Budget & Taxes

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5970: Making the property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers permanent.

SB 5970 makes permanent a 2017 property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers in Washington State. The bill ensures these centers, which provide services like meals and social programs for older adults, will continue to qualify for a property tax break without needing annual legislative renewal. It specifically clarifies that the existing tax preference (created in 2017) is not subject to a general tax code provision (RCW 82.32.805). This change provides long-term financial stability for these community facilities without altering eligibility or creating new requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMakes permanent property tax exemption for senior centers, providing ongoing tax relief for nonprofit services serving vulnerable populations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5828: Concerning the Washington college grant and college bound scholarship program for students attending private four-year not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Washington.

SB 5828 adjusts the maximum Washington College Grant amount for students attending private four-year nonprofit institutions in Washington. Currently capped at $9,739 for 2019-20 (with annual increases limited by tuition growth), the grant will change starting in 2026-27 to equal 50% of the average award given to students at public four-year institutions. This directly affects students enrolled at qualifying private nonprofit colleges in Washington, ensuring their grant amount aligns with public institution funding trends. The bill amends existing grant program rules without altering eligibility for the separate College Bound Scholarship program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdjusts state grant funding formula to align private college support with public institutions' awards, increasing state budget allocation for education.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdjusts grant to align with public institutions' average awards, increasing funding for private nonprofit higher education students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5832: Updating the arbitration fee collected for the new motor vehicle arbitration account.

SB 5832 increases the arbitration fee for new motor vehicle disputes from $3 to $6, collected by dealers or lessors from consumers during vehicle sales or leases. The fee funds the new motor vehicle arbitration account in the state treasury, managed by the Department of Licensing for dispute resolution under this chapter. The bill also requires the Attorney General to annually report on account revenue and expenses. This change directly affects new vehicle dealers, lessors, and consumers purchasing or leasing vehicles in Washington. The bill amends RCW 19.118.110 to update the fee amount and reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state revenue via $3 fee hike for vehicle arbitration, directly funding state treasury account per bill's funding mechanism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5879: Modifying joint legislative audit and review committee work plans to ensure efficient use of staff resources.

This bill amends two existing laws to improve reporting and oversight of public funds. It requires tourism-related applicants (e.g., convention bureaus, nonprofits) to submit travel estimates showing how lodging tax funds will attract visitors traveling 50+ miles or overnight, and mandates annual reports to municipalities on actual visitor numbers. It also directs the joint legislative audit committee to conduct biennial reviews of lodging tax usage and requires detailed annual reports from the employment security department on training benefits program outcomes, including participant demographics, training effectiveness, and wage impacts. These changes aim to ensure transparency and accountability in how tourism and workforce development funds are spent. The bill does not directly affect individual residents but applies to municipalities, tourism organizations, and state agencies managing these programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires detailed reporting and biennial reviews of lodging tax usage to ensure efficient fund allocation, promoting fiscal responsibility through enhanced oversight.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5901: Providing school construction assistance program facilities support for on-base schools.

This bill amends Washington's school construction funding formula to specifically exclude military base school facilities from a district's available space count when calculating state assistance. It directly affects school districts operating schools on military bases, ensuring these facilities don't reduce their eligibility for state construction funds. The key change modifies the funding formula to treat on-base schools separately, potentially increasing their state funding share by not counting these spaces against their capacity. This adjustment aims to better support districts with military-connected students under the state's school construction program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies school funding formula to increase state assistance for military base schools by excluding their facilities from space count, advancing public school construction funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExcludes military base schools from space count, increasing state construction funding eligibility for those districts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5286: Concerning policing costs driven by proximity to state hospitals.

Senate Bill 5286 establishes a community partnership program between the Department of Social and Health Services and the city of Medical Lake to support policing efforts at Eastern State Hospital and adjacent areas. It also formally recognizes and continues an existing partnership with the city of Lakewood for Western State Hospital. The bill mandates annual state funding for these programs, with amounts determined in the biennial budget based on anticipated service levels and costs. Furthermore, it requires the department to collect data from both cities on fund usage and call responses, submitting an annual report to relevant state offices.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual state funding for policing partnerships at state hospitals, ensuring continued fiscal support for public safety services within budget framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5649: Creating a Washington state supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program.

SB 5649 establishes the Washington state supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program to enhance the state's ability to compete in global trade. The bill creates a collaborative process involving state agencies and various supply chain stakeholders to set priorities for infrastructure investments. It also creates a dedicated account in the state treasury to provide grants and revolving loans. These funds are for public ports and federally recognized tribal governments with port operations, to improve ground and maritime transportation and facilities. Projects must align with goals such as economic, safety, or environmental benefits for freight movement, and sustaining international trade.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated treasury account for infrastructure grants/loans, allocating state funds to support supply chain projects and public ports.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds port infrastructure (a transportation component) via grants/loans for public ports and tribal governments, directly advancing transportation infrastructure investment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5697: Providing a property tax exemption for property owned by a qualifying nonprofit organization and loaned, leased, or rented to and used by any government entity to provide character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services.

Senate Bill 5697 expands an existing property tax exemption for qualifying nonprofit organizations in Washington state. It allows these nonprofits to maintain their tax-exempt status even when their property is loaned, leased, or rented to government entities or other nonprofit organizations. This applies specifically when the property is used to provide character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services. The bill also clarifies that selling donated merchandise on such property is considered an exempt use if the proceeds further the organization's purposes, with these changes taking effect for taxes collected in 2026 and later.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax exemption for nonprofits, reducing tax burden on entities delivering social services, aligning with tax relief indicators under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5458: Concerning newspapers and eligible digital content.

Senate Bill 5458 updates tax exemptions for businesses involved in newspaper and digital content publishing. The bill directly affects entities that primarily derive their income from printing or publishing newspapers, or from publishing specific types of digital content. It defines "eligible digital content" as electronic publications issued at least monthly, featuring written content with identified authors or sources. Businesses claiming this tax exemption must file an annual performance report, and the exemption amount may be reduced by certain expenditures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUpdates tax exemptions for newspaper/digital publishers, providing tax relief to qualifying businesses under Budget & Taxes policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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signed · Washington · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 5801: Concerning transportation resources.

SB 5801 amends Washington's fuel tax structure to generate revenue for transportation infrastructure. Starting July 1, 2025, it adds a 6-cent-per-gallon tax on regular fuel and a 3-cent tax on special fuel (with an additional 3-cent tax on special fuel beginning July 1, 2027). The bill also mandates annual 2% increases to regular fuel tax rates starting July 1, 2026, and to special fuel rates starting July 1, 2028. These changes directly affect fuel licensees (businesses selling fuel) and will increase costs for consumers purchasing gasoline or special fuels. The legislation repeals outdated tax provisions and establishes new funding mechanisms to support state transportation system development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds fuel taxes to generate revenue for transportation infrastructure, directly funding public services through increased taxation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly imposes fuel taxes to generate revenue for transportation infrastructure, directly funding road and transit projects per its summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes