Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 2730: Clarifying the metric for judging the effectiveness of aerospace tax preferences.

HB 2730 clarifies how Washington state will evaluate whether tax incentives for the aerospace industry remain effective. It requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to annually assess aerospace employment in Washington compared to other states using a five-year average of employment data starting in 2029. If Washington’s share of aerospace jobs stays the same or grows relative to other states, the tax incentives will automatically extend until 2040. The bill directly affects aerospace companies receiving tax preferences by tying their continued eligibility to measurable workforce outcomes. It amends a 2013 provision to establish this specific employment-based metric for evaluating the incentives' success.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill extends tax incentives for aerospace industry, maintaining tax preferences through automatic renewal criteria.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Business Taxes Tax Incentives

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 2727: Creating the educational transit access grant program to reduce the cost of public transportation for community and technical college students.

HB 2727 creates a state-funded grant program to help community and technical college students pay for public transportation. It requires the state transportation department to provide grants to transit agencies that partner with colleges to offer free or reduced transit fares for students enrolled in degree or certificate programs. To qualify, transit agencies must submit proposals detailing program goals, cost-reduction methods, college partnerships, and long-term sustainability plans. The program aims to lower transportation barriers for these students, with pilot projects required to report outcomes to the legislature within six months of completion.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState-funded grant program for student transit access, increasing public service funding under state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds reduced transit fares for community college students, directly increasing access to higher education through transportation affordability.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates state-funded grant program to reduce public transit costs for students, directly advancing transportation access and affordability through funding public transit partnerships.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Transportation Public Transit

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 2742: Providing financial relief for families by establishing a sales tax and use tax holiday.

HB 2742 creates an annual sales and use tax holiday in Washington for qualifying items priced at $500 or less per item. It exempts these items from both sales tax (under RCW 82.08) and use tax (under RCW 82.12) during a four-day period each year, specifically from 12:00 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving through 11:59 p.m. on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The tax holiday directly affects all Washington residents purchasing qualifying items during this window, providing temporary financial relief on everyday goods like clothing, school supplies, or electronics. The Department of Revenue must establish administrative rules and provide taxpayer guidance to implement the holiday, consistent with existing tax agreements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides temporary sales tax exemption for qualifying items under $500, offering direct tax relief to residents during holiday shopping period.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Procurement Sales Tax

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 2743: Reducing state property taxes.

HB 2743 reduces Washington state property taxes by $2.1 billion for 2027, applying to all property owners statewide. The bill amends tax code to cap the combined state property tax rate at $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed value and mandates this specific $2.1 billion reduction in the 2027 tax levy. It does not change tax rates for prior years but sets a permanent cap on future combined tax levies. This is a direct adjustment to the state's property tax collection amount, not a rate change for individual properties. The bill affects all taxable property within Washington, as the tax is statewide.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reduces property taxes by $2.1B with permanent rate cap, providing direct tax relief - aligns with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax

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signed · Washington · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 2711: Concerning transportation resources.

HB 2711 adjusts Washington State's motor vehicle fuel tax structure, directly affecting fuel licensees (gas stations, distributors) and fuel suppliers. It adds new tax rates, including 6 cents per gallon for regular fuel starting July 2025 and 3 cents per gallon for special fuel starting July 2027, while creating automatic annual 2% increases for both regular and special fuel taxes beginning July 2026. The bill specifies detailed calculations for these annual adjustments, requiring the state treasurer to recalculate rates each July 1 based on prior tax rates and rounding to the nearest thousandth of a dollar. It also clarifies when fuel taxes apply, such as when fuel is removed from terminals, entered into the state, or sold to unlicensed entities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases motor vehicle fuel tax rates with automatic annual hikes, directly raising tax revenue for state budget.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases fuel taxes (6¢/gal regular, 3¢/gal special) with automatic annual 2% hikes, directly generating revenue for transportation infrastructure funding per tax structure adjustments.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Transportation Funding

in committee · Washington · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 2719: Establishing empowerED scholarships for foster care students using educational savings accounts.

