The Law as it Presently Exists

A Washington statute provides that any action or combination of actions by the legislature that raises taxes may be taken only if approved by at least two-thirds legislative approval in both the house of representatives and the senate.

Another Washington statute provides that a state fee may only be imposed or increased in any fiscal year if approved with majority legislative approval in both the house of representatives and the senate, and must be subject to certain accountability procedures specified in statute. These requirements do not apply to assessments made by agricultural commodity commissions or to the forest products commission.

The Effect of the Proposed Measure, if Approved

This measure would restate the current statutory language regarding tax increases, revising it to state that any action or combination of actions by the legislature that raises taxes may be taken only if approved by a two-thirds vote in both the house of representatives and the senate.

The measure would restate the current statutory language relating to increases in state fees, revising it to state that a fee may only be imposed or increased in any fiscal year if approved with a simple majority vote in both the house of representatives and the senate.