Washington Bill Book

The bill would let data center builders avoid paying sales tax on construction supplies, meaning less tax money for the state.

Tax breaks could lure big tech projects to the county, but they also reduce revenue that could fund schools and roads for everyday residents.

Data centers

• Accountability (hurts) — tax exemption reduces oversight. lower tax revenue may limit state oversight of spending
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no direct impact on rights. bill does not change individual legal rights
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — shifts cost to taxpayers. tax break reduces revenue that would fund public services
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard legislative process. bill is in early stage, no special transparency measures
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — favours data center industry. provides tax break specifically for data center construction

Pushing for it: Data center developers
Bearing the cost: Taxpayers

• Official text (WA HB2655)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2655&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB2655https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2655/2025

This bill would let the health department charge fees for checking opioid treatment programs, which could affect their costs.

If this bill passes, it might make it more expensive for opioid treatment programs to operate, which could impact people needing help. Now is the time to think about how this might affect care.

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill establishes a fee structure.. This could help fund oversight but may raise costs.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct rights are removed.. The bill does not limit access to treatment.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs may shift to treatment programs.. Fees could increase operational costs for programs.

• Official text (WA HB2437)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2437&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB2437https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2437/2025

The bill would add a local sales tax but offset it with a state tax credit, using the money to pay for senior citizen programs.

Citizens may see the same overall tax bill, but local governments get money for seniors while the state loses revenue, which could affect other services.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — neutral. no new oversight added
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — neutral. does not affect personal rights
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost shift. local tax added, state revenue reduced
• Process Transparency (neutral) — neutral. bill is still in early stage
• Funding Tilt (helps) — funds seniors. tax revenue earmarked for senior programs

Pushing for it: senior programs
Bearing the cost: state services

• Official text (WA HB1373)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1373&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1373https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1373/2025

This bill would create a way for businesses to report taxes and possibly save money on what they owe.

If this bill passes, some businesses might get a break on their taxes. It's important to think about how this could affect regular people and the money they pay.

Big Business

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill provides a way for businesses to report taxes.. This could help businesses be more accountable for their taxes.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — The focus is on businesses, not everyday people.. Regular people may not benefit directly from this tax program.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — The cost impact is unclear.. It is unknown how this will affect tax revenue for the state.

• Official text (WA HB2615)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2615&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB2615https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2615/2025

The state would let families claim a federal tax credit for K‑12 school costs, lowering the money they owe the government.

Parents could get money back on their taxes, making private school cheaper, while other taxpayers might see less state revenue for public schools. The bill is still early, so people can speak up now.

Private schools

• Accountability (hurts) — No clear oversight built into the framework. The bill does not specify who will monitor the scholarship program
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Does not affect personal rights. The bill does not change any legal protections for families
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Shifts cost to taxpayers. Tax credits reduce state revenue, spreading the cost to all taxpayers
• Process Transparency (hurts) — Limited detail on implementation. The bill gives no specifics on how the program would be run
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Favors private schools. Tax credits encourage spending on private school tuition rather than public schools

• Official text (WA HJM4013)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=4013&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HJM4013https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HJM4013/2025

The bill would set up money to help Washington residents pay their health‑insurance premiums.

People could afford coverage, but the bill needs support now to lock in funding before the next budget cycle.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No specific oversight provisions mentioned.. Text does not describe reporting or accountability measures.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No changes to legal rights are stated.. Bill focuses on funding, not on altering rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Funding source not identified.. Unclear whether taxpayers or other sources will pay.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Limited procedural detail provided.. Only basic legislative steps are listed.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Bill proposes new money for assistance.. Positive tilt toward helping consumers pay premiums.

• Official text (WA SB5808)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5808&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — SB5808https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/SB5808/2025

The bill would let businesses avoid interest and penalties when they accidentally forget to collect sales tax on certain services.

Right now the bill is just a proposal, but if it passes it could save small firms money and keep them from costly tax trouble, while the state may lose some revenue.

