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.
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Taxes
Modifying tax and revenue laws in a manner that is not estimated to affect state or local tax collections.
Bill Summary
SB 5431 proposes modifications to Washington’s tax and revenue laws without significantly altering state or local tax collections. The bill primarily focuses on extending preferential tax rates for specific industries, particularly the solar energy industry and data centers for an additional five years, while updating administrative processes for tax collection and exemptions. A performance review will determine whether employment levels remain at or above 2019 levels, and whether at least 60% of employees earn $60,000 or more annually. If these conditions are met, the tax preference may be extended further. The bill also requires businesses to meet sustainability standards (e.g., LEED, Energy Star, Green Globes) to qualify for tax breaks. It sets a 12-year limit for businesses to install and use replacement server equipment under the tax exemption program and establishes a cap on the number of tax-exempt data centers per year. In addition, the bill strengthens record-keeping requirements for businesses claiming sales tax exemptions. By changing the state’s tax exemptions review process it reduces required reporting from annually to every four years.
Ultimately, this appears to be a business-friendly measure aimed at supporting renewable energy and technology infrastructure while refining tax administration policies. The tax incentives helps Washington maintain their competitiveness for data centers while improving tax administration and reducing tax fraud by strengthening record-keeping and enforcement. Please support this bipartisan legislation.
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Freedom
Establishing balanced legislative oversight of gubernatorial powers during a declared emergenc
Bill Summary
The bill introduces three key ways a state of emergency can be terminated: first, through a direct proclamation by the governor; second, if the legislature is in session, through a concurrent resolution ending the emergency; and third, if the legislature is not in session and more than 90 days have passed since the emergency declaration, through a written termination signed by all four legislative leadership members (majority and minority leaders of the Senate and House).
Additionally, the bill outlines the governor’s authority to issue orders during a state of emergency, including prohibitions on public gatherings and the sale of certain goods, as well as the ability to waive or suspend statutory obligations. It clarifies that any such orders cannot last longer than thirty days without legislative extension, and if the legislature is not in session, the leadership of both chambers can extend the orders until the legislature reconvenes. The bill also establishes penalties for willful violations of the governor’s orders during emergencies.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5436 aims to enhance protections for religious freedom in Washington State. The bill establishes new criminal offenses for interfering with access to or disrupting activities at places of worship, defining specific actions prohibited and outlining corresponding penalties. For example, the bill establishes that individuals who approach others within eight feet with the intent to harass or intimidate, as well as those who physically obstruct access, can be charged with disorderly conduct.
Penalties for violations include gross misdemeanors with escalating fines and jail terms for repeat offenders. Additionally, the bill allows aggrieved individuals to seek civil damages, including up to $500 for each day the prohibited actions occur, and provides for injunctive relief to prevent further violations. The legislation emphasizes that these remedies are cumulative and does not limit the pursuit of other legal remedies. The act is declared necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety, and takes effect immediately upon passage. Civil remedies are also provided for individuals harmed by such interference, allowing for lawsuits seeking damages and injunctions. The bill draws upon existing federal law and state laws concerning interference with healthcare facilities as precedents while emphasizing the importance of protecting religious freedom under both state and federal constitutions. Finally, the bill includes provisions to protect the privacy of individuals involved in any resulting legal proceedings.
Bill Summary
Many Washington electric utilities are at risk of blackouts due to aging infrastructure and massive load growth. The Pacific NW Utilities Conference Committee estimates a 30% increase in electricity demand over the next decade. Drivers of this increase include high-tech manufacturing, increasing electrification of buildings and transportation, data center needs and population growth.
Senate Bill 5445 encourages utilities to invest in local energy resilience and clean energy projects which can help meet rising demand and improve grid reliability. This legislation would enable utilities to keep dollars local, boosting Washington economies. Workers will benefit from such investments as these projects create high quality jobs, provide opportunities for training apprentice workers, and help utilities address our energy challenges by leveraging their expertise, community relationships and resources. Developing infrastructure to transition to a clean energy grid, rather than purchasing renewable energy credits often sourced outside Washington, mitigates the need for expensive, inefficient, and polluting long-distance power transmission. Projects would include community solar generation, demand response, battery storage, and grid hardening to provide energy security and protect infrastructure from natural disasters.
The Washington Public Utility Districts Association (WPUDA) urges support for this bill and it has near-unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5450 aims to increase transparency around sewage spills in Washington State by requiring the Department of Ecology to create a public-facing website and notification system for reporting sewage spills. By July 1, 2026, the department must develop a website that provides detailed information about sewage spills, including the volume of discharge, treatment level, date and time of the incident, location, potential impact area, and steps taken to contain the spill. The website must be designed to be accessible to people with limited English proficiency.
By July 1, 2027, the department must also implement a public notification system that allows people to receive alerts about sewage spills within four hours during regular business hours. Additionally, the department is required to publish an annual report by March 15th each year detailing sewage spills from the previous calendar year, including information about impacted waters, duration, volume, and any departmental actions. The bill defines key terms such as “combined sewer” and “sewage spill” and is intended to help people who rely on clean water for jobs, recreation, or cultural traditions to stay informed about potential water quality issues.