Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1882: Imposing an additional temporary state tax on lodging.

HB 1882 imposes a temporary 2% state tax on short-term lodging (like hotels and vacation rentals) for stays between April 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026, affecting businesses that provide such accommodations. The tax applies to reservations made after the bill's effective date and excludes stays of one month or longer. Revenue collected will fund a new "enhanced tourism account," with 25% distributed to counties based on tax collection, 25% supporting human trafficking victim programs, and 50% for state tourism initiatives. The tax and account expire on July 1, 2027, with any remaining funds transferred to the state general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes temporary tax to fund tourism account and anti-trafficking programs, directly advancing fiscal management through targeted revenue allocation for essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax State Budget

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1467: Concerning actuarial funding of pension systems.

HB 1467 establishes specific funding requirements for Washington state's public pension systems, directly affecting state employees, teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, school staff, and public safety workers. It mandates that pension plans be fully funded by set deadlines (e.g., law enforcement/firefighters plan 1 by June 2024) and requires spreading unfunded costs over 10-year or 15-year periods using actuarial methods. The bill details how contribution rates for employers (like the state) must be calculated to cover normal costs, amortize funding gaps, and pay for past benefit changes without exceeding set minimum or maximum rates. These changes apply to multiple systems, including public employees', teachers', and school employees' retirement plans, ensuring predictable long-term funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates full pension funding by deadlines, requiring state budget allocation for public employee pensions, strengthening fiscal responsibility in pension management.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates full pension funding for public sector workers (teachers, law enforcement, etc.), securing retirement benefits as part of employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions State Budget

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1319: Enacting a wealth tax on the ownership of stocks, bonds, and other financial intangible property.

HB 1319 proposes a 1% annual tax on Washington residents' financial assets exceeding $100 million, including stocks, bonds, and similar investments. It would primarily affect approximately 3,400 of the state's wealthiest individuals, as estimated by the bill. Revenue generated would be directed to the state's general fund to support essential services like K-12 education, healthcare, wildfire prevention, and public safety programs. The tax applies to "financial intangible assets" defined broadly, excluding primary residences and certain other exemptions, with filing based on the prior calendar year's asset values.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 1% wealth tax on top 0.1% to fund K-12, healthcare, and public safety programs per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill directs wealth tax revenue to K-12 education funding via general fund allocation as explicitly stated in summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1428: Concerning the county criminal justice assistance account and municipal criminal justice assistance account.

HB 1428 establishes two state-funded accounts to support criminal justice services: one for counties and one for cities. It mandates annual transfers of $50 million (increasing by 50% starting in 2026) into these accounts, with county funds distributed based on population (20%), crime rate (30%), and criminal cases (50%). Municipal funds are distributed only to cities meeting a 125% statewide crime rate threshold, with 30% allocated to cities exceeding 175% of the average crime rate. The bill prohibits using these funds to replace existing local funding and restricts spending to criminal justice activities like domestic violence services and law enforcement support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates $50M annual state funding for criminal justice services, increasing to $75M by 2026, directly funding public safety programs through new appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes state-funded accounts for county/municipal criminal justice services with mandatory $50M annual funding (increasing 50% by 2026), directly advancing resource allocation for justice systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5167: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.

SB 5167 establishes the operating budget for the state of Washington for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. It appropriates funds for the salaries, wages, and operational expenses of various state agencies and offices, directly affecting all state government functions and the services provided to Washington residents. The bill outlines specific allocations, such as for the House of Representatives and the Senate, and includes conditions and limitations on how funds can be spent. For example, it allocates funds for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to conduct performance audits, including a review of juvenile rehabilitation programs. These appropriations cover the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes operating budget appropriations for state agencies, funding essential government operations and services per fiscal biennium requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability State Budget

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5151: Limiting annual state spending growth to median worker wage growth, with excess revenues dedicated to property tax relief.

SB 5151 limits annual state spending growth to the average annual increase in Washington's median worker wage, starting in 2026. It requires the state to calculate a spending cap based on the prior decade's median wage growth and directs any excess revenue above this cap toward lowering property tax rates. The bill applies to all state general fund spending and mandates that the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council determine excess revenues by December 1 each year, which the Department of Revenue must use to reduce property tax rates by the following year. This directly affects state budget decisions and homeowners through potential property tax relief.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirectly allocates excess state revenue to property tax relief, providing tax relief for homeowners and aligning spending with wage growth.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Property Tax State Budget

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1734: Concerning outdoor learning grants to expand and improve the delivery of outdoor learning opportunities.

HB 1734 creates a state grant program to fund capital improvements for facilities used in outdoor learning. It provides competitive grants to tribes, local governments, nonprofits, and others to build, renovate, or rehab facilities that expand access to outdoor education for public school students, particularly in underserved communities. Key provisions require projects to increase student capacity or remove participation barriers, mandate facility maintenance for a set period, and ensure funds are used solely for outdoor learning. The grants are intended to complement existing outdoor education programs by improving infrastructure, not operating costs, with funding requests to be submitted starting in 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state grant program funding outdoor education facilities, increasing public service funding allocation for underserved communities.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds capital improvements for outdoor learning facilities in public schools, expanding access for underserved students through competitive grants targeting increased capacity and barrier removal.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 2049: Investing in the state's paramount duty to fund K-12 education and build strong and safe communities.

HB 2049 aims to enhance funding for K-12 education and communities by modifying state and local property tax authority and adjusting the school funding formula. The bill revises the maximum dollar amount school districts can levy for enrichment, setting it as the lesser of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value or a per-pupil limit. This per-pupil limit is updated with specific "inflation enhancements" through 2030 and establishes a new base amount starting in 2031, impacting funding based on student enrollment. Additionally, it adjusts how the state provides local effort assistance funding to supplement these school district enrichment levies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill revises property tax authority and school funding formula to increase K-12 education funding via inflation-linked per-pupil limits, directly enhancing public service budget allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to 'enhance funding for K-12 education' through revised property tax authority, per-pupil limits with inflation adjustments, and updated school funding formula.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget K-12 Education School Funding

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5146: Creating a portal to identify opportunities for increased government efficiency.

SB 5146 proposes creating a public portal where state employees and residents can report wasteful, duplicative, or inefficient government spending. The portal would require users to submit details about specific agencies, policy areas, and examples of inefficiency (with anonymous options), and it must be accessible to people with disabilities and mobile users. Submitted reports would be sent annually to legislative budget committees, and state employees whose suggestions lead to actual savings may qualify for cash awards. The bill directly affects state employees and the public by providing a structured way to identify government waste, aiming to improve taxpayer spending efficiency. It does not change existing laws but establishes a new process for gathering and reviewing efficiency suggestions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPromotes fiscal responsibility by enabling public reporting of wasteful spending to identify savings opportunities, aligning with budget efficiency goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1471: Concerning budget stabilization account transfers.

HB 1471 transfers $1.63 billion from Washington's budget stabilization account to the state general fund to support critical health, welfare, and public safety services in fiscal year 2026. It requires the state treasurer to repay the full amount by transferring $816 million to the stabilization account on June 30, 2028, and another $816 million by June 30, 2029. The bill ensures these transfers do not disrupt future budget balancing requirements. This directly affects state service funding for all Washington residents during the 2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $1.63B from stabilization account to fund health/welfare/public safety services, directly increasing public service funding per budget stabilization requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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