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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Week Four: The legislative session began Jan. 13 and is scheduled to run through April 27.
Today’s newsletter is a 4-minute read time.
One big thing: The budget and tax debate
Washington state is facing a more than $4 billion budget shortfall in 2025-27 if collective bargaining agreements are factored in; the four-year deficit has different estimates but is likely around $10 billion.
Why it matters: A document intended to remain private but leaked to the press in December revealed Senate Democrats are considering as many as nine new or higher taxes. You can read that now-public document here. Democrat Gov. Bob Ferguson doesn’t favor tax increases and calls for across-the-board cuts, the opposite of his party’s legislative leaders.
A spending problem, not a revenue problem: While there are many contributing factors to the budget deficit, lack of tax revenues is not one of them. Tax collections have grown by 103% since 2014, and state spending is unsustainable. The state’s two-year operating budget spends more than $71 billion, up from about $44 billion that lawmakers approved in 2017.
Where I stand: Washington families struggle with high food, gas, and housing costs and cannot afford additional tax increases. I will continue to fight against higher taxes.
A ferry-building ‘backup’ plan
We’ve waited too long: Construction of five new ferries was promised to our local commuters, and construction was supposed to begin in 2019. Six years later, we have no new boats and more empty promises for new hybrid electric ferries.
My plan: I’ve introduced House Bill 1377 as a backup plan if no shipyard qualifies as a bidder during the scheduled April bid on the hybrid electric ferries. The bill would enact a contingency option allowing the governor to declare an emergency and take all necessary actions to expedite the delivery of at least two non-electric ferries within two years.
Why it matters: Frequent delays, cancellations, and the incapacity of our aging fleet to handle demand have created an unreliable system impacting our local economy. If the bidding process falls through in April, we need a contingency plan, so commuters won’t have to wait any longer for new boats.
Read more from my news release.
Standing up for disability rights: On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I spoke on the House floor about the need to better support people with disabilities, including vision issues. Watch my video.
Other bills to watch
Parental rights: The majority party passed House Bill 1296 out of the House Education Committee on Thursday. The measure would rewrite the parental rights initiative that passed last year. Republicans offered several amendments, including one that would require school districts to immediately notify parents or guardians if their child is the victim of sexual misconduct by a school employee. Unfortunately, the amendments were rejected. A similar measure, Senate Bill 5181, is moving through the Senate. Read more here.
Property tax increases: Legislation has been introduced that would allow municipalities to increase property taxes significantly. House Bill 1334 would allow a city to change how inflation is calculated, increasing property taxes by as much as 6%, depending on the Consumer Price Index and population. Fortunately, the bill has not yet been granted a hearing in the House Finance Committee. Read more here.
Rent control: A rent control bill has already passed the House Housing Committee, and yesterday (Feb. 5), a public hearing was held on the measure, House Bill 1217, in the House Appropriations Committee. The bill would limit rent and fee increases to 7% during any 12-month period and prohibit rent and fee increases during the first 12 months of a lease. I am concerned this misguided policy would make our housing crisis worse, reducing the supply of available rental housing and causing immediate rent increases. Read more here.
Early release of prisoners: The House Community Safety Committee is scheduled to vote tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 6) on a bill allowing judges to review and shorten long prison sentences. House Bill 1125, also called the “Judicial Discretion Act,” would establish a process to enable inmates to petition a court to change their sentence. Read more here.
Go here to learn about upcoming significant committee meetings.
I’m here to serve and represent you.
Contact my office if you have any questions about the topics in this newsletter or legislation being considered during the 2025 session. Thank you for allowing me to serve and represent you!
Sincerely,
Michelle Valdez
