Bad Bills We Stopped
Cutting special education-related funding for infants and toddlers with disabilities
House Bill 2688 changes the funding formula for Washington’s early support for infants and toddlers program, which provides early intervention services for eligible children with disabilities from birth to age...
Government-run grocery stores
House Bill 2313 authorizes cities and towns across Washington to establish, own, and operate public grocery stores in areas with food access gaps. Under this legislation, local governments are granted...
State takeover of environmental prosecutions and criminalizing unintentional mistakes
Senate Bill 5360 creates new environmental crimes and expands criminal liability in industries already heavily regulated. While framed as an environmental protection measure, the legislation grants the state Attorney General...
Reducing accountability for sex offenders who fail to register
House Bill 2403 significantly reduces the penalties for sex offenders who repeatedly fail to register with law enforcement. Currently, a first offense is a Class C felony, but subsequent offenses...
Shorter sentences for serious crimes
House Bill 1239 significantly expands “earned release time,” which allows people in prison to reduce their sentences for good behavior or participation in programs. Under this bill, incarcerated individuals could...
Keeping tents on sidewalks makes communities less safe
House Bill 2489 limits when cities, towns, and counties may enforce local laws governing homeless encampments in the use of public spaces, including parks, sidewalks, and public right-of-ways. Under the...
Taxing drinks, one bottle at a time
House Bill 1607 creates a new statewide bottle deposit system for most beverages sold in Washington. Under the bill, shoppers would be required to pay a 10-cent deposit on every...
Taxing groceries, one bag at a time
House Bill 2233 bans most plastic bags at retail establishments starting January 1, 2028, expanding the current plastic bag restrictions to cover nearly all plastic bags under 10 mils in...
A hidden tire tax that drives up everyday costs
House Bill 2421 creates a new statewide tire fee and chemical ban tied to a substance used in most vehicle tires. Starting in 2027, the bill adds a new “6PPD...
Payroll tax discourages family-wage jobs
House Bill 2100 creates a new state payroll tax on employers by imposing a 5% excise tax on compensation paid above $125,000 per employee. Notably, the threshold applies to total...
Local tax hike on small businesses and families
House Bill 2097 would allow counties to create their own local business and occupation taxes. These taxes are based on a business’s total revenue, not profit, and would be added...
Paying for wildfire damage through your utility bill
House Bill 2275 creates a state-run fund designed to pay for wildfire damages and lawsuits when an electric utility is found negligent. The fund would be paid through new surcharges...
More barriers to homebuilding deepens housing crisis
House Bill 2191 makes owners and general contractors financially responsible for unpaid wages and benefits owed by subcontractors—even when they were not involved in the violation. The bill creates joint...
Turning farms into state-controlled workplaces
House Bill 2409 places farms, packing sheds, and food processing facilities under a state-run labor system that allows unions to represent agricultural workers and negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions....
Bad Bills That Passed
Washington’s new state income tax
Senate Bill 6346 creates Washington’s new state income tax, a move that would fundamentally alter the state's economic landscape. This proposal is historically unpopular. When the bill was heard in...
State takeover of local Sheriffs
Senate Bill 5974 fundamentally alters the Office of the Sheriff in Washington state by imposing strict new eligibility requirements and empowering state bureaucrats to remove elected Sheriffs from office. For...
Removing protections and safeguards for taxpayers
House Bill 2442 dramatically expands counties' and cities' ability to raise taxes and fees by loosening long-standing safeguards that protect taxpayers. The bill authorizes multiple new and expanded local taxes,...
Raiding first responder pensions to fund state spending
House Bill 2034 officially ends the current retirement plan for Washington police officers and firefighters and replaces it with a newly structured system; however, the primary goal of this change...
Expanding the Attorney General’s investigative powers
Senate Bill 5925 gives the Attorney General, or the attorneys under his authority, new authority to issue civil investigative demands before filing a lawsuit. These demands can require people, businesses,...
Authorizing Attorney General investigators as limited peace officers
House Bill 2165 gives the Attorney General’s Office a new layer of law-enforcement-style authority by allowing certain investigators to be designated as limited authority Washington peace officers for the purpose...