Rep. Liz Berry
The Timeline: Before Berry, Before the Marriage, Before the Chairmanship
The SEIU 775 relationship with Summit Strategy predates Berry's political career, her marriage, and her committee chairmanship. Federal LM-2 filings from the U.S. Department of Labor show that SEIU 775 began paying Summit Strategy in 2017 — three years before Berry ran for office and two years before she married Michael Hill.
| Year | SEIU 775 → Summit Strategy (LM-2) | Berry's F1 Discloses SEIU? | Berry's Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $11,750 | N/A | ED of WASAJ ($200K-$500K). Not married to Hill. |
| 2018 | $20,430 | N/A | Still at WASAJ. Not married. |
| 2019 | $34,265 (two payments: $11,750 Political Activities + $22,515 Representational) | N/A | Marries Michael Hill, fall 2019. |
| 2020 | No payment found | No | Runs for office. Files first F1. Summit listed at $60K-$100K. No SEIU. |
| 2021 | $5,738 | No | First year in office. SEIU payment not disclosed on F1. |
| 2022 | No payment found | No | Becomes committee chair (December 2022). |
| 2023 | $19,125 | Yes (first disclosure) | First year SEIU appears on F1 business payments. |
| 2024 | $63,213 | Yes | Payments more than triple. |
| 2025 | $15,525 | Yes | Year in progress. |
Total LM-2 payments to Summit Strategy: ~$170,000 (2017–2025).
Three patterns emerge from this timeline:
The relationship predates Berry's political career. Michael Hill's company was receiving SEIU money for at least two years before Berry married him and three years before she ran for office. Berry entered a household with a pre-existing financial relationship with the union whose legislative agenda she would later oversee.
The payment gaps align with Berry's political milestones. SEIU 775 paid Summit Strategy every year from 2017 through 2019. Payments stopped in 2020, the year Berry ran for office and filed her first F1. They resumed at a fraction of prior levels in 2021 ($5,738), stopped again in 2022 (the year she became committee chair), and came back at $19,125 in 2023, tripling to $63,213 in 2024. We do not know whether these gaps are coincidental.
The 2021 payment was not disclosed. SEIU 775's LM-2 for fiscal year 2021 reports $5,738 in payments to Summit Strategy under "Representational Activities." Berry's 2021 F1 filing lists Summit Strategy as a business association but does not list SEIU 775 as a business payment. This is the first year Berry was in office and married to Hill. The F1 requires disclosure of payments received by entities in which the filer or immediate family holds a 10% or greater interest. Whether the omission reflects a good-faith interpretation of disclosure requirements or a failure to report is a question for the PDC.
The SEIU Money Loop
This is the sharpest documented finding. Three steps, each verified from separate public sources:
The LM-2 / F1 Discrepancy
SEIU 775's federal LM-2 labor disclosure (filed with the U.S. Department of Labor) reports payments to Summit Strategy under "Digital Strategy." The F1 financial disclosure (filed with the WA PDC) reports Summit Strategy income under the spouse's name, not Berry's, classifying it as "Digital Strategy" performed by the spouse. This creates a documentation asymmetry:
- LM-2: SEIU 775 reports $19,125 (2023) and $63,213 (2024) in itemized payments to Summit Strategy on federal LM-2 filings, totaling $82,338 for those two years. Including prior years (2017–2021), total LM-2 payments exceed $170,000
- F1: Summit Strategy income reported in the $30K–$59K spouse income range — below the LM-2 figure and under the spouse's name rather than Berry's
- Business associations: The F1 lists Summit Strategy as 100% owned by "filer and spouse" (both Berry and Hill)
If Summit Strategy is 100% jointly owned, the income should flow to both Berry and her spouse, not exclusively to the spouse. The routing of SEIU income through the spouse's income line is a disclosure question worth examining.
The Ownership Question
Berry's F1 filings consistently describe Summit Strategy LLC as "100% owned by filer and spouse." The Washington Secretary of State's Corporations and Charities Filing System tells a different story.
Summit Strategy LLC (UBI 603 173 950) was formed on January 17, 2012 by Michael Hill. The SOS filing lists Michael Hill as the sole governor (managing member) and sole registered agent. Berry is not listed as a governor, member, or officer at the state level. The entity was formed seven years before Berry married Hill.
