Latest news with #WashingtonHouse
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA House advances gas tax increase, $3.2B transportation revenue package
Traffic on Interstate 5 near Olympia. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Washington House Democrats late Thursday approved a multibillion-dollar transportation revenue package anchored by a 6-cent increase to the state's gas tax, the first hike in nearly a decade. The increase would bring the state's per-gallon gas tax from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents, then raise it by 2% each year to account for inflation. At the same time, the state tax on diesel would go up three cents in July and another three cents two years later. That six cents would also get a 2% boost each year after that. The gas tax hike, which would go into effect in July, is expected to raise $1.4 billion over the next six years. The diesel tax would net upward of $160 million over that time, estimates show. In total, lawmakers are banking on the package to bring in $3.2 billion over the next six years. Senate Bill 5801 contains numerous other tax and fee boosts. There's an increase in the passenger vehicle weight fee. There's a bump in the added sales tax for vehicles from 0.3% to 0.5%. There are $3 increases in the fees for titles and registrations. There's a new 8% tax on the portion of the selling price of vehicles above $100,000. There's a 10% tax on the amount of non-commercial aircraft sales above $500,000. There's a temporary increase in the rental car tax from 5.9% to 11.9% before moving down to 9.9% in 2027. There's an increase in the tire replacement fee from $1 to $5. There's a $1 increase every three years in fees for new IDs and driver's licenses. And there's an added charge for ferry riders paying with credit cards, as well as a 50-cent increase to the capital vessel surcharge on each fare. House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, said the 'dire' transportation budget situation warrants the potpourri of taxes. Lawmakers have warned of a $1 billion shortfall over the next two-year budget cycle, ballooning to $8 billion over the next six years. They point to skyrocketing construction costs, flagging gas tax revenue and the looming multibillion-dollar question of how to address the court-ordered removal of culverts blocking fish migration. 'My constituents don't want to pay more, but they want to drive on roads that are well maintained,' said Rep. Julia Reed, D-Seattle. 'They want to ride on ferries that function and run on time. They want to see their streets served by modes of transportation that allow them to get out of their cars once in a while, and allow their children to move around more freely.' Republicans say the medley of taxes, on top of separate levies to pay for the operating budget, is too much for working-class residents to bear. Rep. Andrew Barkis, the leading Republican voice in the House on transportation issues, said in floor debate that he recognizes revenue is needed to improve Washington's infrastructure. But 'it comes to a point where we're putting this on the backs of Washingtonians with an ever-increasing burden of taxation,' said Barkis, of Olympia. On the House floor, Democrats rejected Republican proposals to get rid of the increases to the gas and diesel taxes, rental car tax, vehicle sales tax and tire replacement fee. Democrats did choose to ax a controversial $1-per-attendee tax on sporting events, concerts and more at large venues. To make up for the lost revenue, they added another increase to the fee on heavier passenger vehicles. They also elected to require the state Department of Transportation to conduct an analysis before imposing tolls across the entire State Route 520 corridor, not just the floating bridge, as is currently the case. When the Senate approved its initial $3 billion revenue framework last month, four Republicans joined most Democrats in support. On Thursday night, the new version in the House passed 51-47 without any Republican votes and eight Democrats in opposition. Senate Bill 5801 now goes to the Senate to agree with the changes made in the House before sending it to Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson's desk by Sunday's scheduled close of the legislative session. The chamber plans to take it up later Friday. Ferguson has not publicly weighed in on the proposed gas tax increase. 'We'll see when that comes to me,' Ferguson told reporters Friday, noting he was expecting a briefing from his budget director on the plan's latest version. How exactly the additional money will be spent remains to be seen. Lawmakers finished negotiating late Wednesday on their funding plan, expected to total upward of $15 billion. They plan to release their agreed proposal Saturday morning. Also on Thursday, the House approved transferring 0.1% of proceeds from the state sales tax from the operating budget to transportation starting in the 2027-29 biennium. This would shift hundreds of millions of dollars toward transportation. The Senate on Friday also passed the bill, Senate Bill 5802, so it's headed to the governor.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to WA governor's desk