Businesses

• Accountability (hurts) — Waiver reduces penalty enforcement. Taxpayers less accountable for tax collection errors
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Provides protection for accidental errors. Limits interest and penalties for inadvertent failures
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — State loses revenue. Waiver shifts cost of penalties to public finances
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No new transparency measures. Bill is still in committee with standard hearings
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Reduces tax revenue. Waiver reduces collections for the state

• Official text (WA SB6033)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6033&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — SB6033https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/SB6033/2025

This bill would change who can get unemployment money when they lose a job, possibly helping students get support.

This bill could change who gets unemployment money, especially for students. If it makes it easier for students to get help when they lose a job, it would give them money to live on while they look for new work. This could be good for students but might mean more money is paid out from the state's unemployment fund, which businesses pay into. We need to watch this bill closely to see exactly what changes it would make to student eligibility.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No direct impact on accountability for bad actors is clear from the summary.. The bill's summary does not provide details on how it would change accountability for any specific group or entity.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Could expand financial protections for students.. If the bill expands eligibility, it would offer more financial support to students who lose their jobs, protecting their ability to pay for basic needs.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Increased payouts from the unemployment fund are possible.. If more students become eligible for benefits, the state's unemployment insurance fund, supported by employer contributions, would likely see increased payouts.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Bill has been reintroduced after being in a holding file.. The bill was placed in a House Rules 'X' file and then reintroduced, indicating a slower legislative path without clear immediate action.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Tilts funding towards individuals needing support.. By potentially making more students eligible for unemployment benefits, the bill would direct more financial resources to individuals during periods of job loss.

Pushing for it: Students who lose jobs
Bearing the cost: State unemployment fund, employers

• Official text (WA HB1843)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1843&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1843https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1843/2025

This bill would help workers understand why their industrial insurance costs go up, making it easier to see who pays what.

This bill wants to make it clearer why the cost of industrial insurance, like workers' compensation, changes. If it passes, people might get more information about these rate increases. This could help workers and businesses understand where their money is going. The bill does not say exactly how it will make things more transparent or which rate increases it will cover. It is important to watch this bill to see if it truly helps people understand costs or if it is just a small change.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Could help people understand rate changes.. The bill aims to promote transparency in how industrial insurance rates are increased, which could make those setting rates more accountable.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct impact stated.. The bill's focus on transparency does not explicitly create or remove rights or protections for individuals.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No cost shift specified.. The bill focuses on transparency of rate increases, not on who bears the cost of those increases or the insurance itself.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Bill's stated goal is transparency.. The bill's entire purpose is to promote transparency in industrial insurance rate increases.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding details.. The bill text does not provide any information regarding funding or financial allocations.

Pushing for it: Workers and businesses
Bearing the cost: No specific group mentioned

• Official text (WA HB2188)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2188&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB2188https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2188/2025

This bill would let students receive unemployment benefits if they lose their jobs, helping them during tough times.

If this bill passes, students could get financial help when they need it most. It's important to support this change now.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill seeks to clarify eligibility.. It does not add new costs or protections.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — It expands rights for students.. Students could access benefits if they lose jobs.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs are unclear.. The bill does not specify funding sources.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill is still in early stages.. More discussions are needed.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Funding details are unknown.. The financial impact is not outlined.

• Official text (WA SB5540)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5540&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — SB5540https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/SB5540/2025

This bill would give tax breaks to businesses that help their workers pay for child care, making it easier for parents to work.

This bill could make it easier for working parents to find and afford child care, which is a big cost for many families. Businesses might be more likely to offer child care help if they get a tax break for it. Some people might worry that this tax break means less money for other state services. But supporters say it helps families and keeps people working. Now is the time to tell your lawmakers if you think this is a good idea for Washington state.

Employers

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. This bill does not directly address accountability for bad actors, but rather incentivizes positive employer behavior.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps people. By encouraging employers to offer child care assistance, this bill would indirectly support employees' ability to work and care for their families, a practical protection.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Benefits employees. The cost of the tax credit would be borne by Washington state taxpayers through reduced tax revenue, but the benefit would go to businesses and potentially their employees.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Transparent. The bill is in the early 'Introduced' stage, allowing time for public input and review.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Favors businesses that help employees. The bill provides a tax credit, which is a financial incentive, to businesses, tilting funding towards employers who offer child care support.

Pushing for it: Businesses providing child care assistance
Bearing the cost: Washington state taxpayers

• Official text (WA HB2187)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2187&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB2187https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2187/2025

This bill would help more renters buy their homes using a federal program that gives tax breaks for housing projects.

