Advocacy Update 1/26/24

We're headed into the 4th week of the Washington State Legislative Session. Here are the pieces of legislation we're tracking that could impact the business community:

Free up 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in CTE on the job training

The legislation:
House Bill (HB) 2035
 
Why it matters:
Currently youth are not allowed to participate in any work during school hours. Current regulations prevent a high school student from participating in a bona fide career and technical education (CTE) program if it includes work-based learning during the school day. Students can work in these programs if the work falls outside of school hours.
 
This legislation would allow students to work in a bona fide CTE program during the school year and during normal school hours. It also allows students enrolled in a bona fide college program to work the “extended” hours also.
 
What you can do:
Send a comment or your position to your legislators.

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Mandatory payroll deductions for personal retirement accounts

The legislation:
House Bill (HB) 2244 and Senate Bill (SB) 6069
 
Why it matters:
Studies have shown that many Americans are not preparing for retirement and are relying on Social Security as their retirement plan. The process of setting up a personal IRA account may also be daunting.
 
The House bill and the Senate companion bill would create a mandatory payroll deduction for employees who work for a company that does not currently have some kind of retirement account. The employer must enroll in the program, but the employee must opt out if they don’t want to participate.
 
What you can do:
Send a comment on the House bill or comment on the Senate bill. You can also just state your position.

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Allowing more time clean energy manufacturers to get up and running

​The legislation:
House Bill (HB) 2120
 
Why it matters:
The development of clean energy facilities is a long process. There is currently legislation in place that allows a property tax exemption for up to 5 years on the development of new facilities. That may not be long enough to complete the design and construction.
 
This bill would allow local governments the option to extend the property tax exemption for up to four additional years. This change would allow existing project to be completed and may encourage new projects in clean energy.
 
What you can do:
Send a comment or your position to your legislators.

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New real estate transfer tax could affect affordable housing

​The legislation:
House Bill (HB) 2276 and Senate Bill (SB) 6191
 
Why it matters:
Real estate excise taxes are paid to both the state and local jurisdictions. The state rate is based on a sliding scale depending on the sales price. It goes from 1.1% for sales less that $525,00 up to 3% for sales above $3,025,000. This new law would raise the 1.1% rate up to $750,000 and impose an additional real estate transfer tax (in addition to real estate excise tax) on all sales above the $3,025,000 amount.
 
The new tax could adversely affect the development of new residential housing and multi family dwelling units. The additional tax on multifamily housing would have a negative impact on affordable housing. It could also stymy new commercial construction.
 
What you can do:
Send a comment on the House Bill or comment on the Senate Hill. You can also just state your position.

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Update on last week's bills:

House Bill 2114
Rent Control
Passed out of Committee and is in House Appropriations Committee

Senate Bill 6188
Wind Farm Siting
Passed out of Committee and is Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Read last week's Advocacy Update

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Do you know of legislation that you'd like to see us address? Contact Matt Murphy, Government and Regional Affairs Director, at [email protected].