These two public records — the F1 claiming 100% joint ownership and the SOS filing listing Hill as sole governor — describe the same company differently. Either the SOS filing was never updated to reflect Berry's membership interest, or the F1's characterization of joint ownership is imprecise. The distinction matters: if Summit Strategy is formally Hill's company, the SEIU payments flow to the spouse's business, not the legislator's. If it is jointly owned as the F1 states, Berry has a direct financial interest in every dollar SEIU pays.
Source: Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Filing System, UBI 603 173 950. Accessed April 18, 2026.
The Legislative Nexus — What Berry's Committee Did for SEIU 775
The following SEIU 775 legislative priorities either originated in or passed through Berry's Labor & Workplace Standards Committee during her chairmanship (2023–present):
| Bill | Description | SEIU Priority? | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 1435 | Home Care Safety Net Assessment — directed DOH to evaluate feasibility of home care assessment to increase federal Medicaid funding for home care | Yes — named priority | 2023 |
| HB 1570 | First-in-nation UI and PFML access for 35,000 rideshare workers (Berry prime sponsor) | Labor/worker expansion | 2023 |
| HB 1395 | "Let Us Work" — streamlines background checks to get caregivers into home care jobs faster (signed May 12, 2025) | Yes — named win | 2025 |
| SB 5041 | UI for striking workers — allows workers to access unemployment benefits after 2 weeks on strike (signed 2025) | Yes — named priority and win | 2025 |
| HB 1213 | Strengthened access to Paid Family and Medical Leave | Yes — named win | 2025 |
| Home Care Rate (budget) | $762M for home care wages and benefits (2023); fully funded 2025–27 rate including agency parity and administrative rate increases | Yes — primary legislative objective | 2023 & 2025 |
SEIU 775's annual lobbying expenditure in Washington runs approximately $17,000–$18,000 per month per lead lobbyist (PDC dataset 9nnw-c693, current session). The union maintains 8+ registered lobbyist slots in Olympia. Its highest legislative priority — funding the home care Medicaid reimbursement rate that determines what it can bargain for its 60,000 members — requires annual legislative approval. The chair of the committee processing that agenda receives income from the union through a jointly-owned consulting company.
Before the Legislature
Berry's 2020 F1 — her first, filed as a candidate — discloses personal income of $200,000–$499,999 as Executive Director of the Washington State Association for Justice (WASAJ), the trial lawyers' lobby. She held this role from 2016 to 2020. WASAJ is one of the most politically influential organizations in the state.
When Berry entered the legislature in January 2021, the household went from roughly $260K–$600K total income to $60K–$160K. Berry took a pay cut of at least $140,000 to become a representative. This context is relevant because the timing of a new revenue stream from SEIU 775 — beginning in 2023, the year after Berry became committee chair — coincides with a period when the household's non-real-estate income had declined substantially.
The Commercial Real Estate Portfolio
Berry's spouse, Michael Hill, operates a substantial commercial real estate portfolio through a series of LLCs all registered at PO Box 700, Mercer Island, WA 98040. The 2025 F1 (most recent) discloses 17 commercial real estate entities plus the primary residence. All described as "Commercial Real Estate Company."
| Entity | Ownership | Disclosed Asset Value | Annual Income (2025) | Notable Tenants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Investment Company LLC | Spouse | $1,000,000+ | $500K–$749K | Parent company |
| H-P Properties LLC | Spouse (16%) | $1,000,000+ | $200K–$499K | Blue Origin LLC, Sara Lee, Infinity Air, Bamboo Depot |
| H-P Properties/Alderwood LLC | Spouse (16%) | $1,000,000+ | $200K–$499K | H-Mart |
| Hill Family I LLC | Spouse (15%) | $1,000,000+ | $100K–$199K | Waxie Sanitary Supply, Yita LLC |
| Hill Family II LLC | Spouse (15%) | $1,000,000+ | $100K–$199K | MOR Furniture (Super Stores of America) |
| Hill Family III LLC | Spouse (15%) | $1,000,000+ | $100K–$199K | Schlage Lock, Therapeutic Associates, Providence Classical Christian School |
| Hill Family V LLC | Spouse (15%) | $1,000,000+ | $100K–$199K | T-Mobile West LLC |
| HRIC 3 LLC | Spouse | $1,000,000+ | $60K–$99K | — |
| Hill Andover LLC | Spouse | $1,000,000+ | $60K–$99K | — |
| H-P Properties/3A LLC | Spouse (16%) | $1,000,000+ | $60K–$99K | Wismettac Asian Foods, Apex Freight |
| 1201 Building LLC | Spouse (15%) | $1,000,000+ | $60K–$99K | Summit Strategy LLC (Berry's own company) |
| Hill Raaum Investment Company | Spouse | $1,000,000+ | $0–$29K | — |
| Hill Family IV LLC | Spouse (15%) | $1,000,000+ | $0–$29K | Patterson Logistics Services |
| H-P Properties/Issaquah LLC | Spouse (16%) | $1,000,000+ | $30K–$59K | Best Buy Stores LP |
| HRIC 2 LLC | Spouse | $750K–$999K | $30K–$59K | — |
| HIC I LLC | Spouse | $500K–$749K | $0–$29K | — |
| HRIC I LLC | Spouse | $200K–$499K | $0–$29K | — |
| Primary residence (Seattle) | Filer + spouse | $1,000,000+ | — | Address exempt from disclosure |
Portfolio Valuation Estimate
Disclosed minimum (floor): 14 entities at $1M+ minimum + HRIC 2 ($750K) + HIC I ($500K) + HRIC I ($200K) + primary residence ($1M+) = $16.45 million. This is a hard floor; the actual values are almost certainly substantially higher given the tenant roster.