This bill would make it easier for people who rent to eventually own their homes. It uses a federal program called the low-income housing tax credit. This program helps build affordable housing. Right now, many renters might not have a clear path to owning their place. This bill wants to change that by making sure these housing projects also plan for tenants to buy their homes later. This is important because owning a home can help families build wealth and feel more secure. People should pay attention to this bill to make sure it truly helps renters become homeowners.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. The bill focuses on creating opportunities, not directly on accountability mechanisms.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Increases opportunities. It would increase opportunities for tenants to achieve homeownership, a significant protection and benefit.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Leverages existing federal program. The bill leverages the federal low-income housing tax credit program, not creating new state costs directly.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Public hearing scheduled. A public hearing is scheduled, allowing for public input.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Benefits low-income tenants. The bill is designed to benefit low-income tenants by providing a path to homeownership.

Pushing for it: Low-income tenants
Bearing the cost: No direct opposition identified in terms of money

• Official text (WA HB2527)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2527&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB2527https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2527/2025

This bill would stop dangerous sex offenders from getting out of supervision early, which helps keep communities safer for everyone.

This bill would make sure that sexually violent predators cannot earn credits to shorten the time they are watched by the state. This means they would stay under supervision for the full time ordered, which could make communities safer. People who believe in strict supervision for serious offenders would support this. Others might worry about the costs of longer supervision, though the bill text does not mention this. It is important to know about this bill now because it is still moving through the legislature.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases accountability for sexually violent predators.. The bill makes sexually violent predators ineligible to earn supervision compliance credit, meaning they would be held accountable for the full term of their supervision.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects public safety.. By extending supervision, the bill aims to protect the public from individuals deemed sexually violent predators.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No clear cost shift mentioned.. The official text does not provide details on who would bear any potential costs associated with longer supervision terms.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No specific transparency issues noted.. The bill's text does not provide information to assess its impact on process transparency.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding details provided.. The official text does not mention any funding or financial appropriations related to this bill.

Pushing for it: Public safety, victims of crime
Bearing the cost: The state (for longer supervision costs), sexually violent predators

• Official text (WA HB1091)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1091&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1091https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1091/2025

This bill would let more adults get money back from the state through a tax credit, helping them pay for daily needs.

This bill wants to help more working families in Washington state. Right now, the Working Families' Tax Credit helps some people, but this bill would let *all* adults who are 18 and older get it. If this bill passes, more people could get money back from the state to help with things like food, rent, or bills. This is a chance for people to tell their lawmakers if they think more adults should get this help.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. This bill is about expanding a tax credit, not about holding anyone accountable.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps people. It would give more adults access to a tax credit, which can help support their financial well-being.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — State pays. The state budget would pay for more people to get this tax credit, but it means more money for working families.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Transparent. The bill has had a public hearing, showing an open process.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Tilts to families. It would direct more state money to working families and adults through tax credits.

Pushing for it: Working families and adults age 18 and older
Bearing the cost: The state budget

• Official text (WA HB1214)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1214&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1214https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1214/2025

This bill would stop businesses from taking money out of your tips to pay for credit card fees, so you keep more of what you earn.

This bill would make sure that when you pay with a credit card, the business, not the worker, covers the fee for that transaction. Workers depend on tips to make a living, and these deductions can cut into their earnings. Some people might say businesses have costs too and need to cover them, but this bill says those costs should not come from worker tips. It is important to support this bill to help workers keep all their hard-earned tips.

Workers

• Accountability (helps) — Businesses would be accountable for their own transaction fees.. The bill would make sure businesses, not workers, cover credit card processing costs related to tips.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects workers' right to their full tips.. This bill would protect workers' earnings by ensuring they receive 100% of their tips without deductions for credit card fees.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Shifts cost of credit card fees from employees back to businesses.. The cost of credit card processing fees for tips would be borne by the business, not the employee.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No information given about process transparency.. The bill's procedural status does not indicate any unusual lack of transparency.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding mentioned.. The bill does not mention specific funding or financial appropriations.

Pushing for it: Employees
Bearing the cost: Businesses

• Official text (WA HB1623)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1623&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1623https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1623/2025

This bill would let more homeless and foster youth use a school program to attend tribal colleges, helping them get an education.

