HB 2728 requires Washington employers with 15+ employees to disclose wage ranges and benefits in all job postings, aiming to prevent frivolous lawsuits over minor posting errors. It creates a 5-business-day "notice and cure" period where employers can fix violations before job applicants can file lawsuits, and sets statutory damages at $100-$5,000 per violation (considering factors like willfulness and employer size). The bill applies to all pending cases without final judgments as of its effective date, using the 2025 statutory framework for remedies. It sunsetts on July 27, 2027, and targets abusive litigation over technical compliance issues rather than consumer protection.
SB 6348 codifies Washington’s voluntary tax disclosure program and creates a temporary tax amnesty period. It allows businesses and individuals with unpaid state taxes (like sales, use, or business taxes) due before July 1, 2026, to avoid penalties and interest by filing all required returns and paying in full by October 1, 2026. To qualify, applicants must disclose all tax activity, have no fraud history, and not have been contacted by the department recently. The program excludes those with evasion penalties, criminal tax cases, or bankruptcy proceedings, and waives penalties only for taxes paid as required by the bill.
HB 2726 would allow Washington state parks districts to propose a new 0.2% sales tax to voters for park and recreation improvements. If approved by voters, the tax would fund parks, trails, athletic fields, and facility maintenance, with revenues limited to 10 years (extendable with new voter approval or up to 20 years if dedicated to debt repayment). The tax would apply to taxable purchases under state law and must be collected in addition to existing taxes. Voters in affected communities would decide whether to implement this local tax increase.
HB 2724 proposes a new tax on Washington residents with annual adjusted gross income of $1 million or more, affecting approximately the top 0.5% of households. The tax revenue would be deposited into the state general fund to support K-12 education, health care, higher education, human services, and the working families' tax credit. Key provisions include exempting sales of family-owned small businesses and real property from the tax, aligning the state definition of taxable income with federal rules (modified for state purposes), and reducing other taxes like sales tax on essential items. The bill aims to make the state tax system less regressive by shifting more burden to high earners while maintaining current tax rates for lower-income residents.
SB 6350 allows Washington residents enrolled in a federally recognized tribe to voluntarily add a tribal designation to their driver's license, identicard, or driver's instruction permit. The bill requires the Department of Licensing to create a process for verifying tribal enrollment documentation and include this option alongside existing features like veteran status or medical alerts. This designation is optional, does not affect fees, and applies to all state-issued IDs for eligible individuals who choose to provide the necessary tribal enrollment proof. The department must consult with tribes during implementation and educate the public about this new option.
HB 2725 reverts Washington state's estate tax rates to levels in effect before July 1, 2025, by amending RCW 83.100.040. It directly affects Washington residents with taxable estates exceeding $1 million, as it reduces tax rates for estates valued between $1 million and $9 million. The bill changes the tax brackets - for example, lowering the top rate from 35% to 20% for estates over $9 million - based on the decedent's death date. This policy change applies to estates of decedents dying on or after specific dates in 2025 and 2026, undoing recent increases enacted in 2025.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to make written documents about legislative discussions on bills publicly accessible for inspection and copying. It would require that internal legislative deliberations regarding bills being considered or introduced be available to the public, while also protecting legislators from liability for words spoken in debate or for the contents of these documents. The amendment would need voter approval at the next general election to take effect. This change directly affects how legislative staff and members handle internal communications about bills, increasing public transparency around the lawmaking process.
HB 2723 modifies Washington State's tax code by eliminating outdated tax exemptions, specifically targeting 786 existing exemptions that the legislature states have not been updated for a long time and were secured through private interests. The bill directly affects businesses currently benefiting from tax exemptions on machinery and equipment used in manufacturing, testing, or research operations, including gas distribution businesses that will lose their exemption for natural gas production equipment after July 1, 2027. Key provisions include amending tax codes to restrict exemptions for machinery/equipment to specific qualifying uses, requiring documentation for claims, and ending remittance programs for gas businesses starting in 2027. The goal is to increase revenue for the state general fund to support essential services by modernizing the tax code.
HB 2528 standardizes how cities and counties under Washington’s Growth Management Act can impose a 0.25% real estate sales tax to fund capital projects. It requires tax revenue to be used exclusively for specific infrastructure like roads, parks, airports, and affordable housing projects, with limits on how much can fund homelessness housing (capped at 25% of funds or $100,000, whichever is greater). Cities must identify these projects in their budget and may need voter approval for new taxes, while ensuring funds align with comprehensive planning requirements. The bill updates existing law to create uniform rules across jurisdictions, replacing inconsistent local approaches.
HB 2257 is a technical correction bill that updates Washington State's tax code to improve clarity and administrative efficiency for the Department of Revenue. It amends multiple tax statutes (including definitions for "tobacco product," "vapor product," and "retail sale") to resolve ambiguities and streamline tax administration without changing tax rates or creating new revenue impacts. The bill directly affects businesses and individuals interacting with Washington's tax system, particularly those handling retail sales, tobacco products, or cannabis-related transactions. It focuses on fixing outdated language and ensuring consistent application of existing tax laws.
HB 2586 modifies eligibility for Washington's College Grant program by automatically qualifying students already enrolled in the Passport to Careers program. It amends RCW 28B.92.200 to add Passport to Careers eligibility as a pathway for College Grant access starting in the 2026-27 academic year. This change directly affects Washington students participating in the Passport to Careers initiative, removing the need for separate financial eligibility assessments. The bill streamlines access to college grant funding without altering the Passport to Careers program's structure or funding levels.
SB 6312 bans grocery stores from using personal data - like shopping habits, location, or inferred traits - to charge different prices to individual shoppers (surveillance-based price discrimination) or raise prices during high demand (surge pricing). It specifically targets large grocery retailers (excluding small businesses under state law) and requires all prices to be clearly posted and consistent for all customers. The bill also imposes a four-year moratorium on electronic shelf label systems that collect consumer data to modify prices, to study impacts on transparency and jobs. This law aims to ensure fair pricing by preventing retailers from exploiting personal information for dynamic pricing.
