by Cynthia Stewart, Advocacy Chair emeritus, LWV of Washington

One of the final acts of the 2026 legislature was passage of the Millionaires’ Tax, SB 6346. This was historic in several ways. Most states do not have such a tax and adoption process was down-to-the-wire challenging.

The Millionaires’ Tax was proposed to cover much of Washington State’s multi-billion-dollar financial gap caused by a combination of factors: increases in the cost of doing business, lower than originally forecast revenue, and the need to offset decreased federal funding for health care, food and other poverty-related programs.  

In a nutshell, the Milionaires’ tax establishes a 9.9% tax on the amount of personal income that exceeds $1 million annually, with a number of exclusions. It will generate more than $2 billion annually that will support K-12 education, health care and the Working Families Tax Credit, primarily.

Washington’s regressive tax structure is less stable and more inequitable than the those of the 41 states that have a regular income tax. Our current structure, which relies predominantly on sales, business and occupation and property taxes, severely limits the amount of revenue that could be generated to meet expanding needs. Those who pay the most of state and local taxes as a share of their incomes are the people at the lower income brackets. These are the same people who lose services when funding falls short.

Budget cuts as an alternative to the Millionaires Tax would exacerbate the state’s financial problem, because the costs of ignoring social needs only makes them more costly. The adopted budget does include some cuts; prior budgets have reduced more. There is no “fat” available to cut.

These challenges with Washington’s tax structure have been acknowledged for  many decades. Ballot measures to pass an income tax have been rejected several times, most recently in 1982. The Millionaires’ Tax is not considered to be an income tax per se because it applies to such a limited population and has precedence in the court’s approval of the capital gains tax.

The LWVWA supported the Millionaires’ Tax bill because of our adopted position on state taxes is “action to obtain a balanced tax structure that is fair, adequate, flexible, and has a sound economic effect.” Also, many programs that the LWVWA supports would be hurt by any other option.

Before the tax bill went to the floor in both chambers, the public hearing turnout was historic. A staggering 80,000-plus people signing in pro and con. When the bill got to the House floor, an equally historic 24-hour debate ensued before the final vote.

This tax will likely be challenged in court. Meanwhile, it not only provides an improved revenue base but also can be the start of a process to make the entire tax structure more reliable, flexible and equitable.

by Ann Murphy, Lobby Team Co-chair and Waste Diversion Issue Chair, LWV of Washington

The Washington State Legislature adjourned its 60-day short session on March 12, having approved 267 bills that will become law if Gov. Bob Ferguson signs them. Among those are 48 bills the LWVWA actively supported with your help. The Lobby Team thanks you!

Bills that passed
The League’s top priority was SB 6346—the Millionaires' Tax—which passed in the final week of the session.  Advocacy Chair emeritus Cynthia Stewart even returned to help our Lobby Team advocate for the bill. Stewart believes this is one of the most consequential bills passed in more than a decade because it will change the state's tax base from being unfair for people of lower incomes to one that is far more equitable and will generate much-needed revenue. See her more detailed report HERE.

Other bills that support the LWVWA’s priorities related to democracy, the environment, and social and economic justice are listed HERE.

Six of the eleven bills League prioritized during the LWVWA's Lobby Week (Feb. 23-26) are on their way to the Governor: 

• SB 6346 the Millionaires' Tax
• HB 1710 Preclearance for proposed changes to election procedures
• HB 1916 Challenges to voter registration
• HB 2238 Food security
• HB 2338 Weatherization projects
• SB 5981 Discounted medications

Next Steps
The Governor has 20 days, not counting Sundays, to sign if the bills are to become law. That deadline is April 4.

Between now and January 2027, many League advocates will continue the fight for bills that did not pass and to ponder additional legislation. Following the November election, the legislative process will start all over again for the 2027-2028 biennium.

The LWVWA Lobby Team, coordinated by Marty Gibbins (LWV Seattle King County) and Ann Murphy (LWV Clark County), includes 12 Issue Chairs who advocate in a variety of areas based on positions coming from consensus by League members. The team has a growing group of Advocates who assist with this important work,

“In 2026, I joined the Washington League Democracy Lobby Team as an Advocate, and I enjoyed feeling like a bigger part of the action,” reflected Kit Muehlman (LWV Bellingham-Whatcom).

The end of the session brought a range of emotions for the Issue Chairs.

