HB2194 — House Bill 2194 is introduced and explained as a measure concerning sales and use tax for cultural access programs. The discussion clarifies that the bill addresses existing timing and authority issues by allowing a county and a city within that county to impose the tax concurrently, with related credit provisions to avoid double taxation. The prime sponsor explains that the bill fixes the current inability of counties and cities to impose the tax at the same time. Witnesses then testify in strong support, saying the bill would extend proven benefits countywide, prevent double taxation for cities with existing programs, expand the local toolbox, and provide equitable access to an economic development tool. The hearing on HB 2194 is then closed.
Serena Dolly — Committee staff presented the bill overview and background.
Wayne Fournier — Wayne Fournier is introduced as an in-person testifier, then begins his testimony by identifying himself as Thurston County Commissioner and a board member of the Thurston County Economic Development Council. During the ensuing discussion, he responds to a question about bonds by saying he does not have an answer at the moment and would need to follow up.
Yin Hun — Named as one of the in-person testifiers; likely a transcription error or uncertain name.
Ian Quinn — Testified on behalf of the City of Olympia in support of House Bill 2194.
Mr. Fournier — The question is directed to Wayne Fournier.
HB2089 — The committee opens the hearing on House Bill 2089 and receives staff background on the measure. The bill would remove the requirement that financial institutions be located in 10 or more states in order to be subject to B&O tax on certain interest income.
HB2089 — House Bill 2089 was discussed as a complicated bill that needed language changes to better match the intended definitions, and it was also identified as the legislation being supported.
Tracy Taylor — Tracy Taylor, committee staff, briefs the committee on House Bill 2089.
Tracy Taylor — Tracy Taylor briefed the committee on the proposed third substitute House Bill 1960, first outlining the background rules for property tax levies, including revenue growth limits, constitutional levy restrictions, and excess levies. She then turned to the bill itself, explaining that it creates a property tax exemption for certain renewable-energy-related personal property, including battery electric storage systems beginning in 2029. She noted that hydroelectric power is excluded and began defining key terms such as repower and qualified renewable energy facilities. A later reference by another speaker simply pointed back to Taylor’s earlier explanation of the tax structure and related account.
Shaun Scott — The chair invites Representative Scott to present as prime sponsor.
Shaun Scott — Representative Scott introduces himself and states he represents the 43rd Legislative District.
Shaun Scott — Representative Scott is being questioned about the bill's intent.
Shaun Scott — Pat Sullivan thanks Representative Scott for moving the bill forward.
HB1168 — House Bill 1168 is discussed as the 2021 bill that created the wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account and established the Legislature’s intent to provide about $125 million per biennium for wildfire preparedness and related resilience funding. The discussion frames the current bill as restoring funding to that account.
HB1168 — House Bill 1168 is repeatedly referenced as the source of wildfire-related funding, including money for a post-fire landslide team, and speakers emphasize that this funding had been cut and are seeking its restoration.
Joshua Penner — Representative Penner raises a concern about whether the bill would effectively tax local banks and homeowners.
Pat Sullivan — Pat Sullivan is introduced as one of the in-person testifiers, then identifies himself as the Director for Governmental and External Affairs at the Department of Natural Resources and begins testifying in support of wildfire preparedness funding. He continues by urging restoration of wildfire funding and thanking Representative Scott for advancing the bill.
Megan Mannigan — Megan Mannigan was identified as an in-person testifier and then testified for the Washington Bankers Association in opposition to House Bill 2089. She said the association was working on revised bill language and emphasized that the language needed to be correct because losing the deduction would be devastating to community banks, potentially preventing them from offering mortgages in Washington State.
Brad Tower — Brad Tower was identified as an in-person testifier and then gave testimony on behalf of the Community Bankers of Washington opposing the bill as drafted. He argued the bill would impose a B&O tax on first mortgage interest for banks with branches in any state, noted that a similar provision had been vetoed by Governor Ferguson, and emphasized the importance of local banks and flexible lending for nonconforming loans. He said local mortgage options are important for borrowers in Washington and pointed out that credit unions are not subject to B&O tax and already have the advantage at issue. Later, he was referenced positively in connection with his mortgage-related comments.
Marcus Riccelli — Was thanked for moving the bill forward and for working on the legislation.
Marcus Riccelli — Was recognized for willingness to work with the Community Bankers of Washington on the bill.
Marcus Riccelli — Was referenced in a joking remark that he does not want to fight DNR firefighters.
Seamus Petrie — Seamus Petrie, speaking for the Washington Public Employees Association and DNR firefighters, testified in support of the legislation. He explained that funding cuts have forced programs to rely on other sources of money, putting the post-fire landslide team and related preparedness work at risk unless House Bill 1168 funding is restored. He urged support for the bill and said he expects the issue to be addressed in the final language.
