Essential information on each bill is below. For more details, click on the bill number – e.g., “SB 5000.” The new page will show the progress of the bill, videos of debate, and the link to send a comment to your legislator about the bill.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1503 seeks to improve digital equity and broadband access in Washington state by amending existing laws and introducing new provisions. It highlights the significance of internet access for modern participation and addresses the challenges faced by residents in obtaining affordable broadband. The legislation promotes collaboration between the Department of Commerce and the Office of Equity to enhance broadband access and digital skills, particularly for underserved populations.
Furthermore, the bill establishes a statewide broadband office responsible for coordinating broadband infrastructure improvements and developing a statewide plan that includes minimum service standards. It mandates the Washington state Office of Equity to submit a comprehensive digital equity plan by December 1, 2027, which will include measurable objectives and collaboration with stakeholders. The bill also creates the Washington digital equity forum to recommend strategies for enhancing digital connectivity, emphasizing public-private partnerships and representation from underserved communities.
This legislation risks undermining the effectiveness and efficiency of Washington’s broadband expansion efforts by shifting critical responsibilities from the Washington State Broadband Office to the Office of Equity—an agency with less technical expertise and infrastructure planning capacity. While digital equity is a worthy goal, placing oversight and outreach in an office not originally designed to manage broadband strategy may lead to duplication of efforts, blurred accountability, and delays in implementation. This bureaucratic reshuffling could hinder progress toward meeting the state’s ambitious broadband access targets, especially for rural and underserved communities that urgently need infrastructure, not more administrative coordination.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1509 represents a step toward supporting families and youth in crisis through early intervention and community-based care. This bill strengthens and expands Family Reconciliation Services (FRS), a voluntary, trauma-informed program designed to help families experiencing conflict stabilize and heal. By requiring the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to contract with local organizations in at least three regions by 2026—and statewide by 2030—it ensures that more families across Washington can access these critical resources. FRS offers services such as mental health referrals, suicide prevention support, parent training, and conflict resolution, all aimed at reducing long-term harm and avoiding more disruptive state interventions.
Importantly, the bill broadens eligibility for FRS to include youth in juvenile detention who are experiencing family conflict and those identified through housing crisis programs, two especially vulnerable populations often overlooked. This holistic approach acknowledges the deep connection between family stability, youth incarceration, and homelessness, and seeks to address root causes early. Furthermore, HB 1509 increases transparency and accountability by requiring more detailed annual reports on service requests and referrals.
Rather than relying solely on the justice or child welfare systems, this bill empowers local organizations that are culturally competent and rooted in their communities to step in and help. It prioritizes prevention, reduces state costs in the long run, and—most importantly—helps to keep families together.
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Health Care
Supporting caregivers who provide complex care services to children with heightened medical needs.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1521 aims to support caregivers and establishes new requirements for payment to those who provide complex care services to children under 18 with heightened medical needs. The bill seeks to improve access to care and reduce the financial burden on families. Starting September 1, 2026, the bill mandates that the health authority must either require or provide payment to home health agencies for complex care services as part of the private duty nursing benefit. The caregivers eligible for this payment must be parents, guardians, family members, or close associates of the child, have completed at least 75 hours of training from an accredited home care agency, and be employed by a licensed home health agency. The services must be delegated by a registered nurse.
Additionally, the bill also stipulates that the authority will recognize specific accrediting organizations for training standards and allows caregivers to change employers without repeating training. The proposed legislation outlines that the home health agency must cover all training costs for caregivers and cannot require reimbursement. The definition of “complex care services” is also provided, detailing the types of care that may be included under this designation. When assessing eligibility for complex care services, only the child’s income will be considered, excluding the income of other household members. The authority is tasked with seeking necessary federal approvals to implement the program and must submit a report by September 1, 2029, evaluating the program’s effectiveness.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1522 aims to enhance the safety and reliability of electric power transmission and distribution in Washington State by establishing a framework for electric utilities to develop and implement wildfire mitigation plans. It mandates that each electrical company file a wildfire mitigation plan with the commission shortly after the bill’s effective date, unless they have already submitted one. Companies are required to update their plans at least every three years and share these updates with relevant state departments and advisory committees. The commission is tasked with reviewing these plans, holding public workshops, and ensuring that the plans balance mitigation costs with the need to reduce wildfire risks.
Additionally, the bill amends existing regulations regarding the fees that public service companies must pay to the commission, adjusting the fee structure for large combination utilities. It introduces new provisions that clarify the commission’s liability concerning the implementation of wildfire mitigation plans and repeals an existing section related to wildfire plan review and revision. The bill also includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.
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Taxes
Providing a sales and use tax exemption for a motor vehicle sold to a tribe or tribal member.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1525 amends existing law to provide a sales and use tax exemption for motor vehicles sold to tribes or tribal members in Washington State. The key change is that the exemption is no longer contingent upon the vehicle being delivered in Indian country; instead, it applies simply if the sale is made to a tribe or tribal member, regardless of their residence. To qualify for the exemption, tribal members must present documentation proving their tax-exempt status, such as a tribal membership card or a certificate of enrollment. The seller is required to retain copies of this documentation for a specified period.
The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and includes a performance statement aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the tax preferences, with a goal of increasing vehicle sales to tribal members by at least 20% by 2034. If this target is met, the legislature intends to consider extending the expiration date of the tax preference, which is currently set for January 1, 2037.
This is simply another ‘virtue signaling bill’. What other groups of people in Washington State does this bill apply to? Please oppose this legislation.