Budget & Taxes (Property Tax)

Washington State bill SB 5709 allows counties to levy an additional property tax of up to 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value annually, specifically for public health clinics. This tax can only fund clinic operations, maintenance, and capital expenses, and is exempt from certain existing property tax limits in state law. The bill defines "public health clinic" broadly to include services like primary care, dental, reproductive health, disease prevention, and behavioral health. It directly affects Washington counties (which may choose to adopt this tax) and public health clinics (which would receive dedicated funding). The bill amends existing tax code sections to explicitly include public health clinic funding as an exception to general tax levy restrictions.

Senate Bill 5697 expands an existing property tax exemption for qualifying nonprofit organizations in Washington state. It allows these nonprofits to maintain their tax-exempt status even when their property is loaned, leased, or rented to government entities or other nonprofit organizations. This applies specifically when the property is used to provide character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services. The bill also clarifies that selling donated merchandise on such property is considered an exempt use if the proceeds further the organization's purposes, with these changes taking effect for taxes collected in 2026 and later.