Black Wednesday for taxpayers in Washington

You have to feel bad for Washingtonians. While the rest of the nation today enjoys the relief of surviving another National Tax Day (April 15), our friends in Washington instead woke up to the news that no fewer than five new tax increase bills were introduced on April 16. Also, despite legislative transparency rules requiring at least five days' notice before action on a bill, same-day public hearings were scheduled on these new tax increases.

As reported by KIRO radio:

"All five [tax increase] bills are scheduled for their first public hearing Wednesday, giving supporters and critics barely any time to digest the details.”

Here are the new bills introduced today proposing billions in tax increases:

• SB 5811: Targeting Tesla with a new excise tax 
  

• SB 5812: Property tax increase
  

• SB 5813: Capital gains income and death tax increase
  

• SB 5814: Select sales tax increase and requiring certain businesses to prepay taxes
  

• SB 5815: Business tax increase (B&O) 
  

While neighboring states like Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have spent the year adopting or considering “record” tax cuts, Washington lawmakers stand alone in their belief that they can tax their way to economic prosperity.  

As for the poor public process being used, consider the bill page for one of the new proposed tax increases:

This is not a good look for any bill (introducing and holding a public hearing on the same day). It is a totally unacceptable process for tax increases. 

Per Senate Rule 45:

"At least five days' notice shall be given of all public hearings held by any committee other than the rules committee. Such notice shall contain the date, time and place of such hearing together with the title and number of each bill, or identification of the subject matter, to be considered at such hearing. By a majority vote of the committee members present at any committee meeting such notice may be dispensed with. The reason for such action shall be set forth in a written statement preserved in the records of the meeting."

Sure, this transparency protection can be waived, but is that really the best way to govern when trying to impose billions in tax increases?

The 2025 Legislative Sessions across the region have been one for the record books. Record tax cuts for states like Idaho, while Washington instead advances billions in tax increases despite strong economic headwinds. To those in the Evergreen State, good luck.