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Washington state lawmakers have proposed the first gas tax increase since 2016 to address a $1 billion transportation budget deficit over the next two years. Both the House and Senate plans unveiled Monday would raise the tax starting July 1, with differences in their approach:
- Senate Plan: Increases gas tax by 6 cents per gallon, followed by a 2% annual hike for inflation. Expected to raise $1.5 billion over six years.
- House Plan: Raises gas tax by 9 cents per gallon, also indexed to inflation. Expected to generate $1.8 billion.
Washington currently has the third-highest gas tax in the U.S., behind California and Pennsylvania. Lawmakers argue that without new revenue, critical projects will be delayed, and road safety could decline.
Other funding measures include:
✅ Higher EV registration fees (+$50)
✅ Luxury vehicle tax (over $100K)
✅ Higher rental car taxes
✅ New highway use fee (House plan)
The Senate proposal also includes 13 furlough days for transportation workers in 2026, which the House plan does not adopt.
With billions needed to maintain roads, ferries, and other infrastructure, negotiations will continue before the session ends on April 27.
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