[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6110894,"mediaKeyId","2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d","parentId",2755769,"title","Committee hears testimony supporting removal of deed assignment exemption from recording fee to boost housing funds","audioSeconds",394,"startMs",1839160,"endMs",2233845,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d&start=1839&end=2233","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d/thumbnail_1839160.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6110894/Washington/Committee-hears-testimony-supporting-removal-of-deed-assignment-exemption-from-recording-fee-to-boost-housing-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110894-51561811860bc856e0c2b0467a39d2a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141372&Signature=DiF2Sjyw-Dsa9qN88v7V7GYdPoGcbPA9eiu5XePjrAWvDKqHx5WF0wTu~oj72mKOiA1K4S7CeFkrEBCPV9o6gfBLTISBfwD5YtQ9Vx-zk-L61i7VaZkvMb1URrnoBYW3DzP47v5ZiHin0ts5H05fRXz0GoJ684624zNt5N4QbXMv-IfBUHw4oUzudxnjyAAKdGutOHZyWrXnBweY9UfEjIA9hzIR0SJ1coScmL8GrkIIuDHW3CHuQfhkLI5tEhlEbGnE3h5L1G8u4DK1KoeqnB~wcoHEMT8eXsYEXJMontgOMfnN5~~a2bBzSzkuMNQfStGPUK8GeX7vEpKAvqZ-tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Ways & Means","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Ways & Means Committee heard public testimony on March 24 for House Bill 18-58, a bill that would remove the current exemption for assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust from the $183 housing and homelessness document recording surcharge and the $100 covenant homeownership program assessment.

Trevor Press, staff to the committee, briefed members that removing the exemption is estimated to generate about $31 million in state revenue each fiscal year, assuming 137,000 assignments/substitutions (figure based on 2024 activity), and would direct funds to homeless housing programs, permanent supportive housing operations and maintenance, the landlord mitigation fund, and the covenant homeownership program. Press said local governments would also see an estimated $7.5 million annually under the bill.

Curtis Steinhauer, representing the Washington State Association of Counties and the State Association of County Human Services, testified in strong support and said county budgets have seen substantial declines in local document-recording fee receipts in recent years. \"The local document recording fee has been the primary revenue source that counties used to move people inside and address the homelessness crisis in our communities,\" Steinhauer said, adding that counties used general fund appropriations to make up for recent shortfalls.

Michelle Thomas of the Housing Alliance and Sarah Dickmeyer of Plymouth Housing also urged passage. \"The document recording fee is a meaningful ongoing commitment to affordable housing in Washington,\" Dickmeyer said, noting the fee supports capital and operations funds for permanent supportive housing providers.

No formal action was taken; the hearing concluded after in-person and remote testimony supporting the bill.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Ways & Means - 3/24/2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Ways & Means Committee heard testimony March 24 on House Bill 18-58, which would remove an exemption for assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust from two recording fees that fund homelessness and affordable housing programs.","taxTitle","Ways & Means, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20513,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110899,"Ways & Means advances four bills to Rules after executive session",237,1575945,1812975,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d&start=1575&end=1812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d/thumbnail_1575945.jpg","/articles/6110899/Washington/Ways-Means-advances-four-bills-to-Rules-after-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110899-1fade13c117e260df8ff70e9a922f96e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141372&Signature=cYZZQpuHtHPpp~iIeNTpsArU6kmDNN6GqsyFf~ylT4m2OZ85nYmz9HPD4YaezHhQXbMPDfNL4PCSTKwDxJnryae9JBJU5pzvp4YtUqFHIrW56Kk4ZwAeSLSh9LIT6HDI6TpECOPzX3dQBaoPdA-1Q3RRqxrpiZwcrKwdRuhe8p-w2KDNsYpEr6U22JF8ROu7n3Z1V1FcyPRWUhMOPkvrmqN4IHHyGm-j0AZHwvhoHi83fALp4t2FIJppRbxf6jmvbuKVAK-aBvr-S088RG2xheDB2Rnb0dlOfzZhA8DIrF9b9aTldes~PSr1mvWRGgWg57evgHj40Bac8QvBL0m~Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Ways & Means Committee met in executive session March 24 and voted to advance four bills to the Rules Committee with due-pass recommendations subject to signatures. All four motions were moved and seconded during the committee's executive session and advanced by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 1270: Allows local governments to automatically enroll new employees in a deferred compensation program. Motion to recommend due pass moved by Senator Stanford; outcome: due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures; no amendments; fiscal impact: staff reported no cost.