(Photo by Aristide Economopoulos for States Newsroom) A new state permit requirement for gun buyers is poised to become law, as the Washington House sent the legislation to the governor's desk late Tuesday. House Bill 1163 would require gun buyers to apply for a five-year permit from the Washington State Patrol. To qualify, applicants must pay a fee and have completed a certified firearms safety training program within the past five years, with some exceptions. On a 57-39 vote Tuesday, Democrats in the House agreed with small changes the Senate made. Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat and gun control advocate, will decide the bill's fate. The amendments included adding exemptions from the training mandate for licensed armed security guards and private investigators and delaying the effective date to May 2027. Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle, said if Washington had the permit requirement in place a decade ago, the state would've seen about 250 fewer homicides and nearly 1,000 fewer suicides. 'Permit to purchase systems save lives,' Berry said in debate on the House floor. 'They work. They make sure that guns don't get into the hands of the wrong people. They make sure that guns aren't diverted to black markets, and they prevent crime.' Republicans argue criminals would ignore the requirement, so the legislation would do little to promote public safety while placing another hurdle to the constitutional right to bear arms. Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, said the bill 'is not just unconstitutional,' but also 'it is no guarantee that one murder will be prevented, that one assault will be prevented, that one suicide will be prevented.' About a dozen other states have such permit-to-purchase systems. Courts across the country have largely upheld them. Under the Washington legislation, if an applicant has completed the firearm safety course, the state has to approve the permit unless the person is barred from having guns, out of custody on bond awaiting trial or sentencing on felony charges, or the subject of an arrest warrant. Troopers must issue the permit within 30 days, or 60 days if the applicant doesn't have a state ID. State patrol anticipates receiving at least 100,000 applications per year, with over 40 employees tasked with handling them. The agency expects the new program will cost nearly $20 million in the 2027-29 budget cycle. Fees collected for fingerprinting and background checks would offset the cost, according to a fiscal analysis. The system could bring in $31 million in the 2027-29 budget.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Medical Debt Will No Longer Affect Credit Scores for 300,000 Americans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lawmakers in Washington have approved a bill that stops collection agencies from reporting medical debt to credit agencies. Why It Matters Many Americans struggle with medical debt, which can affect their credit scores and in turn their ability to borrow the funds necessary to buy a house or car. According to KFF Health, in 2021, 6 percent of U.S. adults, or 14 million people, owed more than $1,000 in medical debt, while about 3 million people owed medical debt of more than $10,000. In Washington, the outlet reported, 380,000 people carried medical debt between 2019 and 2021. What To Know On Tuesday, Governor Bob Ferguson signed legislation banning medical debt from appearing on credit reports into law, after the proposed bill passed both the Washington House and Senate. According to an August 2024 report by Northwest Health Law Advocates, about six in 10 Washington adults could not pay an unexpected $500 medical bill, and about 30 percent said they lived in a household with medical debt, even if they had health insurance. Fifty-seven percent of surveyed Washingtonians said they had avoided seeking medical treatment or modified their use of prescriptions in the prior year because of the cost. In January, the Trump administration blocked a similar rule to eliminate medical debt from credit reporting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau had finalized. The rule was projected to boost credit scores for 15 million Americans by an average of 20 points. A stock image of a medical bill arranged with U.S. dollars and a stethoscope. A stock image of a medical bill arranged with U.S. dollars and a stethoscope. GETTY What People Are Saying Washington state Senator Marcus Riccelli, who co-sponsored the bill, said in a news release on Tuesday: "One of the top concerns in my district is rising costs, especially when it comes to health care. This bill will ensure that people in our state who have a medical emergency will be better protected from a credit rating change that can threaten basic needs like buying a car, renting an apartment, or even getting a job. No one should have to endure financial ruin to seek life-saving care, especially when so many people are struggling to afford the basics." Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said on X, formerly Twitter: "Medical debt is a significant issue for many Washingtonians. SB 5480 prohibits the reporting of medical debt to credit agencies. If it is reported, it will be void and unenforceable. This doesn't erase medical debt, but it lessens impact to credit scores." Adam Zarrin, the director of state government affairs for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, said in a news release: "Medical debt isn't a choice—it's a consequence of rising health care costs. Thanks to Gov. Ferguson and Sen. Riccelli, thousands of Washingtonians can finally breathe easier, break free from crushing medical debt, and focus on their health and families." What Happens Next The legislation is scheduled to take effect on July 27.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing advocates say Senate version of rent-cap bill ‘guts' tenant protections
When a bill that would cap annual rent increases at 7% cleared the Washington House last month, housing advocates cheered. They viewed it as a measure that would help stymie evictions and keep tenants in their homes. But on April 10, the Senate made changes to the legislation that alarmed those same advocates, who now fear that the Senate version could harm the very people whom the bill is meant to help. 'The difference between what the House passed and what the Senate passed is so extreme,' said Michele Thomas, policy and advocacy director for the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. Thomas said Thursday that the Senate gutted the initial bill, and that the changes would cause evictions and increase homelessness. The Senate's version of House Bill 1217 would raise the yearly allowable rent hike for residential tenants from the House's proposed 7% cap to a 10% cap plus consumer price index, a measure of inflation. Data sent to McClatchy by Thomas' organization shows that last year, a rent increase of 10% plus CPI would have translated to a more than 13% spike. For a rent of $1,830, that monthly increase would equal $241.56, bringing the new monthly rent to $2,071.56. Another Senate amendment would exempt certain single-family homes, which Thomas' group said would apply to about 38% of renter households statewide. That would have a disparate effect on families with kids, multi-generational households, and tenants who live in smaller towns and communities, Thomas said. Thomas' group wants House Democrats to rebuff the Senate's changes through what's known as the concurrence process. Advocates are calling for a final bill with a yearly rent-increase cap of 7% for residential tenants and 5% for manufactured homeowners. The group also wants to ensure that renters in single-family homes aren't excluded. Some 75 to 100 people rallied at the state Capitol Friday afternoon at an event sponsored by Thomas' organization. Renter Claudia Franson of Vancouver told McClatchy at the rally that she's lived in a single-family home for five years. The mother of seven said she's worried it'll get to the point when she can no longer afford her house. Even a 7% rent hike would be a struggle. Franson said her place is the right home for the size of her family. 'If I have to leave one day, that would definitely make us homeless,' she said. 'There's no other place that I believe would be suitable for my children if this keeps going and rising.' State Sen. Alvarado, a West Seattle Democrat and the bill's prime sponsor, said in an interview that the upper chamber's amendments watered down the original bill's protections. The bill had aimed to help make rent increases more predictable so that folks can live with more stability. 'These are tough times,' she said. 'It's hard to afford the rent, and I believe that people should be able to know how high their rent will go, and to have protections on how high their rent will go.' Alvarado wants lawmakers to pass a bill offering substantial protections to the nearly 40% of Washingtonians who are renters and manufactured homeowners. She thinks lawmakers should demonstrate their commitment to hardworking people and 'older adults who just want to be able to live with dignity.' 'Throughout the process, we have made significant compromises,' Alvarado said. 'We've listened to diverse perspectives, and we'll continue to do that, and I hope we get a meaningful piece of legislation off the floor.' House Speaker Laurie Jinkins told reporters Thursday that the Senate amendments aren't welcomed by many of her caucus' members. 'My guess is there are conversations going on between members here, members there, about where is a good — the right landing spot,' the Tacoma Democrat said at a media availability. 