This bill proposes an increase in alcohol taxes in Washington State by amending existing laws related to the taxation of wine, cider, and beer. Key changes include raising the tax rates on wine and cider sold to distributors, with specific rates set at twenty and one-fourth cents per liter for wine and three and fifty-nine one-hundredths cents per liter for cider. Additionally, the bill introduces new tax rates for fortified wine and other types of wine, with the tax on fortified wine increasing to $0.4688 per liter and the tax on other wines (excluding cider) set at $0.02 per liter. For cider, a new tax of $0.0563 per liter is established, while the existing tax structure is modified to reflect these changes.

For beer, the bill raises the tax from $2 per barrel to $4 per barrel for strong beer, and introduces a new tax of $1.2961 per barrel for all beer and strong beer. Furthermore, it establishes a tax of $1.4375 per barrel for the first 60,000 barrels sold by qualifying breweries. The bill also modifies the distribution of collected revenues, ensuring that a portion is allocated to counties and incorporated cities. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, and the bill declares an emergency, indicating the need for immediate implementation to support public institutions and health.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 66.24.210, 66.24.290, 82.02.030