Sharlett Mena — Moved to remove engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6129 from executive session.
Sharlett Mena — Votes aye on ESB 6228.
Sharlett Mena — Moves to report a substitute Senate bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation.
Sharlett Mena — Voted aye.
April Berg — Chair Berg moved that engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6228 be reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation, and later Representative Berg voted aye on the bill.
April Berg — Voted aye.
SB6228 — The committee considers Senate Bill 6228 and moves to report the engrossed substitute out of committee with a do pass recommendation. A subsequent motion incorporates the adopted amendment into a striking amendment and advances the bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation as amended.
Alex Ramel — Spoke in support of Amendment 174, citing testimony from critical access pharmacies.
Alex Ramel — Votes aye on ESB 6228.
Alex Ramel — Voted aye.
SB6228 — The committee considers Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6228, with a motion pending to report it out of committee with a do pass as amended recommendation. A member acknowledges the amendment for critical access pharmacies but remains opposed, arguing the bill still amounts to an overall tax increase that would burden either pharmacies or consumers. The committee then votes, and the bill is reported out of committee with a do pass as amended recommendation.
Ed Orcutt — Representative Orcutt opposed the bill, arguing that uncertainty around incentives could drive data center companies and other investment to other states, that the bill would interfere with existing private contracts by changing tax treatment mid-contract, and that it could create broader economic harm beyond the data center sector. He concluded by recommending a no vote and then voted nay/do not pass.
Hunter Abell — Not present; noted as excused.
Hunter Abell — Announced as excused.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Votes nay, do not pass, on ESB 6228.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Begins discussion in support of the bill.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Begins remarks about data center tax exemptions and competition with Oregon.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Argued that data center tax exemptions helped attract investment and union jobs, citing the Quincy example and local economic benefits.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Continued arguing that Washington benefits from data center investment because of clean hydroelectric power, no income tax, and growing AI-driven demand.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Warned that removing the refurbishment tax exemption would hurt data center investment and jobs, noting other states are offering incentives.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Concluded her opposition by emphasizing union labor and local economic benefits.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Voted nay, do not pass.
Rob Chase — Representative Chase votes nay, do not pass, on ESB 6228.
Joshua Penner — Votes nay, do not pass, on ESB 6228.
Joshua Penner — Voted nay, do not pass.
Shaun Scott — Votes aye on ESB 6228.
Shaun Scott — Voted aye.
Larry Springer — Votes nay, do not pass, on ESB 6228.
Larry Springer — Voted no, do not pass.
Amy Walen — Votes nay, do not pass, on ESB 6228.
Amy Walen — Voted nay, do not pass.
Sharon Wylie — Votes aye on ESB 6228.
Sharon Wylie — Sharon Wylie was recorded as voting aye during the roll-call vote.
Janice Zahn — Votes aye on ESB 6228.
Janice Zahn — Began remarks saying she appreciated the bill sponsor's efforts and was troubled by the dismal jobs report and the need to balance the budget while growing jobs and businesses.
Janice Zahn — Said she would be a soft yes because she wants to keep the conversation going while focusing on jobs, businesses, and rural economic growth.
Janice Zahn — Expressed concern about retroactivity and clawback provisions, but remained a soft yes.
Janice Zahn — Voted aye.
SB6343 — Motioned for committee reporting, though the bill number appears garbled in the transcript.
SB6231 — Motioned to be reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation.
Chipalo Street — The striker is attributed to Representative Street.
Chipalo Street — Votes aye on ESB 6228.
Chipalo Street — Voted aye.
Rochelle Harris — Named in connection with the briefing on Senate Bill 6129.
Christina King — Staff to the committee briefed ESB 6228.
SB6231 — Briefed as removing a tax exemption for replacement equipment for data centers.
John Berninski — Named in connection with the briefing on Senate Bill 6231.
SB6129 — Senate Bill 6129 was introduced and briefed as a bill relating to the taxation of cigarettes and other nicotine products. The discussion explained that the gross substitute/amendment would lower the new cigarette tax rate to 1.25 cents per cigarette effective January 1, 2027, instead of 9.875 cents effective January 1, 2028, while preserving the existing tax structure for other tobacco products and vapor products rather than converting them into a broader nicotine products tax. It also waives penalties and interest for certain retailers and allows a stay of collections for up to 12 months. Later, the bill was removed from executive session.
Chipalo Street — Identified as offering the striker amendment.