Sen. Matt Boehnke

Maddy summarySB 6088 requires publicly owned game farms (like those operated by Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife) to obtain permits under the state's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) program, which they were previously exempt from. This applies specifically to facilities raising pheasants or similar game birds, now explicitly included in CAFO regulations. The bill mandates these public facilities to implement manure management plans with runoff controls, dead animal protocols, and groundwater monitoring to prevent nitrate pollution in drinking water wells. It directly affects state-run game farms by aligning their environmental regulations with private agricultural operations to protect public water quality.

Maddy summaryWashington State bill SB 6057 creates a system to identify and recover Medicaid premiums paid for residents who are concurrently enrolled in Medicaid in multiple states. It requires the Medicaid agency to verify addresses using USPS data and manage enrollment changes, then direct recovered funds into a dedicated STEM education account. These funds, deposited into the account after state appropriation, must be used exclusively for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs. The bill directly affects Medicaid administration and state funding for STEM education, with no specific beneficiary groups defined beyond the account's purpose.

Maddy summarySB 5991 modifies Washington's Clean Energy Transformation Act to allow electric utilities to count electricity from natural gas power plants using carbon capture, utilization, mineralization, or sequestration (CCUS) technology toward the state's 2030 and 2045 clean energy goals. This directly affects utilities and natural gas plant operators by expanding eligible resources to include gas generation paired with CCUS, which captures carbon emissions before they enter the atmosphere. The bill clarifies that such projects qualify as "nonemitting" under existing law, addressing reliability concerns during extreme weather events when renewable sources like wind and hydro are low. It aims to support grid stability while advancing Washington's 2050 net-zero emissions target, without changing the state's overall renewable energy requirements.

Maddy summarySB 5856 exempts emissions from lubricants (like motor oil or industrial grease) from Washington's cap-and-invest program, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions from large polluters. This means companies using lubricants will no longer need to account for emissions from these products when calculating their total emissions under the program. The bill amends the definition of "covered entities" in the cap-and-invest law to exclude lubricant-related emissions from the 25,000 metric ton annual threshold that triggers regulatory coverage. It directly affects businesses that use or produce lubricants, such as manufacturing facilities, automotive services, or industrial operations. The change simplifies compliance for these entities by removing a specific emissions source from the program's requirements.

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 summaryThis bill requires all Washington public K-12 schools to maintain an accessible pulse oximeter for asthma or anaphylaxis emergencies and implement protocols for student self-administration of asthma/anaphylaxis medication. Schools must provide staff training on monitoring symptoms, grant student authorization for self-administering prescribed medication (subject to specific conditions like health provider approval and student demonstration of skill), and store backup medication and emergency plans on-site. It also grants immunity from civil liability for school staff using pulse oximeters in emergencies, unless gross negligence occurs. The policy directly affects school districts, staff, and students with asthma or anaphylaxis requiring medication during school hours or events.

Maddy summaryWashington's SJM 8011 is a state application requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V. It seeks amendments to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and Congress members. The bill explicitly prohibits the convention from considering changes to the Bill of Rights and specifies that Congress may only perform a ministerial duty to call the convention once two-thirds of states apply for the same purpose. This is a procedural request by Washington state to initiate a process for potential constitutional amendments, not a law itself.

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 5675 exempts qualifying manufacturing facilities and certified green manufacturing facilities from Washington's business and occupation tax. A "green manufacturing facility" must be certified by a state or nationally recognized organization for sustainability, while a "manufacturing facility" follows standard definitions under state law. The exemption applies directly to eligible businesses meeting these criteria and expires January 1, 2036. This policy change reduces tax obligations for qualifying manufacturers without altering broader tax structures.