Essential information on each bill is below. For more details, click on the bill number – e.g., “SB 5000.” The new page will show the progress of the bill, videos of debate, and the link to send a comment to your legislator about the bill.
-
Health Care
Concerning payment to acute care hospitals for difficult to discharge medicaid patients.
Bill Summary
House Bill 2051 removes the requirement that hospitals be reimbursed for caring for Medicaid patients who no longer meet inpatient care criteria but have nowhere else to go—through no fault of the hospital or patient. This change shifts the financial burden of a broken care continuum entirely onto hospitals, which are already struggling with staffing shortages, rising costs, and uncompensated care. Currently, when a Medicaid patient is medically ready to leave the hospital but cannot be discharged due to the unavailability of a nursing home or residential care setting, hospitals receive an “administrative day rate” to cover the ongoing costs of housing and supporting that patient. HB 2051 eliminates that support. Without this reimbursement, hospitals are effectively asked to provide room, care coordination, and basic services for free, which is unsustainable.
The bill also removes the requirement for the state to reimburse hospitals for essential services such as dialysis, lab work, and imaging when provided during these extended stays. This could lead hospitals to delay or avoid providing necessary care during those non-acute days, which can endanger patient health and increase long-term costs through complications or readmissions. This policy threatens financially vulnerable hospitals, especially in rural and underserved areas, where Medicaid patients make up a significant portion of care. Hospitals may be forced to reduce services, limit Medicaid admissions, or close entirely—putting access to care at risk for everyone, not just those directly affected. Rather than addressing the root issue—a lack of transitional and long-term care capacity—HB 2051 punishes hospitals for system-wide failures outside their control. It risks creating bottlenecks in emergency rooms, prolonging patient suffering, and overwhelming already strained health systems.
Bill Summary
House Bill 2068 seeks to enhance public health and safety by prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, regulating retailers, and increasing taxes on tobacco products. The bill includes a ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products, effective July 1, 2027, and the establishment of a statewide prevention campaign to educate the public about the dangers of these products. The bill also introduces definitions for flavored tobacco and nicotine products, alternative nicotine products, and entertainment vapor products, while updating the age restriction for tobacco sales to 21 years. Enforcement measures are strengthened, empowering the liquor and cannabis board to impose penalties on retailers who violate the new regulations.
Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding the taxation and regulation of vapor products and tobacco products, including an increase in application and renewal fees for distributor and retailer licenses to $1,000. It introduces a new tax of $2 per package of cigarettes, with adjustments based on the consumer price index, and establishes a tax rate of 95% on vapor products. The legislation also clarifies definitions related to tobacco products, mandates record-keeping for distributors, and outlines penalties for violations, including class C felonies and gross misdemeanors.
The focus on flavored vaping products is commendable as 88% of youth who vape use flavored products. Multiple studies link menthol and flavors to increased addiction, decreased quit rates and disproportionate impact on communities of color. Higher price has been shown to reduce consumption, especially among teens. Finally, these actions align with CDC and Surgeon General recommendations. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the regulatory framework surrounding tobacco and vapor products, protect youth from addiction, and promote healthier communities.
-
Taxes
Establishing a tax on certain business activities related to surpluses generated under the zero-emission vehicle program.
Bill Summary
House Bill 2077 introduces a tax on specific business activities related to surplus zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) credits under Washington’s zero-emission vehicle program. It aims to mitigate the financial benefits for manufacturers who exceed state-mandated clean vehicle quotas by imposing a two percent tax on the sale of ZEV credits, a ten percent tax on banked credits, and a fifty percent tax on pooled credits starting in model year 2025. Manufacturers with fewer than 25,000 credits will be exempt from these taxes. The revenue generated will be allocated to the electric vehicle incentive account and the state general fund, transitioning to the carbon emissions reduction account after June 30, 2027.
Furthermore, the bill establishes new definitions and reporting requirements for manufacturers regarding their ZEV credit activities, including tracking surplus credits and transactions. It mandates that manufacturers report specific details about credit sales and banking to the Department of Ecology, which will calculate the average ZEV credit price for tax purposes. The legislation also amends existing law to protect certain financial information related to ZEV credits from public disclosure, ensuring confidentiality for sensitive data. The bill applies to ZEV credits that are banked, sold, or pooled after its effective date and includes a severability clause to maintain the validity of remaining provisions if any part is found invalid. The act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, or safety, and takes effect immediately upon passage.
