OLYMPIA — On Thursday, January 22, the Washington State House Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 2100, Representative Shaun Scott’s proposal to establish the Well Washington Fund, a targeted payroll tax designed to protect funding for housing, healthcare, and higher education programs facing imminent threats from federal budget cuts under President Trump’s H.R. 1 proposal.
WHO:
A broad and growing coalition of over four dozen organizations, elected officials, labor unions, educators, housing advocates, and community groups supporting the Well Washington Fund.
Endorsers include the Washington Federation of State Employees, SEIU 775NW, the Washington Education Association, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Balance Our Tax Code, the American Association of University Professors, the United Faculty of Washington State, the Low Income Housing Alliance, Seattle Democratic Socialists of America, 19 House Democratic co-sponsors of HB 2100, and five supporters of the Senate companion bill, SB 6093, and many, many more.
WHAT:
Public hearing in the House Finance Committee on HB 2100, Rep. Shaun Scott’s “Well Washington Fund” revenue proposal to safeguard essential state investments in housing, healthcare, and higher education.
WHEN:
Thursday, January 22, 2026
1:30 PM
WHERE:
House Finance Committee
Hearing Room A, Washington State Capitol
Also viewable live on TVW
WHY:
President Trump’s H.R. 1 budget has put crucial silos of public sector spending in Washington State at risk. Additional budget reductions to the Department of Housing and Urban Development – as well as threatened cuts to sanctuary states like Washington – pose an additional strain on programs Washingtonians depend on.
H.B. 2100 is currently the only major revenue proposal before the Washington State House of Representatives that can be implemented in time to prevent the most severe impacts of these federal cuts, which are projected to begin in 2027. Revenue from the Well Washington Fund could be available as early as this year and incorporated into upcoming state budgets to stabilize essential services.