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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I want to share some important updates from Olympia, including a big win for financial education and several concerning proposals that could hit your wallet.
Victory: Financial education bill advances
Financial literacy is a crucial life skill, and I’m proud to report that my bill, House Bill 1285, passed out of the House Education Committee. This legislation will make financial education a graduation requirement, ensuring students learn critical skills like budgeting, credit management, and smart financial decision-making.
Investing in financial education today means fewer financial struggles for Washingtonians tomorrow. I’ll keep fighting to get this across the finish line. You can listen to my Capitol Report on my bill here or by clicking the image below.
A few bad bills that could hurt Washington families
Unfortunately, while we’re making process in some areas, other bills threaten your financial stability and personal freedoms. Here are a few of the worst offenders:
Rent stabilization (or rent control) will shrink the housing supply (House Bill 1217)
The majority caucus is pushing a rent control bill under the misleading name of “rent stabilization.” But, make no mistake—this policy will make our housing crisis worse, not better.
- Rent control has failed everywhere it’s been tried. In places like San Francisco and St. Paul, it led to fewer rental units and higher rents overall.
- Developers will stop building, and small landlords will sell, further reducing housing availability.
- Washington state already has the third most expensive housing market in the U.S. This bill will only make it worse.
Rolling back parents’ rights
After parents fought to pass the Parents’ Bill of Rights (I-2081), some lawmakers are now trying to gut it. House Bill 1296 would:
- Limit parental access to educational records, including information on their child’s mental and physical health.
- Remove transparency in curriculum, preventing parents from knowing what their children are being taught.
- Strip away notification rights, meaning parents might not be informed about major decisions affecting their child.
Parents, not legislators, are the primary stakeholders in their child’s education. I strongly oppose efforts to cut parents out of their children’s decision-making.
You can listen to my Capitol Report on this topic here or by clicking on the image below.
A flood of new taxes
Washington families are already struggling with the third-highest cost of living in the nation. Yet, multiple tax increases are being proposed that will make things more expensive.
- Tripling the property tax cap (House Bill 1334). This bill would increase the property tax growth limit from 1% to 3%, opening the door for increased taxes for homeowners and renters alike.
- Mileage tax (House Bill 1921). A 2.6 cents per mile tax—on top of already high gas taxes – would harm drivers, especially in rural areas.
- New real estate excise tax (House Bill 1480). This bill would allow counties to impose an additional local excise tax on property sales, making housing even more costly.
- Higher business and occupation taxes (House Bill 1320). Small businesses would see a B&O tax hike, leading to higher prices and potentially fewer jobs.
Washington’s cost of living is already out of control.
We rank among the worst states for affordability:
- 3rd highest housing costs.
- 3rd highest gas prices.
- 4th highest grocery prices.
- 7th least affordable child care.
These bills would only make life for folks in our district more expensive. I’ll continue to push back on these harmful policies.
Thank you for staying informed and engaged. As always, feel free to reach out with your thoughts or concerns.
Sincerely,
Skyler Rude
