Washington SJR 8200: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution concerning the investment of funds to provide for long-term care services and supports.

Bill Text

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1
STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:2
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the 3
secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state 4
for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to 5
Article VII, section 2 and Article VIII, section 6 of the 6
Constitution of the state of Washington and an amendment to Article 7
XI of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new 8
section to read as follows:9
Article VII, section 2. Except as hereinafter provided and 10
notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the 11
aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the 12
state and all taxing districts now existing or hereafter created, 13
shall not in any year exceed one percent of the true and fair value 14
of such property in money. Nothing herein shall prevent levies at the 15
rates now provided by law by or for any port or public utility 16
district. The term "taxing district" for the purposes of this section 17
shall mean any political subdivision, municipal corporation, 18
district, or other governmental agency authorized by law to levy, or 19
have levied for it, ad valorem taxes on property, other than a port 20
or public utility district. Such aggregate limitation or any specific 21
S-0600.2
SUBSTITUTE SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8200
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by
Senators Cortes, Wellman, Dhingra, Shewmake, Riccelli, Bateman,
Hasegawa, Lovelett, Conway, Orwall, Pedersen, Salomon, Saldaña, C.
Wilson, Chapman, Cleveland, Frame, Krishnadasan, Liias, Nobles,
Slatter, Stanford, and Valdez)
READ FIRST TIME 02/14/25.
p. 1 SSJR 8200

limitation imposed by law in conformity therewith may be exceeded 1
only as follows:2
(a) By any taxing district when specifically authorized so to do 3
by a majority of at least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing 4
district voting on the proposition to levy such additional tax 5
submitted not more than twelve months prior to the date on which the 6
proposed initial levy is to be made and not oftener than twice in 7
such twelve month period, either at a special election or at the 8
regular election of such taxing district, at which election the 9
number of voters voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute 10
three-fifths of a number equal to forty percent of the total number 11
of voters voting in such taxing district at the last preceding 12
general election when the number of voters voting on the proposition 13
does not exceed forty percent of the total number of voters voting in 14
such taxing district in the last preceding general election; or by a 15
majority of at least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing 16
district voting on the proposition to levy when the number of voters 17
voting on the proposition exceeds forty percent of the number of 18
voters voting in such taxing district in the last preceding general 19
election. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, 20
any proposition pursuant to this subsection to levy additional tax 21
for the support of the common schools or fire protection districts 22
may provide such support for a period of up to four years and any 23
proposition to levy an additional tax to support the construction, 24
modernization, or remodelling of school facilities or fire facilities 25
may provide such support for a period not exceeding six years. 26
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a proposition 27
under this subsection to levy an additional tax for a school district 28
shall be authorized by a majority of the voters voting on the 29
proposition, regardless of the number of voters voting on the 30
proposition;31
(b) By any taxing district otherwise authorized by law to issue 32
general obligation bonds for capital purposes, for the sole purpose 33
of making the required payments of principal and interest on general 34
obligation bonds issued solely for capital purposes, other than the 35
replacement of equipment, when authorized so to do by majority of at 36
least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing district voting on the 37
proposition to issue such bonds and to pay the principal and interest 38
thereon by annual tax levies in excess of the limitation herein 39
provided during the term of such bonds, submitted not oftener than 40
p. 2 SSJR 8200

twice in any calendar year, at an election held in the manner 1
provided by law for bond elections in such taxing district, at which 2
election the total number of voters voting on the proposition shall 3
constitute not less than forty percent of the total number of voters 4
voting in such taxing district at the last preceding general 5
election. Any such taxing district shall have the right by vote of 6
its governing body to refund any general obligation bonds of said 7
distri