Washington Reduce the Maximum Annual Property Tax Increase to 0.5 Percent Initiative (2026)
| Washington Reduce the Maximum Annual Property Tax Increase to 0.5 Percent Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2026 | |
| Topic Property taxes | |
| Status Cleared for signature gathering | |
| Type State statute | Origin Citizens |
The Washington Reduce the Maximum Annual Property Tax Increase to 0.5 Percent Initiative may be on the ballot in Washington as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.
The ballot initiative would reduce the maximum percentage by which certain property taxes could increase annually from 1% to 0.5%. It would also require that in order to exceed the 0.5% growth limit on property taxes, a simple majority of voters in that tax district must approve the increase at a general election.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title is as follows:[2]
| “ | This measure would reduce the maximum percentage by which certain property tax levies could increase annually from 1.0 to 0.5 percent, unless a taxing district’s voters approve a greater increase by simple majority.
Should this measure be enacted into law?[3] |
” |
Ballot summary
The official ballot summary is as follows:[2]
| “ | Initiative Measure No. IL26-910 concerns the state and local property tax limit factor.[3] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
Process in Washington
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Washington, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute, called an Initiative to the Legislature (ITL), is equal to 8% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Signatures for indirect initiatives are due at least 10 days prior to the beginning of the legislative session in the year of the targeted election.
In Washington, the Legislature has three options regarding Initiatives to the Legislature:
- (1) The Legislature can adopt an Initiative to the Legislature, in which case the initiative is enacted into law without a vote of electors;
- (2) The Legislature can reject or not act on the initiative, in which case the initiative is placed on the ballot at the next state general election; or
- (3) The Legislature can approve an alternative to the proposed initiative, in which case both the original proposal and the legislative alternative are placed on the ballot at the next state general election.
If an indirect initiative goes to the ballot, a simple majority vote is required for approval.
The requirements to get an Initiative to the Legislature certified for the 2026 ballot:
- Signatures: 308,911 valid signatures
- Deadline: January 2, 2026
Stages of this ballot initiative
The following is the timeline of the initiative:[4]
- May 23, 2025: Citizen Brian Heywood filed the petition for the initiative with the Washington secretary of state's office.
- June 6, 2025: The initiative was issued a serial number (IL26-910), a ballot title, and a ballot summary. It was cleared to begin gathering signatures.
- June 17, 2025: An additional version of this initiative was given a serial number (IL26-942), a ballot title, and a summary.[5]
External links
See also
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Footnotes
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Initiative Measure No. IL26-910 Full Text, "accessed June 16, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Washington Secretary of State, "Ballot Title Letter," accessed June 16, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Proposed Initiatives to the Legislature - 2025," accessed June 16, 2025
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "IL26-942 Ballot Title Letter," accessed June 17, 2025
