Washington’s new income tax is currently structured around a $1 million standard deduction. Under current law, individuals pay a 9.9 percent tax on Washington taxable income, with a $1 million standard deduction for an individual or household. 

During debate over Senate Bill 6346, however, lawmakers considered a proposal that would have made that $1 million threshold much harder to lower. Senate Amendment 696 would have made the income-tax law null and void unless voters approved a constitutional amendment setting the minimum standard deduction at $1 million per household and capping the tax rate at 9.9 percent. The Senate rejected the amendment on February 16, 2026.

The House later considered essentially the same protection. House Amendment 2548 also would have required voter approval of a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the $1 million minimum deduction and 9.9 percent maximum rate. It was rejected on March 9. Lawmakers also rejected House Amendment 2573, which would have required a referendum if the Legislature ever reduced the standard deduction.