2024 legislative review
Rep . April Berg , D-Mill Creek , chairs the House Finance Committee and also serves on the Appropriations and Local Government committees . Rep . Ed Orcutt , R-Kalalama , is the Finance Committee ’ s ranking member and also serves on the Transportation and Agriculture & Natural Resources committees .
HB 2276 / SB 6191 real estate transfer tax
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsors : Rep . April Berg , D-Mill Creek , and Sen . Noel Frame , D-Seattle
Lawmakers attempted for the second year in a row to increase the state ’ s real estate excise tax , or REET . The bill would impose a new 1 % real estate transfer tax to the portion of a sale price above $ 3,025,000 . The revenue would fund affordable housing .
Washington ’ s top REET rate is already the third highest in the nation ; the proposal would move it into a tie for second highest . The bill would add significantly to the tax burden on businesses of all sizes because most commercial and industrial property would bear the additional 1 % tax . It would also increase the tax on apartment buildings , despite the intention of the bill to alleviate housing costs for low-income households .
More than 100 employers , business organizations and economic development groups joined AWB to oppose the measure , underscoring we cannot fix the affordability
crisis by making housing more expensive . HB 2276 passed the House Finance Committee but never made it to the floor for a vote or to the Senate .
SB 5770 property tax growth
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Jamie Pederson , D-Seattle
A proposal to triple how much local governments can increase property tax revenue annually returned this year . The bill would eliminate a voter-imposed 1 % cap on annual property tax growth and replace it with a 3 % limit , which AWB opposed since it would increase homeownership costs and make housing more expensive .
Local property taxes make up the vast bulk of taxpayers ’ property tax bill and this proposal would triple the annual growth rate of those taxes without voter approval . Thanks in part to the advocacy of AWB members , the bill failed and was not heard on the floor .
SB 6249 state property tax exemption
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . June Robinson , D-Everett
This proposal would establish a property tax relief program for homeowners . The bill authorizes a state property tax exemption equal to the greater of $ 100,000 or 60 percent of the county median home value ; it also requires passage of a constitutional amendment . AWB opposed this bill because it would simply shift the tax burden onto other properties and the state would still collect the same amount of money . The bill failed to make it out of committee .
SB 6136 taxing rental income
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Patty Kuderer , D-Bellevue
A proposed 1.75 % B & O tax on rental income would disincentivize needed investment
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