OLYMPIA, Wash — Washington state lawmakers will hold public hearings on three voter-backed initiatives related to police pursuits, the state income tax and parental rights.
Three other initiatives that would repeal the Climate Commitment Act, repeal the capital gains tax and allow opt-outs of the WA Cares Fund will go directly to voters and be on the November ballot.
The House and Senate will hold joint public hearings on the three initiatives on Feb. 27 and 28. The timing of the hearings will be finalized next week.
The six initiatives were sponsored by Let’s Go Washington, a Republican-backed group that collected hundreds of thousands of signatures supporting the measures.
Democratic leaders in the legislature said the three initiatives it will send to voters “would have a dire effect on the day to day lives of every single Washingtonian.” They argued the initiatives would have a detrimental impact on education, child care, climate action and aging with dignity.
However, leaders said the impact of three initiatives that they will hold hearings on is “less obvious.”
“It is crucial we have every bit of information available and at our disposal so that we fully understand the consequences – both intended and not – of these initiatives and the ways they will affect the lives of every Washingtonian,” Democratic leaders said in a statement.
The legislature will consider the following initiatives:
- Initiative 2113 would roll back restrictions on police pursuits and allow law enforcement to chase suspects if they believe there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law. It would also allow pursuits if a person poses a threat to the safety of others.
- Initiative 2111 would ban the state and local jurisdictions from taxing personal income.
- Initiative 2081 would give parents the right to examine their child’s textbooks and curriculum; receive their child’s school records, including medical and disciplinary records, within 10 days; and receive notification when medical services are offered or arranged, among other things.
The following initiatives will go straight to voters:
- Initiative 2124 would allow people who are employed to opt out of WA Cares, which is the state’s long-term care insurance program. If it passes, Democratic leaders said it would effectively end the program.
- Initiative 2117 would prohibit agencies from imposing programs like cap and invest, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capping carbon emissions and allowing businesses to obtain allowances equal to their emissions. Critics have claimed it led to higher gas prices.
- Initiative 2109 would repeal the state’s tax on top investment earners. The capital gains tax is a 7% tax on the sale of stocks, bonds and other high-end assets in excess of $250,000 for both individuals and couples.