Bill To Cut Sales Tax Introduced In Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA, WA — A pair of bills recently introduced in the state Senate would reduce Washington's sales tax rate and add diapers to the list of products that are tax exempt.

Sen. Mona Das (D-Kent) sponsored both bills, which had their first readings before the Senate Ways and Means Committee last week. Senate Bill 5932 would cut the statewide sales-and-use tax from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent, while Senate Bill 5915 would grant disposable and washable diapers an exemption. The first bill has garnered bipartisan support, with several Republican co-sponsors including Sen John Braun, the Senate minority leader.

Das said her bills would be a step toward balancing Washington's tax code to better serve lower and middle-income families, especially during a time when the state is on solid financial footing.

"We need to get money back in people's pockets if we're to make a full recovery from the high public health cost and economic cost of this pandemic," Das said in a statement. "Both of these bills accomplish that with a bold sales tax cut. Together, they are strong tools to fix Washington's unbalanced, regressive tax code that asks more of working families than it does of the wealthiest among us."

If the tax cut makes it through the legislature and is signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, the new rate would take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. The cut applies only to the state-level rate for retail sales and would not reduce additional taxes levied by local governments. Should the legislation to exempt diapers from sales tax receive approval, the change would kick in statewide on July 1.

This year's legislative session is scheduled to conclude on March 10.