February 4, 2026
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I want to let you know about a very controversial bill that was just introduced this week in the Legislature.
Senate Bill 6346 would create a state income tax. Democratic proponents are trying to sell it as a tax on millionaires because it would impose a 9.9% tax on your taxable income, with the first $1 million exempt. This bill would hit married people filing jointly who make a combined income of $1 million the same way it hits individuals. There is no language in the bill that would prohibit future legislatures from lowering the threshold for the income exemption, making it inevitable that all Washingtonians would eventually be hit with this income tax.
An identical bill has been introduced in the House (HB 2724) but Democrat leaders agree the Senate will consider its bill first.
If approved by the Legislature this year, the tax collection would begin in April 2029.
Democrats have scheduled a public hearing on their income-tax bill this Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
To sign up to testify on this bill or submit written testimony, please go here. To submit written comments to legislators on this proposal, go here. I hope you’ll take a moment to share your thoughts on this proposal.
I strongly oppose SB 6346. For many decades, Washington voters have repeatedly voted down a state income tax. Our state Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional. The Legislature should respect Washingtonians’ wishes by not imposing a state income tax. If you oppose it as well, I hope you will sign in as “CON” to the bill.
My YouTube video about this proposal is here.
The bill’s Democratic proponents say this tax on millionaires will balance our “regressive” tax system, however there is no language in the bill that would alleviate any tax burden on average earners in Washington. Our state sales tax would remain one of the highest in the nation and ADD a new tax burden to high earners today. I believe Democrats would eventually lower the income threshold so that EVERYONE in Washington would pay it, not just millionaires. In fact, the $1 million standard deduction would be set only in state law, not the state constitution, which means the Legislature in future years could lower or eliminate the deduction through a simple majority vote to change a single sentence. No vote of the people would be required.
SB 6346 would override Initiative 2111, the measure approved by the Legislature (with bipartisan support) in 2024 that banned state and local income taxes in Washington.
I would be slightly less concerned if I was sure there would be a public vote on an income tax. Unfortunately, this bill contains language known as a “necessity clause.” It has the same effect as the more familiar “emergency clause” we’ve seen in other legislation over the years – meaning the voters wouldn’t be able to overturn the bill, should it pass, through a citizen referendum. Their only chances to protect themselves, then, would be through the courts or a voter initiative.
The short notice for Friday’s public hearing tells me the income-tax supporters know how unpopular their idea is with most Washingtonians. That explains why they seem to be rushing it through the Legislature as quickly as possible.
Thank you for the privilege to serve as your state senator in the 17th District.
Sincerely,
REMINDER: Please join us for 17th District Zoom town hall meeting on February 18!
I’m pleased to share that Reps. David Stuebe and Kevin Waters will be joining me at a 17th District town hall meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, February 18, starting at 6:30 p.m.
We will discuss bills and issues before the Legislature this session, and we will answer questions from people who attend our town hall meeting.
To register for our Zoom town hall meeting, please use this link.
We look forward to having you and other 17th District residents join us on February 18!
PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Harris’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7632.
To request public records from Sen. Harris, please contact Tim Ford, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members, at Senate.PublicRecords@leg.wa.gov.