Transparency of local taxes on utilities

An amended version of SB 5712, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa, (D–Seattle) passed out of the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee on January 27. The current version of the bill would still require additional utilities to disclose state and local taxes on billing statements, on websites, or in billing inserts or other mailings.

The section of the bill impacting cities was amended to reflect the provisions of the statute that passed in 2020 for city-owned water, sewer and stormwater utilities, but now is expanded to a broader range of utilities owned by cities, like electric utilities, and includes the requirement to report on taxes collected on behalf of other local governments.

AWC worked with the bill sponsor on this amendment and is neutral on the bill as amended. However, if cities have concerns about the new and revised requirements, please share that information with us.