The Washington Legislature adjourned its 105-day legislative session Sunday after sending Governor Jay Inslee a new two-year state budget and several revenue bills that pay for increased funding to programs ranging from special education to mental health.
The $52.4 billion budget passed the House on a 57-41 vote shortly after clearing the Senate 27-21. More than $800 million in new revenue was approved by the Legislature ahead of the underlying budget, including an increase in business and occupation taxes on large banks, and a change to the state’s real estate excise tax. The budget spends more in several areas of state government, including special education in the K-12 system and the state’s behavioral health system.
About $22 million is earmarked for safety measures at Western State Hospital, the state’s largest psychiatric facility, and some $47 million over the next two years is designated to create a network of regional behavioral health facilities. The measure also funds several of Inslee’s environmental priorities, including a measure that seeks to eliminate fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal from the state’s electricity supply by 2045.
The revenue package also looks to increase business and occupation taxes not only on large banks, but also on other professional services and on large technology companies such as Amazon and Microsoft. An excise tax on vaping products was also passed, and changes were made to current tax exemptions.
The Legislature also passed a new two-year transportation budget for roads projects Sunday, and a capital budget that pays for construction projects across the state. (AP)