Katie Johnson, Healthcare Issue Chair (LWV Snohomish County) noted, “As a novice, I’m excited about how joining our voices together resulted in seven health care bills being signed into law!”

“Sadly, SB 5400 to strengthen reputable local news coverage did not pass this year, and we are grateful for the growing recognition that local news is foundational to healthy communities and democracy—and for those who are working diligently to address the crisis,” Dee Anne Finken, Local News Issue Chair (LWV Clark County)

Phyllis Farrell, Agriculture Issue Chair, (LWV Thurston County) is hopeful: “The passage this year of HB 2238 should further agriculture viability for farmers, reduce food insecurity and improve safe food access for consumers. Much more work needs to be done to provide support for small farmers and those wanting to transition to regenerative or organic farming.”

Learning at Council
The Lobby Team will present a workshop at the LWVWA Council (June 5-7 in Lacey, WA) to help members who wish to engage in League advocacy. Some may immerse themselves in actual lobbying efforts. Others may be happy to help from their armchairs by contacting legislators in response to action requests.

Reading the Legislative Action Newsletter and responding to the various action requests are an important part of “Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.”

Said Kate Lunceford, Forest Issue Chair (LWV Snohomish County): “I’m grateful to the League for giving us the credibility and reach that few other platforms can match—and we use it wisely and powerfully.”

 

Help celebrate Women’s History Month by recording a brief—a very brief—video of yourself sharing an experience about voting.

Perhaps you’d like to reminisce (again, just briefly) about the first time you marked a ballot. 

Or perhaps when you sat down and helped a newcomer register to vote.

Or how you know in your bones, that despite claims by others, that your vote is your voice—and that it matters. 

A new partnership between the League of Women Voters of Washington and the Washington Office of the Secretary of State offers League members an opportunity to record a snippet and have it posted on both the LWV and the State secretary’s social media accounts, specifically on Facebook and Instagram.

The purpose is to celebrate Women’s History Month and remind the public of the importance of women’s suffrage, which in Washington state began earlier than in most other states.

It’s easy to do. All you need is a camera that takes video and the ability to text your recording to the SOS account at 360-701-0843 or upload it to the SOS dropbox here.

But act fast! The deadline to submit your video is Sunday, March 22.

Follow the guidelines on the accompanying illustrations or view the flyers HERE, for more details, including prompts to which you may like to respond. 

For more information, contact Amy Lin with the State secretary’s office at 360-890-6747 or amy.lin@sos.wa.gov

The League believes that to protect and defend democracy, we must show up persistently. That means attending rallies and protests over and over again. Find locations and information about the upcoming No Kings rallies in or near your community. 

LWVUS Guidance
Be sure to utilize the LWVUS Protest Safety Guidance and Guidance for Leagues About Nonpartisanship and Partnerships. 

The League is a partner for No Kings, so at the rallies please: 

• DO support the League's mission, table at your local event, and wear League shirts and/or League buttons. You may also put the League logo on your signs.
  
  
• When tabling, promoting the rally, discussing the issues, or in your signage DO NOT mention individual names or specify political parties. 

Sign Design Guidance 

Follow the guidance below to create effective signage:

• Use a maximum of 5-7 words for readability.
  
  
• Use high contrasting colors (like black on neon or red on white).
  
  
• Use large letters—make them 3-4 inches tall if possible.
  
  
• Add simple symbols to your signs (such as the "No Kings" crossed-crown, the Statue of Liberty, or the Constitution).

Suggested Sign Wording 
Below are suggested wording for your rally signs—feel free to modify the sign templates from LWV Snohomish County:

• Protect the vote. Protect democracy
• Every Voter. Every Voice. No kings
• ‘We the people’ means all of us
• Your vote is your voice
• Hands Off/Our democracy
• E pluribus unum
• Democracy brings us together
• I support the constitution
• Not on my watch
• Government of the people, by the people, for the people.
• 3 equal branches of government
• No Kings. No Tyrants. No Exceptions
• We The People—Not One Person
• Power Belongs to the People
• Protect the Rule of Law
• Democracy = Rule of Law

Monthly Media Literacy Tip
As with a virus, faulty information is a threat not just to a single individual, but to many people.

Faulty reasoning can accelerate the spread of faulty information. We are all susceptible to manipulation by faulty reasoning when bad actors take advantage of the brain's limited ability to discern fact from fiction in a fast-moving social media environment.  

To resist manipulation by faulty reasoning, it helps to be familiar with common tactics, like scapegoating. That involves blaming huge problems or even smaller ones on a specific group or a specific person when there is no evidence that either the group or person is to blame. 

Two examples of scapegoating: Blaming low voter turnout on a single group of people in a population or singling out one junior engineer for a project’s failure when the project is the work of a team.

If there is no evidence to support a claim, you can dismiss the faulty reasoning and thereby stop the spread of faulty information.

Now Available: Media & News Literacy Workshop Recordings
Are you finding it harder to find the truth within the torrent of information that bombards you every day? If so, we have a great resource for you!

The LWVWA offers recordings of four live workshops that teach media and news literacy skills. No registration is required! Just click on each recording that interests you and listen to it when you want and at your own pace.

We recommend you start your learning experience with our eight-minute Intro to Media and News Literacy video, then look for “Workshop Recordings and Presentations" portion on the Local News and Democracy webpage. The subjects covered are:

• The Power of Critical Thinking 
• Making Sense of Information 
• Techniques Used to Sway Opinion 
• Get to Know Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Click on the presentation that accompanies each workshop recording to get a list of resources that will help you become a savvy consumer of information.

Questions? Contact the Media Literacy and News Education Project team at MediaNewsEd@lwvwa.org.

The LWVWA members responsible for the Media Literacy and News Education Project share a media literacy tip for publication in the monthly Project for Civic Health newsletter. The project, established to foster greater civic health and dialogue, is housed in the office of Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and involves the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the University of Washington Evans School, and The William D. Ruckelshaus Center. The League's most recent tip is above.

This Washington State legislative session that ended March 12 was the first since the LWVWA adopted its positions on Welcoming Immigrants. The positions allowed the LWVWA to add an immigrants issue chair to its Lobby team: Lydia Zepeda, a co-author of the Welcoming Immigrants study.

Zepeda testified in support of legislation affecting immigrants in Washington State. Six bills that the League endorsed, along with other immigrant rights organizations, passed both chambers of the Legislature. They are on the governor’s desk or have already been signed into law. The successful bills are:

• HB 1903 would establish a statewide low-income energy assistance program. There would be no risk to eligibility based on immigration status. The bill calls for multilingual outreach and coordination with community organizations to inform the public.
  
  
• HB 2105 would require employers to notify employees of planned inspections or audits by U.S. Immigration and Customs. The substitute bill would provide more details on dates, narrows the scope somewhat, and outlines AG responsibilities. 
  
  
• HB 2632 would amend the state legal code to remove offensive language, replacing “oriental” with “Asian” to designate a person of Asian descent; and replacing “alien” with “noncitizen.” 
  
  
• SB 5855 would ban the wearing of face masks by local, state and federal law enforcement, and require all law enforcement officers to have identification while conducting operations in the state. It establishes a civil cause of action for people who are detained by law enforcement officers violating the prohibition on facial coverings. 
  
  SB 2355 would ensure that domestic workers, most of whom are immigrant women of color, have the basic rights and protections available to most other workers. These include a minimum wage, a written contract in a language they understand, and privacy and anti-retaliation guarantees. The substitute bill narrowed the definition of babysitter and removed political speech from rights protected by anti-retaliation provisions. 
  
  
• SB 6002 would limit how automated license plate reader (ALPR) data can be used and shared by police agencies. It creates consistent statewide standards for ALPRs. An important change in the substitute bill is that the 72-hour data retention limit was increased to 21 days.

Many worthy bills did not make it through the legislative session, mostly due to budgetary issues. However, our position has been instrumental to advocate for legislation that protects the rights of immigrants. Concurrence with the LWVWA position—that is, making our position a national League position—will enable many Leagues to advocate and lobby for similar protection of immigrants in their communities.

The LWVWA has created a website to further explain the study, the LWVWA position, and the process toward national adoption. The 57th biennial LWVUS Convention will be June 25-28 in Columbus, Ohio.

by Angela Gyurko, Secretary, LWV of Washington

Want to learn how to build graphics that pop? Grab your computer and register for Council 2026 in Lacey, Washington, where Carolyn Stewart will lead a hands-on Canva workshop for any member wanting to learn the software. 

Stewart was a student at Whatcom Community College in 2019 when she first encountered LWV Bellingham-Whatcom members registering voters on campus and cheering them on as they put their ballots in a nearby ballot box. “As time went on and I started talking with more of the volunteers, they asked if I’d be willing to help with their social media posts,” Stewart told me. “I definitely wanted to help, and I’d been using computers since I was ten, so I sat down to teach myself Canva. I had friends who used it, and in addition to the support available through the program, I was able to find blogs and YouTube videos to help me learn.”  

Her volunteer work that year with Bellingham-Whatcom led to an internship with the LWVWA in 2021 working on the push to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. “My biggest struggle with graphics design was figuring out what graphics are both interesting and effective,” Stewart said. “I decided to start collecting graphics that looked effective to me, then I compared those to the graphics LWVUS was providing for the campaign. That’s still how I do it.” 

Stewart has worked with other graphics software, but she finds Canva very approachable. “Canva has a brand standards kit, where you can plug in the League’s specific colors and fonts, then create editable templates. This is how LWVUS does their graphics support to state and local leagues,” she explained. “It keeps the branding consistent, and the local Leagues just need to fill in their specific details.” 

She’s excited to work with League members across the state to get them comfortable with the software. “Opening Canva for the first time can feel overwhelming, and the help options within the program don’t always feel helpful at first.”  

Stewart recommended that workshop participants bring whatever device they will use for Canva at home. The software is available for computers, tablets, and even phones. “Canva on a tablet or phone is a little more challenging, so early users might feel more comfortable starting with a computer.” 

Council 2026 opens on June 6 in Lacey, giving budding graphic artists time to think about what they want out of the Canva workshop. “Think about what you’re trying to accomplish for your League with Canva,” Stewart advised. “Open up the software. Watch some videos about the software. We can work on the rest together when we all get to Council.” 

By Sally Carpenter Hale, Communications Chair, LWV Clark County

Inspirational tales of local heroes were part of “She Did That!,” a Women’s History Month event sponsored by the Clark County League as part of Downtown Vancouver’s First Friday series. The March 6 event brought 119 people to the Clark County Historical Museum for an evening of fun, food and stories.

Washington state League President Karen Crowley delivered the keynote speech, urging attendees to be bold in defending democracy. A spokesman from the League of United Latin American Citizens talked about local efforts to provide immigrants with legal and housing assistance.

Three other speakers told stories about local heroes. Paul Porter of the Clark County  NAACP remembered his grandmother, activist Minnie Porter; archeologist Doug Wilson spoke of the Meti women of Fort Vancouver; and Chinook elder Sam Robinson told the story of his ancestor, Ch'isht. Also known as Catherine Huckswelt, Ch’isht was married to 1851 treaty signer Thomas Huckswelt and was known for her remarkable memory of tribal ancestral trees.

The March 6 event was capped with an entertaining reprise of the “Match Game,” featuring famous women from the 1970s. The “participants” were Shirley Chisholm, Janis Joplin, Gloria Steinem, Phyllis Schafley, Bette Miller, Margaret Thatcher. 

The League provided “Resist Threats to Democracy” resources, a Spin the Wheel game, live music and tamales, chips and salsa. 

In her speech, Crowley urged the audience to counter the daily threats to democracy.

“By demanding federal intervention in state and local elections, the Trump administration is working overtime to create intimidation, chaos and confusion,” she said.

“We need to be bold. We need to name names, call out actors who are behaving in ways that are supremely against our principles. We need to be loud. We need to be visible and unapologetic when speaking truth to power.” 

She urged the crowd to get involved by joining an organization, attending city council and school board meetings, observing local elections—and, most importantly, by voting. 

“Every day there’s another threat, another challenge. So we need to be nimble … and we need to be working in coalition with allies and partners who are doing this work together,” Crowley said

Sen. Maria Cantwell, left, Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey and Nancy Halvorson, LWVWA board member discuss the threats to democracy posed by the SAVE America Act.

By Dee Anne Finken, Communications Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington

With former Clark County League president Nancy Halvorson and others at her side, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell was in Vancouver Wednesday morning to explain how costly the passage of the SAVE America Act would be for Americans.

“Time, money and maybe even their vote,” Cantwell said at a news conference in the Clark County Elections Office in downtown Vancouver.

Proclaiming the SAVE America Act as misleading and misguided, Cantwell said she would issue a snapshot report in the next day or two detailing the significant harms the bill would create.

But during Wednesday’s brief conference, Cantwell said immediate action is needed in light of President Trump’s insistence that massive fraud exists, necessitating the legislation.

Cantwell invited the League to participate as representative of an organization recognized widely for its commitment to voting and election security. As of press time, Sen. Cantwell had plans to hold another news conference in Seattle on Thursday, to which the League has also been invited. Seattle King County League President Barbara Tengtio is scheduled to speak at that event.

The House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act earlier this month; it is currently under consideration in the Senate.

“We need to fight back,” Cantwell said, adding the bill poses grave harm, particularly for senior citizens, rural voters and working parents, as they would be most hard-pressed to produce the additional documents the act calls for them to produce.   

The bill also would significantly affect individuals who take their spouse’s name when they marry. 

Numerous sources estimate more than 21 million Americans would be unable to present the additional required documents, including marriage certificates and passports.  

What’s more, the bill would take effect immediately, Cantwell said.

Both Cantwell and Halvorson said Trump’s calls to nationalize elections are particularly onerous. 

Halvorson, who served as Co-president of the Clark League from 2020-21; President from 2021-23 and again 2024-25, said, “Let’s be clear:  The SAVE America Act is about restricting access to the ballot and deciding who gets to participate in our democracy. And the League stands in resolute opposition to assaults on our democracy.”

Halvorson used this analogy to address the claims about voter fraud: “A person is more likely to be struck by lightning than they are to commit voter fraud.”  

Cantwell said she was drawn to speak in the Vancouver-Portland area because of the area’s experience with threats to voting. Three ballot boxes in the region were set afire in October 2024. 

Cantwell said federal involvement in elections, particularly by the FBI, should be limited to investigating incidents like that.

Also speaking at the news conference were Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey and the Rev. Michael Jones Jr., vice president of the NAACP, Clark County chapter.  
“This is not just a political issue,” Jones said.  “It’s a civil rights issue.” He pointed to the disenfranchisement that resulted from poll taxes and other efforts in the 1950s and ‘60s to block Black Americans from voting.

Halvorson, who is a member of LWVWA board, emphasized the League’s nonpartisan status and reiterated that protecting the right to vote, granted by the U.S. Constitution, is neither solely a Republican or Democratic concern.

The League returns to Lacey, a suburb of Olympia the first weekend June, for its biennial council with “The Power of Us” as its theme. 

Registration is open now. 

Hosted by the state League and with volunteers from South Puget Sound-area Leagues, official proceedings begin Saturday, June 6, with optional activities kicking off June 5. Those activities include a walking tour of the capitol grounds, dine-around dinners and hotel-room caucuses. 

“Think of council as an innovation lab, where members and leaders come together to learn, share and shape the future of the League,” said board member Angela Gyurko, the event’s coordinator.  

With the focus on innovation, Gyurko said members are asked to submit proposals for workshops on topics that will lead to deep discussions at council and actions that members can pursue in their local Leagues when they return.  Proposals are Due by April 15, so please be thinking about submissions now!

“The Power of Us,” Gyurko said, takes a look at our power as individuals and leaders to influence change in our communities; to innovate boldly by empowering voters and defending democracy; and to unify and stand strong with our partners. 

Workshops, caucuses and plenary sessions will be at the South Puget Sound Community College, Lacey campus. Lodging is a 6-minute walk, at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lacey, where the League has reserved a block of rooms; and at nearby Candlewood Suites Olympia/Lacey. 

Eager to involve newer members, event organizers have set a reduced attendance fee—$60—for those who’ve joined the League in the past year, or since June 2025. Early-bird rate for all others is $115 until May 15. After that, it’s $135.  

Included in the registration will be lunch, snacks, happy hour, and buffet dinner on Saturday, and snacks only on Sunday. Coffee, tea, and water will also be provided. Attendees are asked to bring their own coffee cups. 

Twelve volunteers are needed to help onsite and will be able to register at a reduced rate. Email agyurko@lwvwa.org for more information or to volunteer. 

Council will be primarily in person this year, with provisions mostly to allow virtual attendees to view the plenary and workshop sessions and vote. (The early-bird virtual rate is $25 and $35 for regular virtual.) 

Two years ago, council also took place in Lacey. Organizers value the central location and reasonable rates charged for lodging and facilities.