Washington in Focus

(The Center Square) – Seattle officials are weighing new progressive taxes as debate swirls over whether they would help or hurt the city’s already slumping revenue streams. On April 16, Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced that she is exploring progressive taxes that would make the city’s wealthiest residents pay more amid an anticipated $241.5 million drop in revenue over the next two years. The city previously closed a $250 million general fund gap for 2025-2026 using staffing cuts and its payroll tax. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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(The Center Square) – Despite overwhelming support, the Spokane City Council voted Monday against reinstating a public camping ban after the Washington State Supreme Court invalidated the law last week. The high court said Proposition 1, which 75% of voters approved in 2023, should have never been on the ballot. The justices ruled that the initiative was administrative, not legislative, as required by state law, because it altered an existing policy rather than creating a new one. 

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(The Center Square) – With the session winding down, the House Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced three tax bills out of executive session, giving them a do-pass recommendation. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5794 aims to eliminate certain tax preferences, address changes in constitutional law, and clarify legislative intent. It proposes to eliminate some tax incentives deemed “obsolete” by the tax preference performance review process, including those affecting transportation, storage, and processing of goods, and packing of agricultural products. 

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(The Center Square) – Seattle officials are weighing new progressive taxes as debate swirls over whether they would help or hurt the city’s already slumping revenue streams. On April 16, Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced that she is exploring progressive taxes that would make the city’s wealthiest residents pay more amid an anticipated $241.5 million drop in revenue over the next two years. The city previously closed a $250 million general fund gap for 2025-2026 using staffing cuts and its payroll tax. 

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(The Center Square) – The Washington State Senate on Friday approved Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1296, one of this session’s most controversial and divisive pieces of legislation, on a 30-19 party-line vote. Majority party Democrats contend the bill will provide safeguards for K-12 students. Minority Republicans worry it could penalize schools and infringe on parental rights by undermining Initiative 2081, which lawmakers passed last year. I-2081 primarily focuses on providing parents with increased access to their child's school records, the right to review educational materials, and the ability to opt their child out of certain activities and instruction. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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(The Center Square) – The Washington State Senate has passed a bill previously approved by the House of Representatives that would prohibit governors of other states from sending their National Guard into Washington without permission from the governor, a policy that has had some critics scratching their heads as to its relevance. “There's no reason for this bill because I believe that federal law already preamps this,” Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Centralia, told colleagues on the Senate floor prior to the April 10 vote. “In other words, another governor is not going to send in their National Guard to another state.” 

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(The Center Square) – Seattle is bracing for major spending cuts after a new revenue forecast shows revenues over the next two years, not including grants and transfers, are expected to be $241.5 million less than previously thought. That's under Thursday's "pessimistic" forecast the Seattle Economic and Revenue Forecast Council now considers more likely than its baseline forecast – a rare shift for the city – due to global economic uncertainty. The April pessimistic forecast anticipates a total 2025-26 general fund revenue decrease of $50.4 million, excluding grants and transfers. 

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(The Center Square) – The Washington State Legislature passed a bill on Wednesday that could offer significant relief to people drowning in medical debt, but critics warn it may drive up costs for everyone. Assuming Gov. Bob Ferguson signs Senate Bill 5480, the law will prohibit healthcare providers and collection agencies from reporting medical debt to credit firms. The vote opens the door for many individuals to secure housing, but not without raising concerns about unintended consequences. 

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(The Center Square) – The Washington State Senate on Thursday approved a 10% cap plus the consumer price index on annual rent increases, drastically changing a House of Representatives version of the bill that had a 7% cap. Following more than 90 minutes of floor debate, Engrossed House Bill 1217 passed on a 29-20 vote. Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, sponsored the amendment to increase the rent cap to 10%. The amendment narrowly passed, 25-24. EHB 1217, one of the most controversial pieces of legislation introduced this session, now heads back to the House for approval of the changes made by the Senate.

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(The Center Square) – The Senate Ways & Means Committee voted to advance a bill revising Washington state’s Clean Fuel Standard law amid concerns among critics who warn that the expedited schedule could jack up state gas prices even higher. “The more aggressive schedule that this bill would impose would add another 40 cents by 2031,” Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, told the committee prior to Monday's vote on Second Substitute House Bill 1409. “We’re not even sure where this new clean fuel is coming from or whether we can manufacture it or not.” 

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