Bill > SB5088

This bill authorizes counties to impose a new public utility tax with specific parameters and limitations. Counties can levy an excise tax on utilities equal to their gross income from services provided within the county, with a maximum tax rate of 3%. Utilities must add this tax to their customer bills and show it as a separate line item. Before implementing the tax, counties must wait at least 75 days after adopting an ordinance and can only start the tax at the beginning of a calendar quarter. The bill allows counties to create exemptions for business customers like manufacturing facilities, industrial parks, and computer data centers, but prohibits a general residential exemption unless business customers are also exempt. Counties must provide a credit for any similar utility taxes already imposed by cities or towns to prevent double taxation. The bill also provides comprehensive definitions for various types of utilities, including electrical power, gas, telephone, water, sewer, solid waste, and cable service utilities, establishing a clear framework for how the tax can be applied across different utility types.

Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5088&Year=2025&Initiative=false