I-645 WOULD ELIMINATE SALES TAX CUTS FOR FAMILIES

Diapers, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen – these essential items show up in Washington families' shopping carts every week. They help keep our homes clean and our kids healthy and protected, but they also come at a cost that adds up quickly, especially for families already stretching every dollar.  

The Millionaires Tax, which passed earlier this year, included sales tax cuts to these and other household and personal hygiene items. A family with two children could save an estimated $203 per year as a direct result. But if Initiative 645 passes, it will repeal those tax reductions before they reach consumers, denying Washington families the relief that lawmakers specifically designed to lower the cost of everyday necessities.  

Sales taxes are inherently regressive 

As of 2025 nearly half of our state’s general fund, the account that funds most of our state’s operational expenses, comes from sales and use taxes. Our state's heavy reliance on these kinds of taxes is one of the main reasons our tax code is so regressive, meaning it requires those with the least wealth to pay the highest percentage of their income in taxes.  

Because sales taxes fall hardest on families with the fewest resources, reducing them is one of the most effective ways to make our tax code fairer. Eliminating the sales tax on essential household items signifies a meaningful first step toward this change and provides tax relief for all Washingtonians. Unfortunately, the backers of I-645 only want tax cuts for the wealthiest residents of our state, and that's exactly what the passage of this initiative would give them. Vote NO on I-645 in November!