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As Olympia races toward its April 27 adjournment, Washington State’s 2025 legislative session is no longer unfolding—it’s accelerating. Behind closed doors, lawmakers are finalizing sweeping tax increases, regulatory expansions, and budget decisions that will redefine the cost of doing business across the state. And the most important details? Still unseen.
This is not politics as usual. With over 183 bills containing emergency clauses—fast-tracking them into law without the standard 90-day public challenge window—Washington’s business community is being asked to absorb immediate, significant fiscal changes with little to no warning.
We don’t know everything yet. But as your Chamber, we’re watching every move—and we’ll be here to help you understand what it means for your business before it hits your bottom line.
⚠️ Budgets Unfinished. Taxes Advancing. Transparency Absent.
As of April 24, none of the Legislature’s three core budgets—operating, transportation, or capital—have been made public. Floor votes are being scheduled without bill texts, while key legislative leaders continue negotiating a $16 billion shortfall behind closed doors.
What we do know is this:
HB 2043
Would raise the gas tax by 9 cents per gallon as early as July 1.
SB 5814
Seeks to expand sales tax to include professional services, software development, digital marketing, IT consulting, and more.
HB 2081
Would overhaul the B&O tax, raising base rates across core sectors and imposing surcharges on high-revenue firms.
HB 2082 and SB 5797
Propose increased capital gains and estate taxes, alongside a first-in-the-nation wealth tax on unrealized gains.
HB 2049
Reshapes school funding via enriched levies and inflation escalators, triggering potential McCleary-era legal concerns.
These proposals are serious. Some are likely to pass. Some will be changed. Others could drop in at the eleventh hour. However, every one of them has implications for your workforce, pricing, planning, and margins.
🏛️ The Governor’s Role: A Wild Card with a Veto Pen
Governor Bob Ferguson is not passively awaiting the Legislature’s final product—he’s actively shaping it. In recent days, he’s raised red flags over the scope and structure of the tax package, calling it “unsustainable” and warning that it fails to meet basic standards of fiscal responsibility.
He’s made it clear that any final budget must:
- Use realistic revenue forecasts
- Protect the Rainy Day Fund
- Include cuts to non-core spending
- Avoid regressive or experimental taxes
Importantly, Ferguson used his line-item veto authority earlier this month to strike an emergency clause from SB 5577, restoring the 90-day referendum window and signaling that he may do the same for other bills—especially those that push tax burdens without public input.
While he hasn’t publicly confirmed which bills he will sign or veto, his actions over the next few days could delay, reshape, or even block major fiscal changes. For businesses in Spokane Valley, his decisions could mean the difference between immediate compliance and months of preparation time.
📌 What You Need to Know—And Why the Chamber Is Your Anchor
If you’re feeling behind on the details, you’re not alone. Many lawmakers themselves haven’t seen the final text of what they’ll be voting on. Amendments are being drafted in real time. Final conference reports may not arrive until hours before floor votes.
That’s where we come in.
The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce is actively monitoring every development. Our Government Action Committee is in direct contact with statewide policy partners and local legislators. We’re translating shifting bill texts into business-relevant insights—so you don’t have to guess what matters or how to respond.
We’ll be your early warning system – Your first source for what’s next.
📣 Join Us: Post-Session Briefing – May 13, 2025
Whether the Legislature finishes by April 27 or heads into a special session, we’ll be your first stop for clarity.
đź“… Tuesday, May 13
đź•— 8:00 AM
đź“Ť Spokane Valley Chamber Office (10808 E Sprague Ave)
đź’» Virtual attendance via Zoom is available
This is your opportunity to:
- Understand what was passed—and what wasn’t
- Decode new costs, taxes, and compliance rules
- Get early insight into timelines and agency implementation
- Buy time by preparing sooner, not later
👉 Submit your questions and topic suggestions to: lukas@spokanevalleychamber.org
Why This Moment Matters
In just a few days, Washington’s fiscal framework may look dramatically different. And while you may not be able to change what’s decided in Olympia, you can control how quickly you adapt.
That’s what your Chamber will help you do.
We’re not just observers—we’re interpreters and advocates. Whether it’s a new gas tax, a restructured B&O rate, or an unexpected compliance timeline, we’ll make sure Spokane Valley businesses are the first to know, and best equipped to act.
📩 Expect a full legislative update in the days following Sine Die. We’ll be here when you need to understand what just happened—and how to move forward with confidence.
We’re watching Olympia so you don’t have to. When the dust settles, you’ll be the first to know what it means for your business.