Income capitalization estimate: Annual income from the LLCs ranges from $1.6M–$3.1M. At typical Seattle-area commercial real estate cap rates of 5–7%, the implied total portfolio value is $22M–$62M. These are industrial and commercial properties in King and Snohomish Counties with anchor corporate tenants.
Income Summary (2025 F1)
| Who | Source | Role | Disclosed Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filer | WA House of Representatives | State Representative | $30K–$59K |
| Filer + Spouse | Summit Strategy LLC | 100% owners | Income not separately itemized; SEIU 775 LM-2 reports $170K+ in payments |
| Spouse | Summit Strategy LLC (reported as spouse income) | Digital Strategy | $30K–$59K (F1 range) |
| Spouse | Hill Investment Company LLC | Commercial Real Estate | $500K–$749K |
| Spouse | H-P Properties LLC + subsidiaries | Commercial Real Estate (16%) | $490K–$756K combined |
| Spouse | Hill Family I–V LLC | Commercial Real Estate (15%) | $300K–$725K combined |
| Spouse | 1201 Building LLC + HRIC entities | Commercial Real Estate (15%) | $180K–$345K combined |
| Filer + Spouse | Stock portfolio | Apple Inc. ($1M+), Amazon ($750K–$999K), Microsoft, Costco, others | $2M+ |
The Stock Portfolio — A Separate Layer
The spouse's personal stock portfolio is substantial and includes companies with active legislative interests in Washington:
| Ticker | Company | 2025 Value | WA Legislative Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | Apple Inc. | $1,000,000+ | Tech regulation, data privacy, app store legislation |
| AMZN | Amazon.com Inc. | $750K–$999K | Data center regulation, labor standards, warehouse worker bills (Berry prime sponsored HB 1762 on warehouse worker quotas) |
| MSFT | Microsoft Corp. | $200K–$499K | Tech regulation, data privacy |
| COST | Costco Wholesale | $100K–$199K | Retail regulation, labor standards |
| VTSAX | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index | $500K–$749K | Broad market exposure |
The Income Anomaly
Summit Strategy's reported income on Berry's F1 filings dropped from $60K–$100K (2020, 2021, 2022) to $30K–$60K (2023, 2024, 2025) at the exact moment SEIU 775 came on as a disclosed client adding $19K–$63K per year in new payments. If a new client is adding significant revenue, total income should increase, not decrease. Either other clients left simultaneously, the income range reflects an accounting distinction (net vs. gross, fiscal year mismatch), or the reported range understates actual receipts. This anomaly has not been explained.
