySB 5854 modifies Washington state procedures for releasing sexually violent predators from secure facilities to community-based treatment settings. It requires courts to consider "fair share principles" before approving such releases, meaning counties must have adequate local placement options proportional to their population of committed individuals. The bill also gives counties the authority to reject placements from other counties if the proposed location violates these fair share requirements. This applies to individuals committed under Washington’s sexually violent predator laws and aims to balance the geographic burden of community placements. The bill does not change release criteria for individuals but alters the administrative process for where they may be placed.

Maddy summarySB 5026 redirects a growing portion of Washington’s vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation funding. Starting in 2026, 16.66% of tax revenue from all new and used vehicle sales (including private-party sales) will fund transportation, increasing by 16.66% each year until 2031, when 100% will be dedicated to this purpose. The bill excludes certain vehicles like farm tractors, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and bicycles from this tax allocation. This policy change affects all vehicle buyers and sellers in Washington, with the tax revenue directly supporting transportation infrastructure projects.

Maddy summarySB 5442 establishes a college promise pilot program in 10 eastern Washington counties (east of the Cascade Mountains) to help students afford postsecondary education. It provides eligible students with up to $5,000 annually for tuition and fees at local institutions, apprenticeships, or credential programs, targeting those graduating from region high schools, meeting income limits (≤150% of state median family income), and participating in mentoring programs. The program is funded through private contributions matched dollar-for-dollar by state funds ($500,000 for 2026, $1,000,000 for 2027), with a separate high school component offering full two-year community college tuition at three selected schools. The pilot program expires August 1, 2029, and requires annual reporting on student outcomes like degree completion and transfers.

Maddy summarySB 5198 allows drivers who accumulate three or more moving traffic violations within one year (or four within two years) to avoid a 60-day license suspension by completing a safe driving course before the suspension period ends. If the course is completed, the suspension is canceled early, and the driver faces a one-year probation period instead. During probation, any new moving violation adds 30 consecutive days to the suspension, and drivers who complete the course won’t pay the standard $75 reissue fee upon reinstatement. The bill specifically applies to drivers with multiple moving violations but does not affect other suspension types like DUI or child support-related suspensions.

Maddy summarySB 5566 increases penalties for assaulting certain public safety personnel, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, transit workers, school bus drivers, healthcare providers, and court staff while they are performing their duties. It reclassifies assault against law enforcement from a class C felony to a class B felony (a more serious charge) and adds a mandatory minimum 180-day prison sentence for such assaults committed during riots. The bill also expands protections to include assaults against healthcare providers, transit operators, and court personnel under specific duty-related circumstances. These changes apply to anyone who physically harms these workers while they are on duty, with no additional policy implications or outcomes speculated.

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 5285 would allow Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers. Jurisdictions must use the revenue solely for hiring officers unless their current officer-to-population ratio exceeds the national average (calculated using FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data), in which case funds can support broader criminal justice programs like domestic violence services or homelessness initiatives. The bill targets Washington's high violent crime rates and low officer staffing - ranking last in the nation for officers per capita - by creating a dedicated funding stream for local law enforcement expansion. It requires jurisdictions to report staffing data annually and mandates that tax revenue directly supports law enforcement employment.

Maddy summarySB 5619 requires Washington's public universities to enroll at least 75% Washington resident students in fall freshman programs each year. This applies to all state universities, regional universities, and the state college, with the exception that institutions may admit more non-residents if not enough qualified Washington residents apply. The bill defines "academically qualified" as meeting the institution's published admissions standards and specifies "resident" using existing state definitions. Its goal is to ensure public higher education institutions prioritize access for Washington residents, aligning with the legislature's intent to support the state's workforce needs.