Proposals, debates, and legislation involving state and local taxation
Clark County cannabis retailers warn that proposed Washington tax changes could push customers to Oregon or the black market, raising cross-border concerns for Southwest Washington communities.
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Washington House lawmakers have unanimously advanced a bill sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Barnard to permanently exempt multipurpose senior centers from property taxes, removing a 2028 sunset and aligning with recent JLARC recommendations.
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Early returns show Battle Ground’s educational levy trailing by a narrow margin, while Hockinson’s renewal is leading. A decision on Feb. 20 could determine funding for critical student services.
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Washington’s SB 5292 would overhaul how PFML premiums are set by relying on actuarial projections rather than a statutory formula—and include a new reserve requirement. Critics warn the change could make future tax hikes all but inevitable, with low‑wage workers least likely to benefit.
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Several high‑profile Washington bills—including proposals on psilocybin therapy, campus medication abortion, and short‑term rental taxes—were killed by Monday’s fiscal‑committee cutoff, highlighting how budget constraints continue to stall progressive reforms in Olympia.
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Portland lost nearly 9,000 jobs in 2025 and multifamily housing permits plunged to a decade-low, signaling structural economic risks—developments with spillover consequences for southwest Washington’s communities.
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Oregon lawmakers are weighing whether to direct hundreds of millions of public dollars toward a major renovation of Portland’s Moda...
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Washougal voters appear to be renewing their support for the Washougal School District’s two critical funding measures in the February...
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<p>Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is urging lawmakers to back a new income-based tax on the state’s top earners — now facing public demonstrations of support in Olympia — to bolster public education and reduce property taxes.</p>
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Hundreds rallied in Olympia supporting Washington’s proposed ‘millionaire tax’ as SB 6346 advanced with new revisions, now heading toward a potential Senate floor vote.
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