What Has Not Been Reported
A review of InvestigateWest, Washington State Standard, Seattle Times, KUOW, The Stranger, and Crosscut finds no prior reporting connecting:
- The SEIU 775 → Summit Strategy → 1201 Building LLC money loop
- The LM-2/F1 discrepancy on the Summit Strategy income amount ($170K+ vs $30K–$59K range) and attribution (joint ownership reported as spouse income only)
- Berry's committee chairmanship and SEIU 775's legislative wins in the same sessions
- The $1.6M–$3.1M annual commercial real estate income from corporate tenants affected by state law
- The Amazon stock position alongside HB 1762
- The Blue Origin tenancy in the H-P Properties commercial portfolio
Additionally, to our knowledge, no outlet has reported:
- That SEIU 775's payments to Summit Strategy began in 2017, predating Berry's marriage to Hill and her legislative career
- That the 2021 LM-2 shows a $5,738 payment to Summit Strategy that does not appear on Berry's F1 for that year
- That SEIU payments stopped in 2020 (Berry's candidate year) and 2022 (pre-chairmanship year), resuming each time after the political milestone passed
- That the WA Secretary of State filing lists Michael Hill as sole governor of Summit Strategy, while Berry's F1 claims 100% joint ownership
- That Summit Strategy's reported income dropped from $60K–$100K to $30K–$60K at the same time SEIU added $19K–$63K in annual payments
Additionally, to our knowledge, no outlet has reported:
- That SEIU 775's payments to Summit Strategy began in 2017, predating Berry's marriage to Hill and her legislative career
- That the 2021 LM-2 shows a $5,738 payment to Summit Strategy that does not appear on Berry's F1 for that year
- That SEIU payments stopped in 2020 (Berry's candidate year) and 2022 (pre-chairmanship year), resuming each time after the political milestone passed
- That the WA Secretary of State filing lists Michael Hill as sole governor of Summit Strategy, while Berry's F1 claims 100% joint ownership
- That Summit Strategy's reported income dropped from $60K–$100K to $30K–$60K at the same time SEIU added $19K–$63K in annual payments
Key Questions for Berry
- Does she believe her committee chairmanship creates a conflict with her household's financial relationship with SEIU 775 through Summit Strategy?
- Why is Summit Strategy income reported under her spouse's income line given the F1 discloses 100% joint ownership by "filer and spouse"?
- Has she sought an LEB advisory opinion on the SEIU 775 / Summit Strategy / committee chairmanship overlap?
- Does she recuse from votes on legislation that directly affects Amazon, given the household's Amazon equity position?
- Does she believe the Blue Origin tenancy in the Hill portfolio creates any appearance problem given her votes on aerospace and technology procurement?
- When did Berry acquire an ownership interest in Summit Strategy LLC, and why has the WA Secretary of State filing not been updated to reflect her membership?
- Why were SEIU 775 payments to Summit Strategy not disclosed as business payments on Berry's F1 filings for 2021, despite the LM-2 showing $5,738 in payments that year?
- Is the absence of SEIU payments in 2020 and 2022 coincidental, or were the payment schedules adjusted in awareness of Berry's candidacy and committee appointment?
- How does Summit Strategy's reported income decline from $60K–$100K to $30K–$60K during a period when SEIU added $19K–$63K per year in new payments?
- When did Berry acquire an ownership interest in Summit Strategy LLC, and why has the WA Secretary of State filing not been updated to reflect her membership?
- Why were SEIU 775 payments to Summit Strategy not disclosed as business payments on Berry's F1 filings for 2021, despite the LM-2 showing $5,738 in payments that year?
- Is the absence of SEIU payments in 2020 and 2022 coincidental, or were the payment schedules adjusted in awareness of Berry's candidacy and committee appointment?
- How does Summit Strategy's reported income decline from $60K–$100K to $30K–$60K during a period when SEIU added $19K–$63K per year in new payments?
About This Analysis
Washington operates a citizen legislature under RCW 42.52.330, which recognizes that legislators will maintain outside employment. This analysis does not allege wrongdoing. It documents structural overlaps between financial interests and legislative authority using public records. The F1 disclosure system reports income in ranges, not exact amounts; all figures cited from F1 filings reflect reported ranges. Federal LM-2 figures are exact dollar amounts. Where the two sources describe the same payments differently, both versions are cited. Current law does not require Berry to recuse from legislation affecting SEIU 775; we note that no recusal was filed.
Verification
F1 Disclosure (2025, most recent)
F1 Disclosure (2024)
SEIU 775 lobbyist registrations (PDC)
SEIU 775 lobbying compensation (PDC)
SEIU 775 LM-2 (federal, U.S. Department of Labor)
HB 1762 (warehouse worker quotas, Berry prime sponsor)
HB 1435 (Home Care Safety Net Assessment)
Campaign contributions to Berry
SEIU 775 LM-2 Payer/Payee Search (all years) olmsapps.dol.gov/olpdr → Payer/Payee Search → "Summit Strategy"
Summit Strategy LLC (WA SOS) ccfs.sos.wa.gov → UBI 603 173 950
SEIU 775 LM-2 Payer/Payee Search (all years) olmsapps.dol.gov/olpdr → Payer/Payee Search → "Summit Strategy"
Summit Strategy LLC (WA SOS) ccfs.sos.wa.gov → UBI 603 173 950