- House Bill 1156: Enables volunteer firefighters to participate in the Washington State deferred compensation program. Motion to recommend due pass moved by Senator Stanford; outcome: due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures; no amendments; staff reported no cost.

- Substitute House Bill 1260: Clarifies how much of the document recording fee revenue may be used for administrative costs in counties where cities elect to operate homeless housing programs; motion to recommend due pass moved by Senator Stanford; outcome: due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures; no fiscal impact reported.

- House Bill 1540: Expands participation in the Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth program to a public tribal college. Committee moved and seconded a due-pass recommendation; outcome: due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures. Staff reported a fiscal estimate of $204,000 NGF-O in 2025-27 and $408,000 over four years; no amendments.

All four bills will proceed to the Rules Committee for signature verification and further floor scheduling. The committee paused for caucus before returning to voice votes on each measure.","The Senate Ways & Means Committee advanced four bills to the Rules Committee on March 24 after an executive session that produced due-pass recommendations for each measure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110891,"Hearing on SB 5790 draws opposition from faculty and labor groups over proposed COLA change for community and technical colleges",748,2249850,2998275,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d&start=2249&end=2998","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d/thumbnail_2249850.jpg","/articles/6110891/Washington/Hearing-on-SB-5790-draws-opposition-from-faculty-and-labor-groups-over-proposed-COLA-change-for-community-and-technical-colleges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110891-e4fafe4455473ec8c491dbeb4d295461/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141372&Signature=h0wep~7UfEoDwUdgaSmfd27qSUOV4SQ6wvW7dDOwkW~eWUDHMvbWhsjgVYov7dauhs2baaf7PAplqkjid5jzhzgKERb3~gSj84QqkFYWZggqQE~tHH27rWWQ3C0XdduO~W9vYl-WtGuOAFY45HDjEgWsJYuDvkkE4y8XvWZBp1IfIg5qjO0-48MoW1u-6nAEOZtKK8nxdV0xiC7a6nFPZHBJhYGLEdSdHpVemY90JdRW2se3TQgMGlPuEiDTLo2BepEqv7Pxml98CSToDoF2Kp~xHzYAiMTWMRaZ0kN~Zpznfc5JzDK7Jt3ESUWrblCSLm3cUgR9eINPHVIYvpt1BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Ways & Means Committee heard testimony March 24 on Senate Bill 5790, a bill to change the index used to calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for community and technical college (CTC) employees from the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index (CPI) to the implicit price deflator (IPD).

Amanda Cecil, committee staff, explained that initiative 732 had tied COLAs for certain education employees to the Seattle-area CPI; SB 5790 would switch the index for CTC academic and classified employees to the IPD. Staff said there was no fiscal note available at the time of the briefing, but the chair's budget assumes $10 million in state savings in the 2025-27 biennium and $19.7 million over the four-year outlook.

Faculty and union leaders from multiple colleges testified in opposition. Sue Nightingale, president of the Association of Higher Education (Washington Education Association) and a faculty member at Bellevue College, said switching to IPD would reduce COLAs and worsen recruitment and retention for CTCs that already lag neighboring states. \"This change will lower the COLA significantly this year, next year, and every year after,\" she said.

Other faculty leaders including Suzanne Sutherland (Clark College), Larry Delaney (WEA), Ty Saxon (Bellevue College), Rachel Dorn (AFT Washington), Jennifer Haney (Green River College), Jackie Franklin (Spokane), and Betsy Norton (testimonial) urged rejection, arguing that the CPI better reflects household inflation experienced by workers while the IPD understates consumer price increases and would compound wage losses over time.

