Budget & Taxes (Revenue)

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1704: Increasing cannabis revenue distributions to local governments.

HB 1704 redirects cannabis tax revenue to specific state and local programs. It allocates 52% of funds to the state basic health plan trust fund, 11% to the health care authority for youth substance use prevention programs and surveys, and 17% (7% based on cannabis retail tax revenue in a jurisdiction and 10% ratably by population) to counties, cities, and towns. Local governments with licensed cannabis retailers receive funds proportional to their retail tax revenue, while all jurisdictions allowing cannabis businesses get additional population-based funding. The bill also funds education programs, poison control, and research on cannabis effects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects cannabis tax revenue to health programs and local governments, funding public services through tax allocation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 52% to state basic health plan trust fund and 11% to youth substance use prevention, directly funding healthcare services and public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Insurance

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5460: Establishing funding for community preservation and development authorities approved through RCW 43.167.060.

SB 5460 creates a new funding source by directing 30% of state sales tax revenue from large stadiums (with specific size requirements) into community development accounts. This funding supports county-level community preservation authorities in areas affected by major public projects, with funds split between operating and capital needs. Authorities must use the money for economic development, safety improvements (like addressing homelessness impacts), and housing initiatives (including low-income units). The program expires in 2037 but requires a legislative review by 2034 to assess its impact on communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects 30% of stadium sales tax revenue into community development funds for housing, safety, and economic initiatives, creating new public funding streams.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingDirects 30% stadium tax revenue to housing initiatives including low-income housing, explicitly funding development and preservation programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Community Development Homelessness Property Development

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5806: Creating a voluntary disclosure program within the department of revenue.

SB 5806 creates a voluntary tax disclosure program allowing unregistered taxpayers to come forward, pay overdue taxes without penalties or interest, and register permanently. It directly affects businesses or individuals who engaged in taxable activities without proper registration but have not committed fraud or evasion. To qualify, applicants must submit a registration application before department contact, disclose all past taxable activity, and attest under penalty of perjury. The program runs from July 1 to September 30, 2025, and does not apply to taxes already paid before July 1, 2025, or to unremitted sales taxes collected from buyers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesVoluntary disclosure program increases tax revenue by encouraging compliance without penalties, strengthening tax collection for state budget.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Sales Tax

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SJR 8202: Amending the state Constitution so that state revenue collected from a road usage charge, vehicle miles traveled fee, or other similar type of comparable charge, must be used exclusively for highway purposes.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring that revenue from road usage fees, vehicle miles traveled charges, or similar fees must be spent **exclusively** on highway-related projects and services. It would directly affect how Washington State allocates funds from these specific fees, mandating they cover road construction, maintenance, traffic systems, and related expenses like bridge operations or ferry services tied to highways. The amendment clarifies that such fees cannot fund general state programs, while excluding existing license fees and fuel taxes from this requirement. Voters would decide on this change at the next general election, as the amendment requires ratification. (Note: This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a direct law.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates exclusive highway funding from road usage fees, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget allocation by preventing diversion of dedicated revenue streams.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates exclusive use of road usage fees for highway infrastructure, directly advancing transportation funding for roads/maintenance per constitutional amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1560: Funding health care access by imposing an excise tax on the annual compensation paid to certain highly compensated hospital employees.

HB 1560 imposes a 7.5% tax on the portion of annual compensation exceeding 10 times the state's average wage for the five highest-paid hospital employees without direct patient care, plus the hospital's lead administrator if not included. It directly affects nonprofit hospitals in Washington that pay certain executives excessive compensation, as defined by the bill. The tax revenue will fund programs to improve healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable populations and reproductive care. The tax applies to compensation reported under state health reporting rules, beginning in 2027 for the 2026 tax year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 7.5% tax on high hospital execs to fund healthcare access programs, directly increasing public funding for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTax revenue funds healthcare access programs for vulnerable populations and reproductive care, directly advancing healthcare access through new funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Hospitals

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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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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5026: Dedicating the state sales tax on motor vehicles for transportation.

SB 5026 redirects a growing portion of Washington’s vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation funding. Starting in 2026, 16.66% of tax revenue from all new and used vehicle sales (including private-party sales) will fund transportation, increasing by 16.66% each year until 2031, when 100% will be dedicated to this purpose. The bill excludes certain vehicles like farm tractors, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and bicycles from this tax allocation. This policy change affects all vehicle buyers and sellers in Washington, with the tax revenue directly supporting transportation infrastructure projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation funding, increasing dedicated allocation annually from 2026-2031, strengthening transportation budget priorities.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRedirects vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation funding, increasing annually to support infrastructure projects per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Roads & Highways Transportation Funding Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5799: Establishing the youth behavioral health account and funding the account through the imposition of a business and occupation additional tax on the operation of social media platforms.

SB 5799 creates a youth behavioral health account funded by a 0.4% business and occupation tax on social media platforms' gross income in Washington State, effective January 2026. The tax applies to companies operating social media platforms (defined as services enabling user interaction and content sharing), excluding email, gaming, or non-profits. Funds will support three specific programs: telebehavioral health pilot services for school-aged youth, the governor's children and youth multisystem care coordinator, and implementation of the Washington Thriving prenatal-through-25 behavioral health strategic plan. The bill directly affects social media companies operating in Washington, directing tax revenue exclusively toward youth behavioral health services for individuals aged prenatal to 25.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 0.4% tax on social media platforms to fund youth behavioral health programs, directly allocating new state revenue for public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds youth behavioral health services via 0.4% tax on social media platforms, directly supporting mental health programs for minors per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Mental Health

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5547: Increasing cannabis revenue distributions to local governments.

SB 5547 increases funding for local governments by redirecting cannabis tax revenue. It allocates 1.5% of cannabis tax revenue to cities and towns where licensed retailers operate (based on their proportional revenue share) and 3.5% to counties and cities/towns ratably by population (with eligibility requiring no bans on cannabis businesses). These distributions replace previous formulas and require annual reporting by the state board. The bill directly affects municipalities with cannabis retailers and those meeting siting criteria, without creating new taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects cannabis tax revenue to fund local governments via new allocation formulas (1.5% to cities, 3.5% to counties), directly increasing public funding for municipal services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1411: Limiting assumed revenues to projected revenues by the economic and revenue forecast council.

HB 1411 requires Washington's governor to base budget revenue estimates solely on the state's official economic and revenue forecast, rather than using other projections. This prevents the state from planning with assumed revenue levels higher than what the forecast council officially projects. The bill affects how the governor prepares annual and biennial budgets by mandating that all revenue estimates must align with the forecast council's approved numbers for most funds. It ensures budget planning relies on verified revenue data, not hypothetical scenarios.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires budget revenue estimates to align with official forecasts, preventing overestimation and promoting fiscal responsibility in budget planning.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget

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