‘Millionaire tax’ clears first committee, Tim Eyman escorted out
Feb 9, 2026, 4:53 PM | Updated: Feb 11, 2026, 9:05 am
Tim Eyman. (Photo: Toby Scott, SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
(Photo: Toby Scott, SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Washington’s proposed “millionaire tax” has cleared its first legislative hurdle and is now headed to the Senate Rules Committee. Shortly after the vote, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman was escorted out of the hearing room.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday advanced SB 6346, which would impose a 9.9% tax on Washington residents with more than $1 million in annual income.
Before the vote, Democratic Senator Yasmin Trudeau said the proposal is about “leveling the playing field” between the state’s wealthiest residents and people struggling to make ends meet.
“We’ve had a lot of benefit to the top, which is why we’ve attracted so many wealthy folks,” Trudeau said. “Some of which have been quite open about coming here to shield that wealth.”
Republicans on the committee opposed the bill. Republican Senator Perry Dozier argued the measure does nothing to make the state more affordable.
“Other than if you want to go to bed at night and say, ‘Hey, that millionaire, he’s going to pay more, but I don’t have money to buy food tomorrow,'” Dozier said.
GOP members also unsuccessfully introduced several amendments, including one to lock in the 9.9% tax rate and $1 million threshold, and another to remove the emergency clause that would prevent voters from weighing in.
Eyman removed from committee hearing room
Immediately after the vote, longtime anti-tax activist Tim Eyman was removed from the committee hearing room.
“In peaceful protest, I dissent to what the Democrats are doing,” Eyman said.
Committee Chair June Robinson asked Eyman to leave. Then she had security escort him out.
As he was removed, Eyman said: “Silencing dissent — that’s what you’re doing.” You can see the video below.
Monday’s vote by the Senate Ways and Means Committee came after a public hearing on the bill on Friday.
Jed Fowler, president of construction supply company HD Fowler, said he would be subject to the tax and that he’s willing to pay it.
“Investing in our communities is fundamentally pro-business. A business can only be as strong as the community it serves,” he said. “It’s better to grow the pie than to fight about slicing it. I’m willing to pay this tax. I should pay this tax. Others like me should pay this tax.”
Senator challenges business owner: ‘Why don’t you just do it voluntarily?’
Republican State Senator Chris Gildon challenged Fowler.
“What’s stopping you from paying the tax right now?” he asked. “I mean, you could without having legislation mandated for you. Why don’t you just do it voluntarily?”
“Because I want to be a part of a society that asks and creates a progressive revenue base to provide prosperity for all Washingtonians,” Fowler responded. “A system like that provides, frankly, more success for the business I run than lowering my tax rate.”
Brent Frei, founder of the agricultural technology company TerraClear, is opposed to the bill. He told lawmakers he has started four successful businesses in Washington.
“These companies only succeeded because the thousands of people in them were incredibly hard-working and owners in the business,” he said. “Their motivation and their choice to work hard and take risks was always for the promise that if we built something truly useful and innovative, that someday there would be a large financial reward. Washington state is taking away that incentive from people that power this economy, and these people will go elsewhere to keep what they’ve earned.”
‘I think this is such an important bill’: King County executive backs tax
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay supports the measure.
“I think this is such an important bill for many reasons, including providing more balance to our state’s regressive tax code, lowering taxes on working families and small businesses, and helping our state fund critical services like health care, education, and child care,” Zahilay said.
Former state Attorney General Rob McKenna testified against the bill.
“Under our state constitution, we can have a state income tax if it follows the rules for property taxes. It must be uniform and no higher than 1% per year,” McKenna said. “If this legislature wants a progressive income tax, it should send an amendment to the voters for their decision. It shouldn’t pretend that the Constitution is not clear.”
Friday’s hearing came one day after Washington State Schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal called on lawmakers to pass the bill and put revenue from it into education and into property tax relief.
“If we think generationally and we think big and inspire what’s possible, then we’re not having a tax fight,” Reykdal said at a news conference Thursday. “We’re having a conversation around what does the best for our kids for a very long time to come.”
Republicans: Tax will hurt economy, small businesses
Republican state lawmakers are firmly against the tax proposal, which they said will drive up prices and hurt the economy and small businesses.
Representative Drew Stokesbary, the House Republican Leader, warned at a news conference this week that the $1 million threshold will not last.
“While this one is framed as a tax on millionaires, it’s only a tax on millionaires this session,” Stokesbary said. “It will quickly become a tax on regular people like you and me. We know that we can’t trust Olympia politicians.”
As of late Monday afternoon, no public hearing had been scheduled for the companion bill, HB 2724.
Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.
