Washington Senate confirms appointees, passes wide slate of bills after lengthy debates on data‑center tax and nicotine levy

The Washington State Senate met Feb. 28 in Olympia and confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments while advancing and passing a broad package of bills, including measures on derelict vessels, emergency medical‑services rules, and housing. Two of the day's longest floor fights centered on repeal of a sales/use tax preference for data‑center refurbishment and a new unified tax structure for nicotine products.

Most immediately, the chamber confirmed several gubernatorial appointments by overwhelming margins, including Acacia Ingram to the Evergreen State College Board of Trustees and Ashland Tibbitt and David Frakt to Western Washington University’s Board of Trustees. The secretary recorded the constitutionally required majorities when the votes were announced.

On policy, the Senate declared passed Substitute House Bill 2199 — legislation sponsors said clarifies the definition of “derelict vessel” and removes procedural barriers to taking abandoned watercraft out of state waters after testimony about past expensive cleanup efforts. Senator Krishnadasan, speaking for the measure, said it would “bring forward more clarity in getting these boats off the water to avoid these boats sinking into our waters,” and the bill advanced to final passage.

A public‑health package also moved through the chamber. Engrossed substitute House Bill 2532, amended by the law‑and‑justice committee, would eliminate the retail sale of many nitrous‑oxide canisters that sponsors called a growing danger to tribal youth and other communities. Senator Hansen urged support, saying the bill would remove an unregulated product that “is really, really dangerous.” The bill was adopted and declared passed.

Two bills affecting health professions and emergency medical services were passed to adjust supervision rules and recertification schedules for radiologic technologists and EMTs; sponsors said the changes particularly help access in rural areas.

Major floor fights

The session’s two highest‑profile fights were on fiscal and tax policy. Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182, a measure to create a state assessment to support reproductive‑health provider networks, drew lengthy argument over whether the charge would be an added cost to carriers or a necessary way to preserve a provider network and fund essential services. Proponents said the fund would recapture and direct previously collected but unused premium dollars toward care; opponents objected to the cost and to giving a significant, targeted revenue stream to those services.

Likewise, debate over Senate Bill 6231, which repeals a sales/use tax preference used by some data‑center operators, divided the chamber. Supporters described the tax preference as an outdated subsidy that cost the state revenue; opponents warned the repeal would chill investment, cost jobs and threaten local property‑tax revenue and services. Floor debate included testimony that some communities had realized substantial local investment and jobs after data‑center projects. The measure ultimately passed on the floor.

Nicotine products and public‑health funding

A separate, extended set of floor amendments and votes shaped ESSB 6129, which aligns tax treatment across cigarettes, little cigars, vaping products and other nicotine delivery forms and directs revenue into public‑health accounts. The bill’s backers said a unified approach will reduce youth initiation and fund cancer‑care and public‑health work. Opponents warned the measure is regressive, risks pushing consumers to cross‑border purchases or illicit sources, and may not be the most effective way to address underage use. The chamber debated and voted on multiple amendments before declaring the measure passed.

What’s next

Many measures passed on final reading and will be delivered to the governor for signature; other bills will proceed to conference or committee instructions where required. The Senate adjourned and is scheduled to reconvene at 10 a.m. Monday, March 2.

(Reporting from the Senate floor: confirmations and the recorded roll‑call tallies are reflected in the official journal and the secretary’s announcements.)