Notice of Committee Passage for House Bill 1460

You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Initiative 960 email list. RCW 43.135.031 (I-960) requires that notices be sent each time a bill that raises taxes or fees is: introduced in either house; scheduled for a public hearing; approved by any legislative committee; or passed by either house of the Legislature.

Please note: This email message was sent from a notification-only address. Please do not reply to this message.

HB 1460, titled AN ACT Relating to closing the digital divide by establishing excise taxes on telecommunications services to fund the expansion of the universal service programs in Washington, has been passed by the House Committee on Finance. The Office of Financial Management has identified this bill as requiring a ten-year projection of increased cost to the taxpayers or affected fee payers.

Ten-year projection:

Utilities and Transportation Comm:

Cash receipts are indeterminate. Although the bill introduces a tax/surcharge assessment $.25 per access line, the Commission has very limited information at this time to estimate the total number of lines that would be impacted.  Specifically, the Commission, currently, does not assert regulatory authority over broadband and wireless providers.   Lack of line count information from these providers makes the calculation unattainable.

Ten-year projection prepared in consultation with the following agencies:

Department of Revenue
Utilities and Transportation Comm

The following legislators voted do pass:

Representative Frank Chopp
Democrat
(206) 905-6681
frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov

Representative Larry Springer
Democrat
(425) 947-8921
larry.springer@leg.wa.gov

Representative Tina Orwall
Democrat
(253) 656-5265
tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov

Representative Sharon Wylie
Democrat
(360) 786-7924
Sharon.Wylie@leg.wa.gov

Representative Noel Frame
Democrat
(206) 962-5098
noel.frame@leg.wa.gov

Representative Melanie Morgan
Democrat
(360) 786-7906
MORGAN_ME@leg.wa.gov

Representative My-Linh Thai
Democrat
(206) 333-4107
THAI_MY@leg.wa.gov

Representative Amy Walen
Democrat
(425) 883-3366
WALEN_AM@leg.wa.gov

Representative Alex Ramel
Democrat
(360) 786-7970
alex.ramel@leg.wa.gov

Representative Kirsten Harris-Talley
Democrat
(206) 971-1222
Kirsten.Harris-Talley@leg.wa.gov

Representative April Berg
Democrat
(425) 939-8423
April.Berg@leg.wa.gov


The following legislators voted to refer the bill without recommendation:

Representative Ed Orcutt
Republican
(360) 786-7990
Ed.Orcutt@leg.wa.gov

Representative Brandon Vick
Republican
(564) 888-2271
brandon.vick@leg.wa.gov

Representative Drew Stokesbary
Republican
(253) 245-1963
drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jeremie Dufault
Republican
(509) 728-9174
DUFAULT_JE@leg.wa.gov

Representative Rob Chase
Republican
(360) 786-7984
Rob.Chase@leg.wa.gov


Not voting:

Representative Jesse Young
Republican
(360) 786-7964
Jesse.Young@leg.wa.gov



Legislative Bill Information Website: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/

Initiative 960 Website: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/tax/default.asp