Gov. Bob Ferguson has said Washington’s new income tax will not be expanded while he remains governor, but he also promised a balanced approach to the 2025 state budget before eventually signing the largest package of tax hikes in state history into law.

During debate over Senate Bill 6346, legislators considered proposals that would have created stronger legal safeguards around those numbers. Senate Amendment 696 would have made the law dependent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment setting a minimum $1 million deduction and a maximum 9.9 percent rate. The Senate rejected it.

The House rejected a substantially identical proposal, Amendment 2548. It also rejected Amendment 2573, which would have required a public referendum if lawmakers reduced the standard deduction.