Multiple witnesses asked the committee to pursue progressive revenue alternatives rather than reduce COLAs. The committee did not take action during the hearing.","Senate Bill 5790, which would switch the COLA index for community and technical college employees from the Seattle-area CPI to the implicit price deflator, drew broad opposition from faculty and labor groups at a March 24 Ways & Means Committee hearing.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110885,"Broad opposition at Ways & Means hearing to bill that would let institutions raise tuition and reduce Washington College Grant awards",3804,3006210,6810215,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d&start=3006&end=6810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d/thumbnail_3006210.jpg","/articles/6110885/Washington/Broad-opposition-at-Ways-Means-hearing-to-bill-that-would-let-institutions-raise-tuition-and-reduce-Washington-College-Grant-awards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110885-6e3743118b9d5161ec5a388a9caca6e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141372&Signature=ahTVFA5XA42C8lBCePTCfC6m9qTdcGhZdaN5oACbHBZ3B4TyNhtTZEKGbT3RUyizSwA9f4tptcmGWS06F6JgAVdOeJHZ1KqO7mvDvJQAg20MxfEqDuPjd2~eG0QX9eM78N2-0hLcCbbGwPLhQc5w8NkTHY-uHl2kuM04RLuiwBD5DJAT15FhViMkRhXqi5Yg1sBVmeP9fnxwwrNld8OlN4y1KVuBBuHRTfOiFoAQKs5LneGEiKEh5N-2hpFZRV1pfuGn5n3kwvkc~DcNk64jfE5vVpZfJxlZpYxrIr0HVERrQVyAHczA~vNw8uLfR9LxIRb8IeCsSGk2mg6mcZ~BjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5785 and a proposed substitute drew sustained, largely negative public comment at a March 24 Ways & Means Committee hearing as students, faculty, campus leaders and higher-education advocates warned the measure would reduce access and damage enrollment.

Michelle Alishahi, committee staff, outlined the proposed substitute: for the 2026-27 academic year, resident undergraduate tuition operating fees at public institutions may increase by up to 5% above the existing tuition growth factor; community and technical colleges may raise tuition to operate within state appropriations while public four-year institutions may increase tuition to support employee compensation and operate within appropriations. The substitute would also change Washington College Grant eligibility and create prorated maximum awards by median family income ranges (for example, under the substitute 0-55% MFI would receive the maximum award while higher bands receive reduced percentages), with apprenticeships treated differently. Staff materials and the chair's budget reflected estimated net state savings tied to these changes: roughly $46 million in 2025-27 and $164 million over the four-year outlook (staff emphasized the estimates and requested fiscal notes for the substitute).

More than 4,700 people signed in opposed according to witnesses and advocates; dozens of students, faculty leaders and campus representatives spoke at the hearing. Testimony opposing the bill included:

- Students and student leaders from multiple campuses (University of Washington, WSU, UW Tacoma, Central Washington University, Columbia Basin College, Yakima Valley College and many community colleges) said reductions to the Washington College Grant and tuition increases would force some students to drop out, defer, or switch institutions. \"Any reduction in that aid offered is the state not only breaking its promise, but students' trust,\" said Colin Barrister, Washington Student Association president.

- Faculty and union representatives (United Faculty of Washington State, AFT Washington, WEA, campus faculty unions) warned the bill would undermine recruitment and retention. Bill Lyon, United Faculty of Washington State, said the proposal would reverse a decade of bipartisan progress in higher education affordability and could cause program cuts and enrollment declines.

- University and college administrators noted the projected savings on paper may not be fully realized because tuition increases often yield enrollment declines; Western Washington University estimated $3 million in annual enrollment-related revenue loss tied to the proposal.

Institutional representatives said protecting the Washington College Grant for the lowest income students is critical; many urged the committee to pursue progressive revenue options instead of shifting costs to students and families.

The hearing included a large number of student testimonies describing first-generation and low-income circumstances and urging lawmakers to preserve current eligibility and award levels. A number of campus leaders and student government officers said the committee should not balance the state budget on the backs of students.