While intended to recapture “windfall profits,” this bill punishes innovation and early compliance with clean vehicle goals by heavily taxing credit banking, pooling, and sales—up to 50% in some cases. It creates financial uncertainty for manufacturers, potentially discouraging aggressive zero-emission investment and compliance beyond minimum requirements. The bill also introduces complex new reporting requirements, risks chilling credit market activity, and sets a precedent for retroactively taxing market-based incentive systems. Rather than promoting cleaner transportation, it may inadvertently slow progress by penalizing success.
-
Taxes
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.
Bill Summary
House Bill 2081 targets large and high-revenue companies and seeks to raise additional revenue for public schools, higher education, health care, and social services by modifying Washington’s B&O tax structure. It raises existing tax rates, increases surcharges on large and high-income businesses, and adjusts caps and deductions to generate more state revenue. The increase in B&O tax rates applies to a wide range of sectors including R&D, insurance agents, broadcasting, cold storage, printing, financial institutions and airplane manufacturing.
While intended to raise revenue for public services, this legislation presents several concerns. HB 2081 raises B&O tax rates across many sectors and adds a new surcharge on companies with taxable income over $250 million. These increases may lead to higher operating costs, discourage investment, and ultimately result in higher prices for consumers. Raising the Advanced Computing Surcharge (ACS) from 1.22% to 5%, and increasing its cap from $9 million to $50 million, may deter growth and expansion of technology and innovation firms in the state. This could make Washington less attractive to large employers, particularly in high-tech industries. Furthermore, the new 0.5% surcharge on income above $250 million targets businesses based solely on revenue, not profit margins, which may unfairly penalize high-volume, low-margin enterprises. This risks undermining stable employers who provide a large number of jobs and contribute significantly to the state economy. Those businesses facing increased tax burdens may respond by reducing hiring, cutting wages, scaling back benefits, or relocating operations out of state—especially in highly mobile sectors like advanced computing and finance.
Additionally, the bill applies flat increases without fully considering the diversity of business models or financial resilience among affected firms. This one-size-fits-all approach could disproportionately impact smaller subsidiaries or in-state divisions of larger corporate groups. With economic recovery still uneven and inflation affecting operating costs, raising business taxes now could dampen economic growth and slow job creation across sectors. In summary, HB 2081 risks destabilizing key industries, weakening Washington’s business climate, and harming the very workforce and services it intends to support. A more targeted and balanced fiscal approach would better serve long-term economic and social goals. Please oppose this misguided bill.
-
Taxes
ncreasing funding for K-12, health care, and public safety by repealing or modifying tax preferences for certain industries and goods.
Bill Summary
House Bill 2084 aims to increase funding for K-12 education, health care, and public safety by modifying or repealing certain tax preferences for specific industries and goods. Key provisions include the repeal of an RCW, which previously excluded the sale of precious metal bullion and monetized bullion from tax computations. Additionally, a new section is added that establishes a tax rate for individuals renting or leasing storage space, with a standard rate of 1.75% and a reduced rate of 1.5% for those with gross income under $1,000,000. The bill also amends existing laws related to the taxation of prescription drugs, increasing the tax rate from 0.138% to 0.484% for businesses engaged in warehousing and reselling drugs for human use.
This bill is another in a long line of tax bills that Democrats are pulling out of the hat in the last days of the Legislative Session. By removing tax exemptions for precious metals and bullion, it harms investors and small dealers who view these assets as financial security or inflation hedges. It imposes B&O taxes on self-storage rentals, increasing costs for individuals and small businesses that rely on affordable storage. Finally, by eliminating the preferential tax rate for prescription drug warehousing, it will raise healthcare supply chain costs and indirectly affect drug pricing. This legislation represents a broad expansion of state taxation under the guise of revenue generation, placing additional financial pressure on consumers and niche industries without adequate justification. Please oppose this bill.