Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1417: Establishing an embodied carbon tax on cigarettes.

HB 1417 imposes a new $0.0015 per cigarette tax based on the carbon emissions from cigarette production ("embodied carbon"), starting October 1, 2025. The tax increases every five years beginning October 2030 by 25% plus the annual inflation rate (measured by CPI), rounded to the nearest cent. This tax applies to cigarette manufacturers or sellers who collect it at the point of sale, with all revenue deposited into the state's general fund. The bill directly affects cigarette producers and retailers by adding this carbon-based tax to existing cigarette excise taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new carbon-based cigarette tax, directing revenue to general fund, increasing state tax revenue and budget resources.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTax on cigarette production carbon emissions incentivizes emission reduction, directly advancing environmental protection through carbon pricing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes State Budget Climate Change

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2046: Creating fairness in Washington's tax by imposing a tax on select financial intangible assets.

HB 2046 imposes a tax of $8 for every $1,000 in market value on Washington residents' financial intangible assets (like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) exceeding $50 million in value. It exempts assets such as private company ownership, pensions, retirement accounts, and the first $50 million of holdings. Revenue from this tax will fund K-12 schools, early learning programs, child care, and higher education through the Education Legacy Trust Account. The bill targets high-value financial investments held by residents while excluding common retirement and private business assets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes targeted tax on high-value financial assets to fund K-12 schools, early learning, and higher education through dedicated trust account, aligning with funding public services and closing tax loopholes for wealthy.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill imposes tax on high-value financial assets to fund K-12 schools, early learning, child care, and higher education via Education Legacy Trust Account.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Early Childhood K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1016: Providing employer tax incentives for the support of veterans and military families.

HB 1016 creates a 20% tax credit for Washington employers hiring qualified veterans or spouses of active-duty military members, up to $3,000 per employee annually. To qualify, employees must work full-time (35+ hours/week) for two consecutive quarters, and employers must claim credits electronically. The credit is capped at $5 million total per fiscal year across both this bill and a related provision, with credits expiring for tax years after 2036. This directly affects employers in Washington who hire eligible military-affiliated workers, aiming to incentivize veteran/military family employment through tax relief.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides employer tax credit (20% up to $3k/employee), capping annual expenditure at $5M, directly offering tax relief under budget/tax policy.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates 20% tax credit for employers hiring veterans/military spouses, directly supporting veteran employment through financial incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Military Families Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1921: Establishing new sources of transportation revenue based on motor vehicle use of public roadways.

HB 1921 establishes a mileage-based road usage fee system to replace declining fuel tax revenue, directly affecting vehicle owners - starting with electric/hybrid vehicles in 2027 and phasing in conventional vehicles based on fuel efficiency by 2035. The bill creates a voluntary program for EVs/hybrids (2027-2029) and a mandatory program for increasingly efficient conventional vehicles (starting 2029), replacing existing registration fees like those in RCW 46.17.323/324. Fees are calculated per mile driven, with privacy protections for location data emphasized as a core requirement. The phased approach aims to maintain current transportation funding levels while adapting to fuel-efficient vehicle adoption.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes new mileage-based tax revenue to replace declining fuel taxes, ensuring sustainable transportation funding without defunding road maintenance programs.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates mileage-based fee system to fund transportation infrastructure, replacing declining fuel tax revenue and directly addressing road usage funding needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Electric Vehicles Transportation Funding Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1895: Establishing a business and occupation tax credit for small business employers providing educational assistance to employees.

HB 1895 creates a tax credit for Washington small businesses (50 or fewer employees) that pay for employees' educational expenses at accredited institutions. The credit covers 100% of costs for tuition, books, and on-campus lodging related to associate degrees, apprenticeships, or technical programs, up to $20,000 per business annually. Businesses must apply through the state department, and unused credits can be carried forward for one year. The credit expires January 1, 2037 for the benefit amount and January 1, 2038 for the entire provision.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for small businesses, reducing their tax burden and incentivizing educational investment, aligning with tax relief and workforce development goals.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credit for employer-funded employee education, expanding workforce development opportunities and enhancing employment standards through skill-building.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Apprenticeships Tags Small Business

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5810: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operating appropriations and 2023-2025 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.

SB 5810 is a budget bill allocating funds for Washington State's 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operations. It provides specific appropriations for state agencies, including $61.7 million for the House of Representatives and $46.3 million for the Senate in fiscal year 2026, along with $14.1 million for the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The bill includes a provision requiring the audit committee to review juvenile rehabilitation programs, focusing on staffing, safety, programming, and gender equity, with a report due by July 2026. It directly affects state government operations and agencies funded through this legislation. This is a routine appropriations bill, not a policy change.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $61.7M for House, $46.3M for Senate, and $14.1M for audit committee in 2025-2027 budget, advancing fiscal management and appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires audit of juvenile rehab programs focusing on staffing/safety, aligning with rehabilitation improvement indicators in criminal justice reform.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5798: Concerning property tax reform.

Senate Bill 5798 proposes reforms to property tax relief for senior citizens, disabled persons, and certain veterans in Washington state. It expands the existing relief program by increasing the maximum valuation amounts for which eligible homeowners can receive property tax exemptions based on their income thresholds. The bill also clarifies eligibility rules, allowing exemptions to continue if a residence is temporarily unoccupied for long-term care and ensuring that cost-of-living adjustments to Social Security or SSI benefits do not disqualify applicants for 2024 property taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax relief for seniors/disabled/veterans, providing tax relief to lower-income groups per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands property tax relief for veterans by increasing valuation thresholds and clarifying eligibility, directly advancing veteran benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1454: Funding multijurisdictional drug task forces.

HB 1454 appropriates $7 million from the state general fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to create a grant program for multijurisdictional drug task forces in Washington State. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs will administer the grants, requiring recipients to follow peer review and reporting standards identical to those used for Edward Byrne grant recipients as of January 1, 2023. The program allows the administering association to retain up to 5% of the funds for administrative costs. This funding directly supports local law enforcement task forces tackling drug-related crimes across multiple jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $7M from state general fund for drug task force grants, directly funding a public safety program through budget allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1870: Concerning county property tax levies for public health clinic purposes.

HB 1870 allows Washington counties to levy an additional property tax of up to five cents per $1,000 of assessed value specifically for public health clinics. This tax can only fund the operation, maintenance, and capital expenses of clinics providing services like primary care, dental care, disease prevention, reproductive health, and behavioral health. The bill amends existing tax laws to exempt this new levy from standard county tax limits (like the $1.80 cap), ensuring it doesn’t count toward other spending restrictions. It directly affects counties and public health clinics, which would use the funds for low-barrier health services to underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new property tax for public health clinics, exempting from standard limits, directly advancing public health funding through targeted taxation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated property tax funding for public health clinics providing primary care, dental, reproductive, and behavioral health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Mental Health Primary Care Public Health

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1436: Incentivizing cities and counties to increase employment of commissioned law enforcement officers.

HB 1436 allows Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers. Local governments must use the revenue to hire more officers if their officer-to-population ratio is below the national average, or for other criminal justice programs (like domestic violence services or homelessness initiatives) if their ratio is already above average. The state collects the tax and returns the funds directly to the local jurisdiction. This bill aims to address Washington’s low ranking in law enforcement staffing per capita and high crime rates by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for local governments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 0.10% sales tax to fund law enforcement hiring, directly allocating tax revenue to public safety programs under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds additional law enforcement officers and related criminal justice programs (e.g., domestic violence services) through dedicated tax revenue, directly advancing resource allocation in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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