Budget & Taxes (Business Taxes)

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5815: Modifying business and occupation tax surcharges, rates, and the advanced computing surcharge cap, clarifying the business and occupation tax deduction for certain investments, and creating a temporary business and occupation tax surcharge on large companies.

SB 5815 proposes modifications to Washington's Business and Occupation (B&O) tax system. The bill would increase certain B&O tax rates for businesses engaged in activities such as extracting, manufacturing, and retail sales to 0.5 percent. It also introduces a temporary B&O tax surcharge specifically for large companies with annual revenues exceeding $250 million. Additionally, the bill clarifies B&O tax deductions for certain investments and adjusts the advanced computing surcharge cap. The stated intent is to generate revenue to support public schools, higher education, health care, and social services across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases B&O tax rates for large businesses and adds a temporary surcharge on companies over $250M revenue, strengthening tax collection for state budget purposes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing

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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

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1785: Imposing a surcharge on publicly traded companies providing excessive executive compensation.

HB 1785 imposes a surcharge on Washington-based publicly traded companies with CEO pay at least 50 times the median employee wage. The surcharge is 10% for ratios of 50-149:1 and 25% for ratios of 150:1 or higher, applied to state corporate taxes starting January 1, 2026. Companies must disclose their executive pay ratio to the SEC (per Dodd-Frank Act); failure to report triggers the 25% rate. All revenue from the surcharge funds the state general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new corporate tax surcharge on excessive pay ratios, directing revenue to state general fund, aligning with fiscal responsibility and public funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTargets extreme CEO-worker pay gaps (50:1+), mandates disclosure, funds state general fund - directly advances wage equity and transparency in labor compensation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing State Budget

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2075: Increasing the cannabis excise tax on high THC cannabis products.

HB 2075 increases the state's cannabis excise tax on high-THC products to 50% of the selling price, up from 37% for lower-THC items. It directly affects retailers selling cannabis concentrates or useable cannabis with over 35% THC to general consumers (not medical patients, who remain exempt until 2029). The key mechanism sets tiered tax rates based on THC concentration, requires the tax to be itemized separately on receipts, and directs all revenue to a dedicated cannabis account. The bill also mandates the board to review tax levels and report on sales impacts, though it does not change medical cannabis exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases cannabis excise tax rate from 37% to 50% on high-THC products, generating additional state revenue directed to a dedicated cannabis account for budget allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5796: Enacting an excise tax on large employers on the amount of payroll expenses above the social security wage threshold to fund programs and services to benefit Washingtonians.

SB 5796 imposes a 5% excise tax on large Washington employers for payroll expenses exceeding the Social Security wage threshold (currently $168,600 per employee annually). It directly affects employers with over $7 million in annual payroll - estimated to be 17% of businesses - while exempting smaller businesses. The tax revenue funds public schools, health care, and social services by depositing funds into the state general fund. Employers must pay the tax directly (not deducted from employee wages), with the tax applying only to wages above the Social Security limit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 5% excise tax on large employers' excess payroll to fund public schools, health care, and social services via state general fund, directly strengthening fiscal support for essential programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Sales Tax

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signed · Washington · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 5457: Concerning broadcasters.

SB 5457 modifies Washington State's business tax for radio and television broadcasters. It requires broadcasters to calculate tax based on gross income minus specific advertising revenues, directly affecting FCC-licensed radio and TV stations operating in Washington. The key provision allows broadcasters to exclude national/regional ad revenue either through a standard deduction (based on U.S. Census data) or by itemizing out-of-state audience revenue using defined signal strength contours. This change, effective July 2025, adjusts how taxable income is calculated for broadcasters under the existing 0.484% business tax rate.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesAllows tax exclusion for broadcasters, reducing state revenue through modified tax calculation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5252: Removing the acreage limit on the property tax exemption for nonprofit public assembly halls and meeting places.

This bill removes the acreage limits on property tax exemptions for real or personal property owned by nonprofit organizations operating public assembly halls and meeting places. Currently, the exemption is capped at one acre for buildings and parking, and 29 acres for specific unimproved properties used for community events. By eliminating these acreage restrictions, the bill allows for a broader exemption for qualifying nonprofit properties. To remain exempt, the property must still be used exclusively for public gatherings, be available to all, and adhere to existing rules regarding pecuniary gain, with some exceptions for income used for maintenance or capital improvements. These changes would apply to taxes levied for collection in 2026 and thereafter.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExpands property tax exemptions for nonprofits, reducing state tax revenue. Weakens fiscal management by limiting government income through broader exemption eligibility.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Tax Incentives

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5687: Increasing the share of sales tax revenue dedicated to performance audits.

SB 5687 increases the portion of Washington's general sales tax revenue dedicated to performance audits from 0.16% to 0.2%. This change applies to taxes collected under RCW 82.08.020(1) on retail sales of tangible goods, digital products, and certain services. The additional funds must be deposited into the "performance audits of government account" established under RCW 43.09.475. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and directly affects all businesses collecting retail sales tax in Washington.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases sales tax allocation to performance audits, promoting fiscal accountability and efficient government spending per RCW 43.09.475.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Business Taxes Sales Tax

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signed · Washington · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 1960: Encouraging renewable energy in Washington through tax policy and investment in local communities.

HB 1960 aims to encourage renewable energy development in Washington by changing the tax structure for large-scale solar and wind energy facilities. The bill exempts personal property used for renewable energy generation and storage in qualified facilities from property taxation. In its place, it establishes a new annual excise tax on these facilities, with rates varying based on the energy type, operational date, and capacity of the generation and storage systems. This new tax directly affects operators of significant solar and wind energy projects and their associated storage systems across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill changes tax structure by exempting renewable facilities from property tax and imposing a new excise tax to incentivize development, directly altering tax policy for fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts renewable energy property from taxes and creates targeted excise tax to incentivize development, directly promoting renewable energy infrastructure and investment.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly promotes renewable energy development through tax incentives for solar/wind facilities, directly advancing clean energy adoption and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Renewable Energy Solar Wind

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5259: Creating a sales and use tax exemption for bait purchased for commercial fishing.

SB 5259 exempts commercial fishing businesses from paying sales and use tax on bait purchased for their operations in Washington State. To qualify, businesses must provide a valid exemption certificate to sellers and apply for certification through the Department of Revenue. The exemption specifically applies to licensed commercial fishing businesses (excluding recreational fishing charters) and expires on January 1, 2037. This policy aims to provide equitable tax treatment for the commercial fishing industry, aligning it with similar sectors like commercial farming.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exemption for commercial fishing businesses, reducing their tax burden under state sales tax policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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