Seattle Morning Briefing: Millionaires Tax Showdown, Repro Funding Fight, Renton Fire Fallout

Millionaires tax edges closer to reality

A proposal to tax Washington households on income above $1 million is moving ahead in Olympia, with Seattle lawmakers prominently involved in the debate. The so-called millionaires tax cleared the state Senate on a narrow vote, imposing a 9.9% levy on income over the $1 million threshold.

Supporters, including several senators from Seattle, frame the bill as a way to rebalance what they call an upside-down tax system that leans heavily on sales and property taxes. Revenue would bolster the state general fund and help pay for schools, health care, and other core services that cities like Seattle rely on.

Critics warn that a new income tax could drive high earners and business investment out of Washington. They are also sounding alarms about whether the proposal skirts voter sentiment against broad based income taxes. The measure now moves to the House, where negotiations over details and potential offsets are expected to intensify in the days ahead.

Advocates press to protect abortion and trans care funding

Reproductive rights and transgender health care advocates from the Seattle area spent part of this week testifying and rallying in Olympia over the state budget. They are urging lawmakers to fully fund abortion access and gender affirming care, warning that regional demand has spiked as neighboring states restrict services.

Groups that help patients travel to King County clinics say they are seeing more callers who need help paying for procedures, transportation, and lodging. Seattle based advocates argue that without stable funding, the city could struggle to remain a reliable access point for the broader Northwest.

Legislators are weighing how to divide new revenue, including potential income from the proposed millionaires tax, among health programs, tax relief, and other priorities. For local providers, the outcome will shape what capacity they can offer in Seattle over the next several years.

Renton condo fire highlights housing and safety concerns

Just south of Seattle, Renton residents are still absorbing the impact of a deadly condo fire that killed a young adult and displaced multiple families. Fire crews responded to a fast moving blaze at a multi unit building, where smoke and flames trapped people inside before they could escape.

Investigators are working to pinpoint the cause, while city staff and local nonprofits help residents find temporary housing and replace essentials. The incident has renewed conversations around older multifamily buildings across the Seattle metro area, especially those with limited sprinklers or complex evacuation routes.

For many in Seattle, the Renton fire is another reminder of how tight the regional housing market has become. When buildings are damaged, there are few affordable vacancies nearby, leaving displaced tenants to compete in an already strained rental landscape.

Sources

• https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/feb/16/washington-senate-approves-income-tax-on-millionai/
• https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/02/20/millionaires-tax-passes-the-senate/
• https://legiscan.com/WA/amendment/SB6346/id/274933
• https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/17/washington-state-senate-approves-tax-personal-income-over-1-million-dollars/
• https://www.fox13seattle.com
• https://www.king5.com
• https://nwaafund.org