HB1960 — The chair announced the opening of the public hearing on HB 1960.
Jacob Lipson — Identified as the guest staffer who would brief part two.
Jacob Lipson — Committee staff member who introduces and briefly explains part two of the bill.
HB1960 — House Bill 1960 was introduced in its proposed third substitute form and briefed as a measure that would exempt certain renewable-energy property from property taxes beginning in 2028.
HB1960 — The bill would make the tribal capacity grant program permanent and fund it with a portion of the tax proceeds.
HB1960 — House Bill 1960 is discussed throughout a single hearing segment as a proposal supported by the Association of Counties and aimed at fixing a property tax cost shift tied to clean energy projects by replacing it with a more stable excise tax based on generation potential. Witnesses generally support the bill’s approach but raise concerns about unclear definitions, the treatment of "repowered" projects, rate structure details, and whether the bill could still shift costs onto residential taxpayers. Additional discussion covers Part 2 recommendations, local investment distribution, tribal energy capacity grants, Section 105 rates, and a local option for an additional excise tax that may be too high or unintended. Some witnesses offer respectful or partial opposition, especially regarding centrally assessed utilities and whether the rates are workable, while others note the bill has improved since last session. The hearing concludes with testimony on House Bill 1960 being closed.
Mr. Lipson — Staff member being addressed with a question.
Ed Orcutt — Representative Ed Orcutt is recognized and praised for catching an error in a formula buried in the bill.
Ed Orcutt — Ed Orcutt is addressed as Ranking Member in the meeting greetings/acknowledgments.
Jake Fey — The sponsor says there are outstanding disagreements and that feedback is being incorporated.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Cyndy Jacobsen asked whether the bill was intended to be revenue neutral and whether that goal had been achieved, seeking confirmation that the sponsor's objective of revenue neutrality had been met.
Cyndy Jacobsen — Representative Jacobsen asked what it means for a utility to be centrally assessed from an accounting or other perspective, and the discussion continued with an explanation that centrally assessed utilities operate across multiple county lines.
Alex Ramel — Representative Alex Ramel is thanked for answering questions as the prime sponsor and for explaining the bill’s purpose. He is also thanked for sponsoring the bill, and a witness says she looks forward to working with him on amendments, with one later reference appearing to be a transcription error but clearly intended to refer to him as well.
Sharon Shewmake — The chair thanks the vice chair, likely referring to Vice Chair Street in the transcript; no expected member named Street is listed.
Travis Dutton — Travis Dutton testifies on behalf of the Association of Counties in support of HB 1960, explaining that counties are united behind the proposal but that additional work is still needed on issues such as rates and fairness.
Mike Hogarty — Identifies himself as Kittitas County Assessor and representative of assessors involved in WSAC's task force.
Jackie Brunson — Jackie Brunson is introduced as the person who will address payment timing, the chair then invites her to proceed, and she begins her testimony by identifying herself as the Skagit County Treasurer testifying on behalf of the Washington State Association of County Treasurers.
Steve Ewing — Department of Revenue witness thanks the sponsor for including the department in discussions.
Justin Allegro — Justin Allegro of The Nature Conservancy in Washington testified in strong support of the proposal, highlighting its climate, community, and conservation benefits. He praised the sponsor’s leadership in working with stakeholders and rights holders and expressed support for the approach while encouraging continued reconciliation on rates.
Matt Miller — Matt Miller is introduced as part of the next panel and then begins his testimony on behalf of Puget Sound Energy, speaking in respectful opposition and thanking Representative Ramel while raising concerns about centrally assessed utilities.
J. Belaspos — Named as part of the next panel of witnesses; spelling uncertain.
John Rothland — John Rothland is introduced as part of the next panel and then testifies on behalf of Avista, acknowledging the issue while warning that centrally assessed entities would face higher net taxes.
Davina Duerr — Addressed as Chair Berg; likely a transcription error for Chair Berg/Chairperson, but no exact member match is certain.
Jay Belaspis — Testifies on behalf of Pacific Corp in respectful opposition and asks that centrally assessed utilities be exempt.
Casey McLean — Casey McLean is introduced as a concluding witness and then testifies on behalf of Renewable Northwest. In follow-up discussion, she confirms the rate comparison raised by Representative Rommel, notes that the proposed wind power system rate is close to the final all-in rate, and explains that while local excess levies were already factored into the formula, the bill’s additional local levy option could add up to 10%, which concerns her. She closes by thanking the committee, expressing appreciation for the engagement, and saying she is happy to keep working on the bill.
Vicki Christopherson — Vicki Christopherson is introduced as a concluding witness and then begins her testimony on behalf of the Northwest and Intermountain Power Producers / Northwestern Intermountain Power Producers Coalition. She identifies herself and the organization she represents, noting that the developers involved are working on the projects at issue and echoing support for getting the bill right because it will become long-lasting law.