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WashingtonHB 10602025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning newspapers and eligible digital content.

Sponsored By: Sharon Tomiko Santos (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

B&O tax break for publishers

The law exempts revenue from printing or publishing newspapers and from publishing eligible digital content from the B&O tax. It is in effect now, and a renewed version runs from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2034. To qualify, more than 50% of your worldwide income must come from these activities, with a narrow affiliate exception. You also must have reported under the printing and publishing tax classification for the period that included January 1, 2008. Eligible digital content comes out at least monthly, names the author or original source in the main written content, and is only electronic. If you charge one fixed, nonvariable price that bundles exempt and other content, the whole price is exempt. You can estimate tax savings as exempt receipts × 0.484%.

Exemption reduced by certain expenditures

Your exemption must be reduced by the dollar value of any “expenditure” you make in each tax period. Until January 1, 2026, “expenditure” uses the meaning in RCW 42.17A.005. From January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2034, it uses the meaning in RCW 29B.10.230. This reduction raises your taxable base and tax owed.

Yearly report and clawbacks for publishers

If you claim the exemption, you must file a complete yearly tax performance report with the Department of Revenue. If you do not file, you owe an amount equal to your gross income from the covered activities × 0.484%. If the department later finds you were not eligible, the same amount becomes due with interest back to when you took the exemption; no penalties apply. These compliance rules apply through January 1, 2034.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Sharon Tomiko Santos

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Clyde Shavers

    Democratic • House

  • Davina Duerr

    Democratic • House

  • Ed Orcutt

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 137 • No: 9

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 40 • No: 9

House vote • 3/6/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 97 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 15, 2025 Laws.

    4/7/2025House

  2. Governor signed.

    4/7/2025legislature

  3. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/7/2025House

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/2/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/31/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    3/31/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 40; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/26/2025House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/26/2025House

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/21/2025House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/20/2025House

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/18/2025House

  12. Minority; do not pass.

    3/18/2025House

  13. WM - Majority; do pass.

    3/18/2025House

  14. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

    3/10/2025House

  15. Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    3/6/2025House

  16. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/6/2025House

  17. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/5/2025House

  18. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/5/2025House

  19. FIN - Majority; do pass.

    2/4/2025House

  20. FIN - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/4/2025House

  21. First reading, referred to Finance.

    1/13/2025House

  22. Introduced

    1/13/2025House

Bill Text

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