Washington Lawmakers End Session with Flurry of Controversial Bills Awaiting Governor’s Signature
A slate of controversial bills passed during the final hours of Washington’s 2024 legislative session are now awaiting action from Governor Bob Ferguson. The bills—ranging from new gas taxes to changes in emergency powers—are prompting concern among taxpayers, small business owners, and government accountability advocates who say the legislation will raise costs, limit public input, and worsen existing challenges facing the state.
Republican lawmakers and policy groups are urging Governor Ferguson to exercise his veto power on several bills, arguing they were rushed through without adequate public scrutiny and contain provisions that could do lasting damage.
$12.5 billion in new taxes raise alarm
Despite record-setting tax revenues in recent years, the new state budget passed by Democratic lawmakers includes more than $12.5 billion in new taxes and fees. These include:
- Property Tax Increase
- New Business Taxes
- Sales Tax Expansion
- Death Tax Increase
- Higher Capital Gains Taxes
Washingtonians are already squeezed as is. 98% of Washingtonians believe they already pay too much or the right amount in taxes. So one question remains: When Governor Ferguson decides whether to sign the budget or not, will he care more about the will of the people or the will of lawmakers?
Gas tax increase buried in transportation budget
The 2024 transportation budget includes a little-noticed provision that could raise gas prices by 6 cents per gallon by 2030. Washington drivers are already paying among the highest fuel prices in the nation, largely due to the state’s Climate Commitment Act, which functions as a de facto carbon tax. Business leaders and economists say additional fuel costs will hit rural residents and working families hardest, especially those who rely on vehicles for commuting or job-related travel.
Striking workers to receive unemployment benefits
Another bill headed to the governor would allow unionized employees who go on strike to collect unemployment benefits after 14 days. Washington would become just the third state in the nation to adopt such a policy. The Association of Washington Business argued the policy is “fundamentally unfair to non-union employers and employees,” noting it shifts the cost of labor disputes onto taxpayers and small businesses by placing added strain on the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund.
Emergency clauses used to block public challenge
Several of the bills passed this session include “emergency clauses“—legal provisions that prevent voters from challenging new laws through referendum by allowing them to take effect immediately. This is blatantly anti-democracy, and according to the Washington Policy Center, it’s increasingly being used by lawmakers to shield controversial legislation from public accountability. The Washington Policy Center is calling for a constitutional amendment requiring a 60% vote in the Legislature to apply such clauses and recommends Governor Ferguson use his line-item veto authority to strike them—just as he did last year with SB 5577.
A call for vetoes and accountability
As Washington’s new governor, Ferguson has the opportunity to signal whether he will continue his predecessor’s legacy of top-down policymaking or listen to growing concerns from taxpayers, business owners, and working families. Policy experts, editorial boards, and watchdog groups are calling on him to veto bills that raise costs, shrink public input, and add unnecessary bureaucracy. With inflation still straining household budgets and trust in government declining, Ferguson’s decisions in the coming days could shape the political landscape for years to come.
Tell him that you demand he veto these bad bills!