From LWVWA Legislative 2/8/26 newsletter:
Monday, Feb. 9, will be the cutoff for bills to pass from fiscal and transportation committees. It will be a busy day as the fiscal committees in both chambers hold executive sessions on the large number of bills that had public hearings last week. Of particular interest was SB 6346 – The Millionaires’ Tax bill, with a record number of sign-ins and testifiers. Karen Crowley, LWVWA President, was unable to be called for oral testimony as the hearing was cut off. She submitted written testimony, saying in part …. “These are big steps toward greater tax equity and ability to fund needed services in Washington state. We urge you to pass SB 6346.” Full testimony is HERE. There is more information on this bill in the Revenue Weekly Update.
PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR THIS WEEK
SB 6346, Establishing the Millionaires’ Tax. This bill would establish a tax on WA State residents whose incomes exceed $1 milllion annually. Funds generated from this tax would support the General Fund, the Working Families Tax Credit and the public defender costs for counties. It would help to create greater equity in the state tax structure by generating revenue from those most able to pay and who currently contribute the least proportionate to their incomes while funding the tax credit for working families and other general fund costs for those least able to pay and who currently pay the most proportionate to their incomes.
This bill is scheduled for executive session in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Monday, February 9, at 10:30 pm. Please encourage the committee to pass this bill out of committee at that session.
Contact Senate Ways & Means Committee Members HERE asking them to pass SB 6346 out of committee on Monday, February 9.
SB 5754 Create a Public Bank in Washington. A public bank in Washington State would reduce the cost to state and local governments for financing debt. Public banks have been successful in other states where they have been formed. At a time when governments are short of funds, a public bank can be a tool to reduce costs.
Legislation to create a public bank in Washington has been introduced repeatedly among several biennia but the bills haven’t been passed. In 2025, SB 5754, Creating the Washington state public bank, passed its policy committee, and was referred to the Ways & Means Committee, where it did not get scheduled for a public hearing. This year, a public hearing was held on January 15, but the bill was not scheduled for executive session. Monday, February 9, is the cutoff date for bills in the Ways & Means Committee, with a few exceptions, for which this bill does not qualify.
Contact Senate Ways & Means Committee Members HERE asking them to schedule SB 5754 for executive session on the Monday, Feb 9 agenda and to vote it out with a DO Pass recommendation
HB 2210, Let the People Choose RCV in Local Elections. Protecting local representation by strengthening and securing fair elections in local governments, recognizes that local governments need clear and flexible authority to adopt alternative election systems like ranked-choice voting (RCV) and proportional representation—tools that help reduce vote splitting, increase voter participation, promote civil campaigns, reflect voter preferences more accurately, and support effective local governance.
For a period of six years, local jurisdictions would be authorized to adopt ranked-choice voting, proportional representation, or other approved election methods. Once a jurisdiction opts in during that period, it can continue using that election method thereafter. HB 2210 would provide clearer legal authority for local options and offer practical tools for local governments during a period of evolving federal voting rights protections and in the face of the structural barriers that communities of color and language-minority voters experience in electing candidates of choice.
Urge your representative to pass HB 2210 HERE and let the people choose RCV so that everyone feels represented.
For additional action items, which help pass or defeat bills the League supports or opposes on specific issues, click on the see all action alerts, and take action on the ones you are most interested in. Thank you for your support for the League’s issues! There are many more action alerts in this weeks legislative newsletter! Get the LWVWA Legislative newsletter delivered direct to you by subscribing here.