'I've been working on a lot of things, and so I'll hear back at some point as people get closer to a resolution or get to a spot where they're stuck. I have not heard either of those things yet.' Thomas noted that Washington's rents are among the highest in the nation. A 10% rent increase alone would be destabilizing to the vast majority of tenants, but the CPI inflation factor on top 'adds another wild card.' It strips the predictability component from the bill, she said. Inflation has been quite high in recent years, Thomas said. She fears it could potentially skyrocket amid federal-government uncertainty, tariffs and threats of a looming recession. Thomas cited a recent poll that suggests the vast majority of Washingtonians, 81%, support capping rent hikes. Lawmakers still have a chance to correct course and pass a policy that addresses the state's growing homelessness and housing-insecurity crisis, she said. 'That is the top issue for so many voters across the state,' Thomas said. 'Lawmakers only have a week from Sunday to get it done, and it's coming quick. It's coming quick.' The 2025 legislative session is scheduled to end April 27.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA Senate makes major changes to rent cap bill, setting up debate with House
The Brief A showdown between the Washington House and Senate is set after major changes were made to legislation that puts a limit on rent increases. The hotly-debated bill left the House back in March with a 7% cap on rent increases, but was increased to 10% plus inflation by the Senate through a narrow, bipartisan vote. OLYMPIA, Wash. - A showdown between both chambers of the legislature is set, as the Senate made major changes to legislation passed by the House to put a limit on rent increases. After a lengthy debate Thursday evening, the Senate amended and passed House Bill 1217 on a 29-20 vote, with one Democratic senator joining all Republicans in opposition. The hotly debated legislation left the House back in March with a 7% cap on rent increases. But that cap was increased to 10% plus inflation by the Senate through a narrow, bipartisan vote. A Democratic senator proposed the amendment, concerned rent caps could reduce housing supply. "Research as it stands suggests that 7% is risky," said Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham. "And so I'm asking for a 10% cap with a CPI adjustment, because that might be risky too, but it's less risky." Other changes made in the Senate include sunsetting the rent caps after 15 years and exempting single-family homes not owned by real estate development companies. Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-West Seattle, sponsored the bill in the house before being appointed to the Senate at the beginning of the 2025 session. "I'm disappointed at this point of where we are of the changes that were made here, that I think strip far too many people of the protections that we could have afforded them," she said after the legislation passed. "But still this bill is important," she added. Back in the House, Housing Committee Chair Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, said he knew some changes would come, but nothing like this. "Part of me is not terribly surprised, but very disappointed," he said in an interview Friday. "They basically doubled the rent cap that we sent off the floor of the House, and I think working families across Washington just can't afford that now." As discussions begin on how to come together and move the bill forward, Peterson said he would want the Senate to concede to the House position. Though he assumed the two chambers will go into the conference process, where a handful of members will negotiate a compromise. "I plan on working as hard as I can over the next couple of weeks to make sure that we do get this to the governor's desk in a form that, again, really helps Washingtonians," Peterson said. "Whether it's at 7%, which I think is very reasonable, or maybe a little bit higher than that, is to be seen. But again, I think the House position is strong. And I think it makes economic sense and I think it makes sense for families." Republican Housing Committee member Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, said he is pleased with the changes from the Senate, but would still vote against the bill as it is "bad policy." He argued more housing supply and other reforms are needed to keep people in homes, and rent caps have not worked in other places across the country. "We've seen a decline in building and we've seen a decline in supply. And we've seen this be a problem where we'll have to come back and fix it again, right," Barkis said. "And I just think, again, the best possible outcome would not have this policy in the state of Washington." Both chambers would have to agree on one version by the time session ends on April 27 in order to get the bill to the governor. The Source Information in this story is from Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. Convicted child molester linked to missing WA grandmother case FBI investigating Tesla charging station damaged overnight in Lacey Remains of Laurie Krage identified in Pierce County, WA cold case Police: Man sets building on fire during Auburn standoff, likely dead Juvenile shot near King County middle school, deputies say Tariffs live updates: Trump's sweeping plan takes effect, including 104% on China To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
