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35th Legislative Update with Representatives Griffey & Couture - 4/22/25
Manage episode 478547020 series 3369022
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It’s been a busy session in Olympia, and the 35th District delegation is sounding the alarm on taxes, education equity, and small business impacts.
In a recent update, Representatives Dan Griffey and Travis Couture shared concerns about what they’re calling some of the largest tax increases in state history — including $5 billion in B&O tax hikes that could affect everything from groceries to housing and healthcare. They warned that even though a proposed statewide property tax cap hike was defeated, a “backdoor” property tax increase is hidden in the form of reduced state matching funds for rural schools through Local Effort Assistance (LEA).
What does that mean? Districts like North Mason, Hood Canal, and others may have to ask local voters for more money — and still get less help from the state, widening the gap between property-rich and property-poor communities.
The reps say these changes could undo the equity gains from the McCleary decision and push the state back toward another education funding lawsuit.
On the business front, they criticized across-the-board B&O tax increases, saying they’ll hit small businesses hardest. While some industries like timber manufacturing got exemptions (good news for Sierra Pacific in Shelton), most small businesses — already struggling with inflation — will pay more, even as big players like Boeing keep carve-outs.
On a positive note, Griffey and Couture celebrated a newly signed law enhancing monitoring of sexually violent predators, including GPS tracking and victim notification zones.
📅 Looking ahead — there's a 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up Breakfast planned for May 14th at Mason County Public Works. The event is hosted by the Shelton-Mason and North Mason Chambers, the EDC, and Mason County, with breakfast by T's Café and recording by MasonWebTV. It's a chance to hear how the session’s pieces fit together and what comes next.
Stay tuned to KMAS for more updates from Olympia as the session wraps up.
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