Rep. Sam Low

Maddy summaryHB 2137 expands the definition of "uniformed personnel" under Washington state law to include correctional officers working in specific facilities (jails in counties over 70,000 population, correctional facilities under RCW 70.48.095, or detention facilities in counties over 1.5 million population). This change directly affects correctional officers in those facilities by granting them eligibility for interest arbitration - a process where unions and employers negotiate terms like wages and working conditions. The bill amends RCW 41.56.030 to add correctional employees to the existing list of personnel covered under "uniformed personnel," which previously included law enforcement officers, firefighters, and security forces. This is a technical policy change to align correctional officer bargaining rights with other public safety roles.

Maddy summaryHB 2423 requires Washington financial institutions to process retirement account distribution requests within 15 business days of receipt. If they fail to meet this deadline, institutions must pay consumers daily market-rate interest on the delayed funds starting on day 16, plus a $500 statutory damage per violation. The bill applies to Washington consumers with qualified retirement accounts (like 401(k)s or IRAs) and covers institutions like banks and brokerages, excluding federal retirement plans governed by ERISA. It establishes clear timelines, compensation for delays, and allows consumers to sue for unpaid interest or damages through civil court.

Maddy summaryHB 2398 creates a tax credit for Washington small businesses (50 or fewer employees) that provide maritime trade educational assistance to employees working aboard or servicing U.S. flagged vessels. The credit covers 100% of eligible training costs - such as tuition, tools, and maritime certification programs - up to $20,000 per business annually, with unused credits carryable for five years. It applies to both business and occupation taxes (Chapter 82.04 RCW) and public utility taxes (Chapter 82.16 RCW), excluding overlapping credits. The credit expires for claiming on January 1, 2038, and the law ends January 1, 2039. Eligible employees must be enrolled in Washington maritime training programs supporting careers like commercial fishing, marine engineering, or vessel operations.

Maddy summaryHB 2380 requires financial institutions offering mobile or internet banking apps to clearly disclose how they collect, store, or share consumer personal information - beyond what's necessary for essential services - and gives users the right to opt out of non-essential data collection or sharing with third parties. It directly affects consumers using banking apps and the financial institutions providing them, mandating transparent notices about data practices before users access services. Key provisions include requiring opt-out options for non-essential data use (like marketing or third-party sharing) and exempting data collection strictly needed for core banking functions. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Washington's consumer protection law, with potential damages of $7,500 per violation. The bill focuses on concrete disclosure and user control, not on speculative outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets lead limits for aluminum or brass cookware, utensils, and components sold in Washington. Starting January 1, 2026, products may not contain more than 90 parts per million (ppm) of lead, reducing to 10 ppm by January 1, 2030. Manufacturers and retailers must provide test reports proving compliance with safety standards, while exempting pre-2026 items, stainless-steel-encased products, and nonprofit sales. It directly affects producers and sellers of these cookware items within Washington state.

Maddy summaryHB 2276 requires Washington's Department of Health to annually calculate home care agency labor rates (every odd-numbered year) based on negotiated wages, benefits, and employer costs for direct care workers. The bill mandates that these rates fund specific worker compensation items like wages, vacation/sick pay, health benefits, training, and travel time costs - prohibiting duplicate accounting or misuse of funds. Home care agencies must verify proper use through third-party audits or union attestations, with the department establishing transparent processes for exemptions during extraordinary circumstances. This directly affects home care agencies and the direct care workers they employ, ensuring state-funded rates align with actual labor costs and worker protections under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 2377 clarifies the definition of "applicant" to mean a person applying with genuine intent to be considered for employment, directly affecting employers with 15+ staff and job seekers. It adds a 5-day correction window for employers after receiving written notice of a pay transparency violation (for postings through July 2027), preventing penalties if errors are fixed promptly. The bill limits remedies to those with genuine employment interest, reducing opportunities for opportunistic lawsuits while maintaining enforcement for willful or repeated violations. It modifies penalties to $100-$5,000 per violation and makes administrative remedies the exclusive path for enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 2153 prohibits homebuyers from receiving more than one state-funded down payment assistance loan or grant from Washington's housing programs. It directly affects first-time homebuyers who might apply for multiple assistance programs, ensuring they can only accept one offer. The bill amends state law to state that applicants applying for multiple programs (or multiple offers from one program) are eligible for only a single loan or grant. This change aims to fairly distribute limited public funds to more qualified homebuyers instead of concentrating benefits on a single buyer.

Maddy summaryHB 2115 restores a 1985 tax exemption that removes sales tax from transactions involving precious metal bullion (like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) and monetized bullion (coins or money made from precious metals). It directly affects businesses selling these items by exempting the bullion itself from state sales tax, though tax applies only to commissions earned on transactions. The bill defines "precious metal bullion" as refined metals (not items like jewelry) and excludes such sales from tax calculations under Washington’s tax code. It applies retroactively from January 1, 2026, to correct a 2025 repeal of the original exemption.

Maddy summaryHB 2121 exempts nonprofits and schools from paying state sales and use taxes on specific services they purchase, such as repairs, cleaning, installation, and maintenance. The bill amends Washington's tax code (RCW 82.04.050) to clarify that these entities are not subject to tax on qualifying services used for their operations. This directly affects organizations like schools, charities, and community groups that previously paid tax on services like building repairs or landscaping. The policy change creates a clear exemption by updating tax definitions to exclude these services for eligible nonprofits and schools.