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WA HB1225
Bill
Status
1/13/2025
Primary Sponsor
Travis Couture
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AI Summary
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Requires the legislature to enact operating appropriations in eight separate, prioritized bills: (1) state debt payments, (2) K-12 education, (3) revenue collection, (4) public safety, (5) public health, (6) public assistance, (7) all other purposes, and (8) legislature/judiciary/elected officials
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Mandates that before any final vote on legislation raising state taxes, the legislature must first enact appropriations bills funding the maximum number of priority categories possible with existing projected revenues
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Establishes a zero-based budget review process requiring 20% of all state programs to be reviewed each biennium, ensuring every program undergoes review within a 10-year cycle starting with the 2027-2029 budget requests
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Removes the option for the governor and legislature to use a 4.5% annual revenue growth assumption when calculating available fiscal resources, requiring instead strict reliance on official revenue forecasts
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Requires all biennial appropriations bills (operating, transportation, and capital) to be enacted at least 30 days before the start of the fiscal biennium
Legislative Description
Reforming the Washington state budgeting process through requiring prioritized spending on essential state functions, placing limitations on state spending and revenue proposals, and requiring accountability for every dollar spent within the state budget.
Last Action
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
1/12/2026