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HB 1218

Adding a new caseload for the official caseload forecast for the number of people eligible for the working families' tax credit under RCW 82.08.0206.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Bergquist and 4 co-sponsors

Washington establishes a dedicated caseload forecast for Working Families' Tax Credit eligibility to improve budget planning accuracy and program evaluation.

Effective date 7/23/2023.
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Bill Summary · HB 1218

Legislative bill overview

HB 1218 adds a new caseload forecast category specifically for tracking the number of people eligible for Washington's Working Families' Tax Credit (WFTC), a tax benefit for low- to moderate-income working families. This change requires the state's official caseload forecasting process to separately project WFTC eligibility numbers rather than bundling this data with other tax credit forecasts.

Why is this important

Accurate caseload forecasting directly impacts budget planning and resource allocation. By creating a dedicated forecast for WFTC eligibility, Washington can more precisely predict program costs and participation rates, which helps lawmakers allocate appropriate funding and enables better policy evaluation of this tax credit's effectiveness in supporting working families.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact interpretation: The bill itself doesn't appropriate funds, but more accurate WFTC projections could reveal higher-than-expected costs or lower participation, potentially requiring budget adjustments
  • Implementation complexity: Creating a separate forecast category requires developing new data collection and modeling methodologies, which involves administrative costs and potential accuracy concerns during the transition
  • Political disagreement on WFTC expansion: The bill's underlying support for better WFTC tracking may reflect differing views on whether this tax credit should be expanded or reformed, with fiscal conservatives questioning increased visibility into program growth

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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