Washington families feel the strain of rising costs on everything from housing to gas to groceries. Inflation has already driven up prices, yet lawmakers in Olympia continue pushing policies that will make life even more expensive.
Instead of providing relief, the majority party is advancing tax hikes, increased fees and excessive regulations that hurt working families. If we want Washington to remain a place where people can afford to live and work, we must push back against these harmful proposals before they become law.
Owning or renting a home is already challenging, and these new proposals will only make it worse. By increasing the cost of homeownership, Olympia Democrats make it harder to build intergenerational wealth and achieve the American Dream.
For instance, House Bill 1334 would allow local governments to raise property taxes more aggressively, weakening the voter-approved 1% cap on annual increases. This means homeowners — already paying some of the highest property taxes in the nation — would see their bills climb year after year without any voter approval. Higher property taxes don’t just hurt homeowners; they also get passed on to renters, driving up housing costs for everyone.
Meanwhile, House Bill 1217, promoted as “rent stabilization,” is just another name for rent control. Rent control has failed everywhere it’s been tried because it discourages new construction, shrinks the supply of rental housing, and ultimately makes rents even higher. The real solution is to increase the housing supply, not implement policies proven to worsen the problem.
Olympia must stop playing the ostrich game around housing issues. Washington must build itself out of the housing crisis, and that requires infrastructure investment, less onerous regulations and a Building Code Council that focuses on incentivizing, creating rather than preventing the building of new homes and apartments.
Washington families want strong schools but also deserve transparency regarding how their tax dollars are spent.
House Bill 1356 and Senate Bill 5186 shift the state’s responsibility to build safe and modern schools to local property taxpayers. I believe we all want a quality education in a safe and modern building. However, these proposals would jeopardize critical infrastructure from the State Capital Budget and create greater disparities between the haves and the have-nots. If Olympia Democrats want to make it easier for schools to be built, we already have the means to prioritize these investments, and it can be done this year without forcing working families and fixed-income Washingtonians to make further cuts to their household budgets.
Another hit to our kitchen table is House Bill 1607, which would create an expensive “bottle tax” and redemption program on glass, plastic, and metal beverage containers, increasing costs on everything from bottled water to soda to juice.
Supporters claim this tax will improve recycling, but Washington already has one of the country's most expensive and inefficient recycling systems. Instead of improving what’s already in place, Olympia Democrats are adding yet another increase at the grocery store. In addition, the cost to producers could exceed $200 million, which would be passed down to us.
Lastly, driving isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity here in Southwest Washington and across the state. But instead of working to fix transportation funding, the majority party is pushing new taxes that will make commuting and running a business even more expensive.
House Bill 1921 would implement a road usage charge (RUC), forcing drivers to pay per mile traveled — on top of the already high gas tax. This double taxation will hit rural communities and long-distance commuters the hardest, making it more expensive for people with no choice but to drive.
With families already struggling to afford housing, transportation, and everyday essentials, lawmakers should be focused on lowering costs — not raising them. Yet, proposals to increase property taxes, raise school levies, impose a bottle tax, and charge drivers per mile will only make life harder. Instead of overburdening taxpayers, we need policies that encourage economic growth, reduce unnecessary regulations, and provide real financial relief.
These policies will impact every household in Washington. If we don’t push back, they will become law, making life more expensive for everyone.
Together, we can fight for policies that help Washington families — not those that make life more expensive.
Rep. Peter Abbarno represents the 20th Legislative District and is the House Republican Caucus Chair.
