2017 legislative review
other bills , including HB 1730 , HB 1926 , and HB 2186 .
HB 1549 / SB 5112 closing and modifying tax incentives
Failed / AWB Opposed
Gov . Jay Inslee proposed closing several tax incentives to fund his budget proposal . House Bill 1549 and Senate Bill 5112 would have narrowed the use tax exemption for extracted fuel , transitioned the nonresident sales and use tax exemption into a remittance program , eliminated the sales and use tax exemption for bottled water , limit the real estate excise tax ( REET ) foreclosure exemption , and limit trade-in exclusion to $ 10,000 . Tax incentives play an important role in Washington to keep businesses competitive . While these bills didn ’ t progress , components of the bills were included in the final budget deal .
HB 1904 imposing tax on sale of personal information
Failed / AWB Opposed
Rep . Norma Smith , R-Clinton , introduced House Bill 1904 , which sought to impose a business and occupation ( B & O ) tax on the sale of Washington residents ’ personal information . HB 1904 would have done what no other state has done or tried to do : apply an extremely high gross receipts tax broadly across many industries impacting up to 25,000 taxpayers . Businesses with nexus under current law are paying taxes under the applicable B & O category ; HB 1904 would have applied a rate that is between 120 percent and 600 percent higher than the current rate they are paying taxes on .
SB 5358 tax and licensing laws
Passed / AWB Supported
Senate Bill 5358 is the annual Department of Revenue ( DOR ) clean-up bill offered by Sen . Mark Schoesler , R-Ritzville . The goal of these bills is to have negligible if not zero fiscal impact on the budget and address non-controversial changes related to the DOR . The bill was well worked prior to session this year and as a result sailed through the Legislature without issue . The non-controversial nature of these bills allows for important statutory and administrative updates to pass through the Legislature without issue .
SB 5888 b & o manufacturing tax rate reduction
Failed / AWB Supported
Sen . Michael Baumgartner , R-Spokane , introduced Senate Bill 5888 , which would have reduced the general manufacturing business and occupation tax rate and the processing for hire rate from 0.484 percent to 0.2904 percent . While the manufacturing sector has gained momentum nationally in recent months , manufacturing activities in Washington continue to struggle . Washington is a high business tax state , and it is hard for our manufacturers , particularly those that compete on a global scale , to remain competitive . This bill represented an excellent opportunity to provide some relief to manufacturers in Washington . Similar language was passed as part of the final budget deal and later vetoed by the governor .
HB 1764 / SB 5772 property tax revenue limit
Failed / AWB Opposed
House Bill 1764 and Senate Bill 5772 , sponsored by Rep . Kristine Lytton , D-Anacortes , and Sen . Jamie Pedersen , D-Seattle , respectively , would have changed
Rep . Kristine Lytton , D-Anacortes , chair of the House Finance Committee .
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