CAPR's blog

By Cindy Alia 4/24/26

In the final weeks of the 2025–26 legislative session, Washington lawmakers quietly passed four bills that dramatically expand the power of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). Signed in late March 2026 and set to take effect June 11, 2026, these measures—SB 5925, HB 1710, HB 1750, and HB 2156—were largely requested by the AGO itself. While framed as modern enforcement tools, their combined effect raises serious concerns about government overreach, chilled freedoms, and the erosion of constitutional protections that belong to all citizens.

The New Powers

By Carrie Stadheim, Tri-State Livestock News

The state department of ecology has “doubled down” on efforts to stop Wade and Teresa King from grazing state and privately owned land.

A judge denied a preliminary injunction on March 20, 2026, and the case moves forward as the family continues to fight for their constitutional right to a jury trial.

By Steve Busch

The CAPR Annual Banquet is to be held May 9th, 2026 at the Doubletree Suites Tukwilla, 16500 Southcenter Parkway Seattle 98188.  Please join us for great food, friendship, and news!  Social hour at 5:00pm, with dinner served at 6:00 pm.  Special room rates will apply, please mention you are attending the CAPR Banquet when making reservations if you plan to stay the night!

By Dominique Scarimbolo, CAPR King Chapter President, 2/16/26

Bottom Line:
SSB 6162 is not a bad bill — but it is not meaningful property tax reform. It expands an existing relief program for a narrow group and rebrands part of the tax system, without fixing the underlying problems driving Washington’s property tax crisis.

By Cindy Alia 2/13/26

Washington state is confronting a deepening electricity affordability crisis as rapidly growing demand clashes with clean energy transitions, grid constraints, and escalating utility rates. The Pacific Northwest has long enjoyed relatively low electricity prices due to abundant hydropower, but that advantage is fading fast.

Recent reports highlight heightened risks of brownouts or rolling blackouts in extreme conditions, while policies like the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) drive both necessary changes and added costs. For many residents—especially those already stretched by high housing, groceries, and living expenses—these pressures feel immediate and burdensome, often outweighing the longer-term "green rewards" of emissions reductions or future efficiency savings.

The WRIA-1 water adjudication lawsuit has generated reaction from many well owners who live in the Water Resource Inventory Area-1 (WRIA-1) within Whatcom County and part of northern Skagit County.

By Cindy Alia 2/9/26

At 3:15 today the Senate Ways and Means Committee Democrats voted in favor of passing the Millionaire's Tax, SB 6346 from their committee to the Rules Committee where it will have a no doubt short wait to be moved to the Senate Floor for a final vote.  This in spite of historically overwhelming numbers giving testimony in the committee hearing of over 61,000 clearly telling the legislators NO on SB 6346 and its companion bill 2724 which is waiting in the wings while the senate does the dirty work for the house. 

By Cindy Alia, 2/5/26

This bill had a hearing in the house today.  Unfortunately the majority of testifiers were government entities and health care providers, there was no time allowed for ordi% nary tax paying citizens to testify before the committee.  The companion bill in the house is moving quite quickly so without major amendments it appears the bill has a 40% chance of passing this year.  It will be costly, call the legislative hotline 800 562 2000!

CAPR Executive Summary and testimony provided.
Senate Bill 6294 (SB 6294), introduced in the Legislature of the State of Washington, proposes sweeping expansions of local government taxing authority, including increases in real estate excise taxes (REET), property tax levies, sales and use taxes, and utility taxes.

By Cindy Alia 2/5/26

Washington State prides itself on having no broad personal income tax on wages. Instead, the state funds its government through a heavy reliance on sales taxes, property taxes, B&O (gross receipts) taxes, excise taxes, and a growing array of fees and regulatory costs. While this system is frequently labeled “regressive” because lower- and middle-income households pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes, the full picture is far more nuanced—and often overlooked by those pushing the idea of "fairness" in the form of an income tax.