HB 2719 creates the empowerED scholarship program, providing education savings accounts for foster care students in Washington state (ages 5-21) who are in care or have aged out. The program allows foster parents, caregivers, or guardians to use state-funded accounts - managed via a state-administered debit card - to cover qualified education expenses at private schools, home-based instruction, or other approved services. It explicitly permits religious private schools to participate, aligning with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on education funding. The bill aims to address educational instability faced by foster care students by ensuring funding follows the student across placements, with strict oversight to prevent misuse of funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for foster care education scholarships, increasing budgetary spending on essential student services per state appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state-funded education savings accounts for foster youth, expanding access to private/home schooling options beyond public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2720: Increasing access and resources for behavioral health emergency services providers by imposing a covered lives assessment on specific health plans.

HB 2720 imposes a $0.58 monthly fee per enrolled member on health carriers, self-funded employer plans, and multiemployer health plans operating in Washington starting January 2027. This fee funds behavioral health crisis services (like mobile response teams and crisis centers) for people not covered by Medicaid or who aren’t enrolled in Medicaid, addressing gaps where current insurance reimbursement systems fail. The bill creates a dedicated funding source to replace inconsistent billing to insurers, ensuring these critical services remain accessible without relying on Medicaid or taxpayer subsidies. It directly affects health plans covering Washington residents and aims to sustain crisis care access as mandated by existing mental health parity laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes $0.58 monthly fee on health plans to fund behavioral health crisis services, creating dedicated tax revenue for public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareImposes fee to fund behavioral health crisis services for uninsured, addressing access gaps and increasing mental health funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 19, 2026

HJR 4213: Amending the Constitution to allow for an income tax.

HJR 4213 proposes amending Washington's state constitution to permit an income tax. If approved, it would allow the legislature to tax income above $1 million annually (adjusted yearly for inflation), with a maximum tax rate of 9.9%. The bill sets a threshold that excludes individuals earning $1 million or less per year from the tax, and requires annual inflation adjustments to this threshold using the Seattle-area consumer price index. This constitutional change must be voted on by Washington voters in the next general election.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables income tax on high earners ($1M+), increasing state revenue without taxing lower/middle income, strengthening fiscal management through targeted taxation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 28, 2026

HB 2745: Increasing temporarily insurance premium taxes on insurers to fund health insurance premium assistance.

HB 2745 temporarily increases the insurance premium tax rate for Washington insurers to fund health insurance premium assistance. For 2026, the tax rises to 2.75% (from a base 2.0%), and for 2027 onward, it remains at 2.0%. The portion of the tax exceeding 2% must be deposited into the state health care affordability account to support a program helping residents pay health insurance premiums. The bill prohibits insurers from passing this tax increase to consumers through higher premiums or rates, unless the insurance commissioner approves it to prevent carrier insolvency or consumer harm.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill temporarily increases insurer tax to fund health premium assistance program, directly allocating tax revenue to support public health affordability service.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds premium assistance for residents via increased insurer taxes, preventing premium hikes. Directly advances healthcare affordability through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Insurance

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 2734: Creating a hunger free Washington through a sugar-sweetened beverage tax and precluding a supplemental nutrition assistance program waiver.

HB 2734 imposes an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (like soda and energy drinks) to fund nutrition assistance programs. The tax revenue would directly support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), food assistance programs, and fruit/vegetable incentive initiatives for low-income residents. The bill specifically prevents state-level waivers that could reduce SNAP funding, ensuring dedicated revenue for food security. It aims to reduce consumption of sugary drinks while addressing disproportionate food insecurity affecting communities of color and low-income households in Washington.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes excise tax on sugary drinks to fund SNAP and nutrition programs, directly increasing state revenue allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds SNAP and nutrition programs via soda tax, directly supporting public health initiatives and food security for low-income residents, aligning with healthcare funding indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax

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