This bill is a good idea because it would help young people who are homeless or in foster care get a better chance at going to college. By letting them use a special program at tribal colleges, it helps them learn skills and get jobs. This is important because everyone deserves a fair shot at an education, and this bill helps make that happen for some of our most vulnerable youth.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps vulnerable youth get education.. The bill would allow more homeless students and foster youth to get help from a special program to attend tribal colleges, which protects their right to education.

Pushing for it: Homeless students, foster youth, tribal colleges
Bearing the cost: N/A

• Official text (WA SB5304)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5304&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — SB5304https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/SB5304/2025

This bill would help jail workers get paid for treatment if they get PTSD from their job, making sure they get care.

This bill would help correctional facility workers who see hard things at work. It would make sure their industrial insurance, like workers' comp, covers their treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Right now, it might be harder for them to get this help. This bill would make it clear that their mental health is important, just like a physical injury. Some might worry about how much this would cost the system, but others would say it's fair to take care of people who keep us safe. It's important to watch this bill now because it could make a big difference for these workers' health and their families.

Workers

• Accountability (helps) — Helps ensure industrial insurance covers mental health for workers.. The bill would make sure industrial insurance covers posttraumatic stress disorders for correctional facility workers, holding the system accountable for their mental health needs.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Expands workers' rights to mental health coverage.. Correctional facility workers would gain the right to have their posttraumatic stress disorder covered by industrial insurance if it's job-related.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs for PTSD treatment would shift to industrial insurance.. The cost of treating posttraumatic stress disorder for correctional facility workers would be covered by industrial insurance, rather than potentially being borne by the workers themselves.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Bill is moving through regular legislative process.. The bill has been introduced, referred to committees, and had a public hearing, showing a standard legislative process.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Tilts insurance coverage towards worker mental health.. By including PTSD, the bill would direct industrial insurance funds to cover mental health conditions for correctional facility workers.

Pushing for it: Correctional facility workers
Bearing the cost: Industrial insurance system

• Official text (WA HB1070)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1070&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1070https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1070/2025

This bill would give companies a tax break if they help their workers pay for child care, which could make child care more affordable for families.

This bill wants to make it easier for working parents to find and pay for child care. It would give companies a tax credit, meaning they pay less in taxes, if they offer child care help to their employees. This could be a big help for families struggling with high child care costs. Some people might worry that giving tax breaks to businesses means less money for other state services. But supporters believe it helps the economy by making it easier for parents to work.

Workers

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral impact. The bill does not directly change how accountable companies are for their actions, but encourages a positive action.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Neutral impact. The bill does not directly create or remove any rights or protections for individuals.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Costs shifted from families to state. The state would give a tax credit, meaning less tax money for the state, but potentially lower child care costs for families.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process. The bill has been introduced and had a public hearing, following normal steps.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Favors businesses. The tax credit directly benefits businesses that choose to offer child care assistance.

Pushing for it: Employers providing child care assistance
Bearing the cost: Washington state (tax revenue)

• Official text (WA HB1564)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1564&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1564https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1564/2025

The bill would raise the working families' tax credit to offset the extra property taxes landlords add to rent.

More money could ease rent burdens for families, but the state will need to fund the credit, possibly raising other taxes.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — no new oversight. Bill does not change accountability mechanisms
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no rights change. Bill does not affect legal rights
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost to state. State must fund larger tax credit
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard process. Bill follows usual legislative steps
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — neutral. No specific funding source identified

Pushing for it: working families
Bearing the cost: state treasury

• Official text (WA HB2025)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2025&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB2025https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2025/2025

The bill would help more families get their tax credit by sharing data and improving collection services.

More refunds for working families could help household budgets, while the state will need money for the new data program; now is a good time to support the bill.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No clear change to oversight.. Bill does not add new accountability measures.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No rights removed.. Bill does not affect legal rights of individuals.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — State likely funds data program.. Costs fall on government, not on consumers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. Bill is at early stage with typical referrals.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding source specified.. Funding details are unknown.

• Official text (WA HB1224)https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1224&Year=2025&Initiative=false
• LegiScan — HB1224https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB1224/2025