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.
Bill Summary
The Washington gas tax is currently 49.4 cents, which is the third-highest in the country. Senate Bill 5801 places another tax burden upon the shoulders of everyday Washingtonians because this bill hikes the state fuel tax by another 6 cents per gallon, with automatic annual inflation adjustments, making driving even more expensive year after year. This tax especially harms rural residents and working-class commuters who depend on their vehicles. Additionally, electric and hybrid vehicle owners, who have already made environmentally conscious decisions, will face increases in registration fees—up to $275 annually—with those fees also subject to indefinite inflation-based increases. Even newly purchased electric bikes will be hit with a 10% surcharge, hurting green transit choices.
For more details, the bill nearly doubles rental car and peer-to-peer car share taxes, and it also introduces a $1 per ticket transportation tax on large events, raising the cost of community and sporting activities for families. Worse, toll exemptions for transit buses and vanpools will be eliminated, forcing public transit agencies to either absorb the cost or pass it on to riders. Meanwhile, driver’s license and registration service fees go up across the board, adding more bureaucracy and costs for residents simply trying to stay compliant. Although some revenues are earmarked for programs like climate-friendly infrastructure, these benefits are overshadowed by the regressive nature of the taxes and fees, which disproportionately hurt low- and middle-income individuals. The bill even allows continued tolling on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge after all construction costs are paid off, effectively turning tolls into a permanent tax.
Led by Democrats in both chambers, the Senate’s plan would boost the gas tax by 6 cents, while the House would bump the tax a whopping 9 cents. The root problem is not inflation, not rising construction costs, and not population increases. No, the root problem is once again reckless spending across the board on many other pet-welfare programs supported by Democrats. Those programs need to be abolished or cut dramatically, and safe and efficient roads should be a top priority. In short, SB 5801 nickel-and-dimes Washington residents while eroding public trust and increasing the cost of living. This bill deserves a strong CON vote.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5804 is another tax bill masquerading as legislation to address the critical habitat loss impacting salmon and steelhead populations in Washington State, primarily due to hydropower dams and road culverts that hinder fish passage. To meet legal obligations from a federal court injunction, the legislature proposes the creation of special tax obligation bonds funded by a new 2.011 percent tax on the gross income of light and power utility projects. This initiative aims to raise up to $5 billion for salmon recovery and habitat restoration projects, with strict provisions ensuring that the bond proceeds are exclusively allocated for fish habitat restoration efforts identified in response to the federal injunction.
Key amendments include the establishment of the federal injunction salmon habitat restoration account and the federal injunction salmon habitat bond retirement account, along with changes to tax rates for light and power businesses. The bill also empowers the state finance committee to manage bond payments and issue refunding bonds as necessary. A contingency clause is included, stipulating that if the Washington State Supreme Court rules against the issuance of these special tax obligations, certain sections of the act will expire, allowing the legislature to reallocate available funds into the federal injunction salmon habitat account.
As noted by Nancy Churchill, $5 billon dollars is an astronomical amount of new tax revenue without a vote of the people. The bond repayment will be backed strictly by the new utility tax and paid for by PUD customers. The bond will not be paid for out of the state’s general fund. Current power and light taxes being directed to the Public Works Assistance Account will still be collected but will now be redirected to the state’s general fund for other projects. Please register ‘Con’ on this ‘bait and switch’ legislation.
Bill Summary
Senate Joint Memorial 8002 expresses opposition to the privatization of Medicare and advocating for reforms to strengthen Original Medicare. It highlights the efficiency of Original Medicare, which has low administrative costs, and raises concerns about the financial burdens imposed by privatized Medicare programs, such as Medicare Advantage, which can take a significant portion of funds for administration and profits. The memorial cites reports of fraudulent practices that have led to substantial overcharging of the Medicare trust fund and beneficiaries, urging the federal government to take action to protect vulnerable populations.
The memorial criticizes Medicare Advantage and other private Medicare-related programs, but many believe that privatization introduces competition, leading to better services and efficiency. Medicare Advantage often provides extra benefits like dental, vision, and wellness programs that Original Medicare does not cover. Although the memorial advocates for expanding Original Medicare to cover more services and eliminate copays, this will likely lead to higher government spending and potential tax increases. In addition, Medicare Advantage plans currently serve over 50% of Medicare beneficiaries. Rolling back privatization efforts or discouraging Medicare Advantage could force millions of seniors to transition back to Original Medicare, which may not cover all their needs. Expanding government control over healthcare could reduce innovation and responsiveness in the system.
The memorial suggests recouping funds from Medicare Advantage overpayments, but if private insurers exit the Medicare market, the financial burden of covering seniors could shift entirely to taxpayers. Cutting private involvement could also eliminate cost-saving strategies used by insurers to manage care more efficiently. Seniors should have the freedom to choose whether they want government-run Original Medicare or private Medicare Advantage plans. The memorial’s proposals could push more people toward a single-payer model, reducing competition and innovation in healthcare. Finally, while fraud and inefficiencies exist in both public and private programs, completely overhauling Medicare Advantage due to bad actors might not be the best approach. Instead of limiting private-sector involvement, stronger fraud prevention and accountability measures should be implemented.
Bill Summary
As sure as the sun rises and sets, you can count on Democrats annually pushing for Universal Health Care. Apparently the long waits to be seen by a specialist, sub-standard quality of care, loss of choice of medical providers, government oversight, unnecessary regulations, spending cuts and lack of innovation associated with existing UHC is just too good to pass up.
This document is a Senate Joint Memorial from Washington State urging the federal government to establish a national universal healthcare program. Failing that, it requests federal partnership to enable Washington to implement its own state-wide system, or alternatively, seeks waivers to overcome federal restrictions on state-level universal healthcare initiatives. It specifically mentions existing legislation (HR 6270) as a potential model.
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Education
Amending the Constitution to allow 55 percent of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.
Bill Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 8200 proposes a Washington state constitutional amendment. The amendment modifies Article VII, section 2, and Article VIII, section 6, concerning property tax limitations and municipal debt. It aims to streamline the process for school districts to levy taxes and issue bonds, requiring a 55% voter approval rather than adherence to the existing threshold of 60%. Specific exceptions and conditions are outlined for exceeding tax and debt limits, including provisions for infrastructure projects and bond repayments.
The resolution also includes a declaration that the amendment constitutes a single, integrated plan. Democrats are using this bill and proposed SJR 8200 to make it easier to fund public schools which are failing our students in most core subjects and are losing more and more students to charter schools and home-schooling.