Budget & Taxes

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5221: Simplifying processes and timelines related to personal property distraint.

SB 5221 simplifies processes and timelines for county treasurers collecting delinquent personal property taxes, primarily affecting owners of personal property, including mobile and manufactured homes. The bill modifies rules for distraint sales, including how excess funds are distributed and clarifying the timeline for distraining certain mobile homes. It also allows county treasurers to waive outstanding interest and penalties on delinquent taxes for income-qualified mobile or manufactured home owners who meet specific conditions. Additionally, it permits electronic public auctions for distraint sales and clarifies when taxes may be canceled as uncollectible.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief for income-qualified mobile home owners by waiving interest/penalties on delinquent taxes, aligning with tax relief for lower income.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Washington · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1261: Providing tax relief for certain incidental uses on open space land.

House Bill 1261 provides tax relief for landowners by clarifying the types of incidental uses permitted on properties classified as "farm and agricultural land." The bill amends existing law to remove the previous 20% limit on incidental uses and the requirement that these uses must be compatible with agricultural purposes. This change allows property owners to have a broader range of incidental activities and necessary structures on their agricultural land while maintaining their open space tax classification. This offers greater flexibility for those participating in state open space taxation programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides explicit tax relief for agricultural landowners by removing restrictions on incidental uses, reducing their tax burden per bill summary95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1858: Eliminating the exemption for assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust from the document recording fee and the covenant homeownership program assessment.

House Bill 1858 eliminates a specific exemption from two existing document recording fees for certain real estate transactions. Previously, assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust were exempt from these charges. With this bill, individuals and entities recording these types of documents will now be subject to a $100 covenant homeownership program assessment and an additional $183 document recording surcharge. The collected funds from these fees contribute to various state and local housing initiatives, including affordable housing and homeless housing programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill eliminates exemption for recording fees, imposing $283 in new charges ($100 + $183), generating additional revenue for state funds.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

passed both · Washington · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SJR 8201: Amending the Constitution to allow the state to invest moneys from long-term services and supports accounts.

SJR 8201 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the state to invest moneys from the fund dedicated to long-term care services and supports. This change would directly affect eligible seniors and people with disabilities who receive these services by potentially enhancing the fund's resources. The bill amends Article XXIX, section 1 of the state Constitution to permit the investment of these funds, similar to other public trust funds. Any investment income generated would be specifically dedicated to long-term services and supports for program beneficiaries. This proposed amendment will be submitted to the state's qualified voters for their approval or rejection at the next general election.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows investment of long-term care funds to generate income, strengthening the dedicated program fund through fiscal responsibility.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1341: Concerning the medical cannabis authorization database.

House Bill 1341 amends the existing law concerning Washington State's medical cannabis authorization database. It specifically grants the Liquor and Cannabis Board the ability to access this database to verify excise tax exemptions for medical cannabis. This allows the Board to confirm the eligibility of qualifying patients and their designated providers for tax-exempt purchases. The bill also outlines procedures for patient registration, the issuance and renewal of medical cannabis recognition cards, and the retention of database records.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables tax exemptions for medical cannabis patients, providing direct tax relief to qualifying individuals as part of excise tax verification procedures.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables tax exemptions for medical cannabis patients, improving access to healthcare services by reducing financial barriers for qualifying patients and providers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1060: Concerning newspapers and eligible digital content.

HB 1060 amends Washington state tax law to exempt newspaper publishers and eligible digital content providers from certain taxes. It specifically applies to businesses primarily engaged in printing/publishing newspapers or producing monthly electronic publications with identifiable authorship (e.g., news sites). To maintain the exemption, businesses must file annual tax reports and reduce the exemption by their business expenditures during the tax period. Failure to comply results in a 0.484% tax on related income, plus retroactive interest. The law took effect July 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts newspaper/digital publishers from taxes, providing tax relief through amended tax law per bill summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1094: 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.

HB 1094 creates a property tax exemption for nonprofit organizations that loan, lease, or rent property to government entities (like cities, counties, or state agencies) for character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services - such as youth programs, homeless shelters, or community health initiatives. It directly affects qualifying nonprofits that provide these services and government agencies using their facilities. The key provision expands existing tax exemptions by allowing property used by government for these purposes to be exempt, even if owned by a nonprofit. This policy change aims to reduce costs for nonprofits and governments delivering essential community services, effective July 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates property tax exemption for nonprofits providing social services, reducing tax burden to support public service delivery and fiscal alignment with government programs.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides tax exemption for nonprofits offering rehabilitative social services (e.g., homeless shelters, youth programs), directly supporting criminal justice reform through rehabilitation initiatives.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides property tax exemption for nonprofits leasing to government for homeless shelters and social services, directly supporting affordable housing access and homelessness initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes