Initiative 1509, to provide property tax relief by exempting the first $250,000 of valuation from taxation
Key Findings
Initiative 1509 is an initiative to the legislature that would reduce the state property tax by exempting $250,000 of valuation from taxation.
If the measure gains enough signatures lawmakers can adopt it next session, propose an alternative or take no
action.If lawmakers do not pass the initiative it will be placed on the November 2023 ballot, possibly with an alternative.
Due to the uniformity clause, a change in the state constitution may be required to implement the initiative.
Introduction
A group of concerned citizens called Let’s Go Washington is gathering signatures for a proposed people’s initiative to the legislature, Initiative 1509, which would exempt the first $250,000 of real property value from taxes.
Initiative sponsors need to collect 324,516 valid signatures (8% of the votes cast in the last election for governor) to submit Initiative 1491 for consideration in the 2023 legislative session. The signatures must be received by the Secretary of State’s office by December 31, 2022.
If the measure qualifies lawmakers have three choices:
- They can enact the initiative into law as is (the governor’s signature is not required);
- They can take no action, in which case the initiative is forwarded to voters on the November 2023 ballot. If voters approve the initiative it becomes law;
- They can pass their own alternative version, in which case both versions, the original and the legislature’s, will appear on the November 2023 ballot. Voters will first decide if either version should become law and, if so, indicate on the same ballot which one should pass.
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