House Bill 2077 establishes a new tax on certain vehicle manufacturers. This tax applies to profits generated from surplus zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) credits, which are earned when a manufacturer exceeds the state's ZEV sales requirements. The bill requires the Department of Ecology to share manufacturers' ZEV credit activity with the Department of Revenue, and manufacturers must report the prices of ZEV credit transactions. The collected tax revenue is intended to be reinvested into programs that further promote cleaner vehicles.
SB 5314 modifies Washington's capital gains tax by updating several provisions. It replaces an expiring business and occupation tax credit with a new, nonrefundable capital gains tax credit, designed to prevent double taxation on the same sale or exchange. The bill also clarifies definitions related to capital gains and losses, ensures consistent treatment for spouses and domestic partners, and establishes a late payment penalty waiver. Additionally, it introduces new reporting requirements for brokers and barter exchanges. These modifications are not estimated to change overall state or local tax collections.
HB 2061 establishes a new concession fee for duty-free sales enterprises operating within Washington state. These businesses will pay a fee equal to 0.10 (10%) of their gross proceeds from merchandise sales. The revenue collected from this fee will be split, with half directed to the statewide tourism marketing account and the other half deposited into a new sustainable aviation fuel account. The sustainable aviation fuel account is designated to support research, development, and infrastructure for sustainable aviation fuel.
House Bill 2050 updates the system for providing state local effort assistance funding to K-12 public school districts in Washington. This funding helps supplement local school district levies for educational enrichment programs. The bill modifies how this assistance is calculated, including updating financial thresholds and refining definitions for terms like "eligible school district" and "student enrollment." It also removes temporary provisions related to how student enrollment from prior school years was considered for funding calculations. These changes affect how much state funding school districts receive to support their local education efforts, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.
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.
Senate Bill 5814 modernizes Washington's tax code by extending the state retail sales tax to select services, such as certain computer-related and digital automated services. It also expands the application of excise taxes on tobacco products to include new and emerging nicotine products. Additionally, the bill requires certain large businesses to make a one-time prepayment of state sales tax collections. These changes affect businesses providing the newly taxed services and nicotine products, as well as the consumers of these items. The revenue generated is intended to support public schools, health care, and social services across the state.
House Bill 1848 aims to enhance services and supports for individuals living with traumatic brain injuries and their families in Washington State. The bill seeks to rebalance funding priorities to better support in-person support groups and community integration programs, which the legislature identified as underfunded. To generate additional revenue for these services, it increases a specific fee assessed on traffic infractions from $5 to $10. This increased revenue will be deposited into the state's traumatic brain injury account.
House Bill 1207 modifies the fees collected by superior court clerks, impacting individuals and entities filing various documents in civil actions, appeals, probate proceedings, and certain criminal cases. It introduces new surcharges on many of these filing fees, with the collected funds distributed to state accounts for judicial stabilization, public defense support, court interpreter services, and library-archives, while a portion is retained by counties. The bill establishes a county clerk administrative assistance fund, which the clerk can manage for office operations without county legislative appropriation, and creates dedicated state accounts for public defense and court interpreter support. Notably, it sets a lower initial filing fee for unlawful detainer actions and exempts indigent criminal defendants from certain fees upon conviction.
House Bill 1392 establishes the Medicaid Access Program in Washington state, directly affecting health carriers and Medicaid managed care organizations. The bill implements an annual "covered lives assessment" on these entities, with specific per-member-per-month rates, to fund the program. Implementation of these assessments and the program is conditional upon federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, along with state appropriation certifications and contract amendments.
HB 1213 expands protections for workers in Washington's state paid family and medical leave program. The bill requires the department to enhance outreach to employees, explaining their eligibility, application process, and reinstatement and nondiscrimination rights. It also mandates increased outreach to employers about their responsibilities and authorizes the department to audit employer records for compliance. Additionally, the bill clarifies premium collection and calculation methods, and ensures the confidentiality of employee information within the program.