Committee staff took the testimony and did not take immediate action during the hearing.","Students, faculty and college leaders told the Senate Ways & Means Committee on March 24 that Senate Bill 5785's authority for higher tuition combined with proposed cuts or proration of the Washington College Grant would reduce access and harm enrollment and completion.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110904,"Department of Revenue outlines implications of Antio LLC Supreme Court decision for B&O investment deduction",1511,64940,1576350,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d&start=64&end=1576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755769-87db296bfed8a6e98fef97edb792698d/thumbnail_64940.jpg","/articles/6110904/Washington/Department-of-Revenue-outlines-implications-of-Antio-LLC-Supreme-Court-decision-for-BO-investment-deduction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110904-759642a2ed72e26fb8fe620d3b00d84f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141372&Signature=fneAaRi294Qv~Aj5AiVm3~2kiatUGmjhvg98z~T4qc7c40fBtNxwfxXlFGeU5aNflKsuC~5GPbodfTtwsfpfwGlvdgXucxJZn5oaSeocWjV2xRIWm9DVaCS8JtDwVc4d926Bnu~y1klsQtpblmjEEebzO8-vAc-NgY8ojWALEkty8HRI6qF2SagMTwHk8ISjX3XT5wtZvvJE2ejE8S4JQiV316kI63BQCe3YIOIf-UsSdJjj~qofNVNviqqoPXIu2gA-eRcRCn5cmKWHW9Hb2s3cRRzyijOhRTHvaNE9WlOutkoCjwAC2Dmxe0DFiSv-RRfKmHZv1JQfgHnjCa6MpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steve Ewing of the Washington State Department of Revenue told the Senate Ways & Means Committee on March 24 that the Washington Supreme Court's 2024 decision in Antio LLC v. Department of Revenue reaffirmed a decades-old interpretation of what qualifies as \"investment\" income for the business-and-occupation (B&O) tax deduction. The ruling, Ewing said, follows the court's earlier decisions in O'Leary v. Department of Revenue and Sellen Construction v. Revenue and concluded that investment income must be incidental to a business's primary purpose to be deductible under RCW 82.04.281.

The briefing matters because the court's decision narrows which operating entities can take a full deduction for investment income, and it prompted the Department of Revenue (DOR) to issue clarifying administrative guidance. \"We automatically presume that investment income that's less than 5% of total gross revenue is incidental,\" Ewing said, adding that businesses with higher percentages may still make a showing to the department.

Ewing summarized the legal history the court relied on: Sellen (1976) applied ejusdem generis to limit a statutory \"other financial business\" catchall; O'Leary (1986) adopted an \"incidental\" standard for investment income; later statutory changes (House Bill 2641 in 2002) removed the catchall but did not redefine \"investments,\" so the court in Antio looked back to O'Leary to interpret unchanged statutory language. The department emphasized that Antio addressed only the RCW subsection governing investment deductions and did not address other B&O deductions in RCW 82.04.282.

Committee members pressed staff on practical effects. Ewing said DOR has applied an automatic 5% safe-harbor and that the agency is expediting ruling requests, generally returning rulings within ten business days. He also noted that apportionment to Washington for multi-state businesses follows the standard apportionment method referenced in the tax code (cited in remarks as RCW 82.04.462) and that economic nexus rules mean out-of-state location alone does not remove B&O liability. He identified other entities explicitly unaffected by Antio, including the Washington State Investment Board, nonprofit endowments, family investment vehicles and individual taxpayers, citing exemptions and WAC/RCW guidance used by the department.

Senators asked for more detail on specific situations such as mutual funds, endowments and the practical reach of the 5% presumption. Ewing said the answer often depends on business specifics and that mutual funds generally fall within categories that the legislature intended to allow deductions for, but whether a particular mutual fund's income is deductible under Antio depends on its operations and the incidental inquiry.

The department also described stakeholder outreach and a voluntary disclosure program for businesses that have not been contacted by DOR; that program reduces potential lookback years and can waive certain penalties if businesses come forward. Ewing concluded by offering the department's assistance for businesses seeking individualized rulings.

The committee did not take action on tax policy during the work session; the presentation was informational and intended to inform legislators drafting or considering bills that reference the Antio decision.","Department of Revenue staff briefed the Ways & Means Committee on the 2024 Washington Supreme Court ruling in Antio LLC v. Department of Revenue and described the agency's interpretive guidance, including a 5% safe-harbor for incidental investment income and expedited ruling requests.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears testimony supporting removal of deed assignment exemption from recording fee to boost housing funds

Ways & Means advances four bills to Rules after executive session

Hearing on SB 5790 draws opposition from faculty and labor groups over proposed COLA change for community and technical colleges

Broad opposition at Ways & Means hearing to bill that would let institutions raise tuition and reduce Washington College Grant awards

Department of Revenue outlines implications of Antio LLC Supreme Court decision for B&O investment deduction