Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB6231: Data center equipment/taxes
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.
What the bill says
An act Relating to removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers; amending RCW 82.08.986 and 82.08.9861; creating a new section; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers; amending RCW 82.08.986 and 82.08.9861; creating a new section; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that, according to the most recent tax exemption study published by the department of revenue, there are currently 786 tax exemptions for the major state and local tax sources in Washington. A number of these tax exemptions have been unchanged in law for a long time and exist as the result of private interests securing preferential tax treatment. Furthermore, the legislature finds that the state's tax code must be periodically reviewed and updated to ensure that tax policy reflects our modern economy and provides adequate revenue to fund necessary and essential services to support the well-being of Washingtonians. Thus, it is the intent of the legislature to remove a tax preference in order to increase revenue to the state's general fund to maintain essential state services. Sec. 2. RCW 82.08.986 and 2025 c 411 s 4 are each amended to read as follows: (1)(a) An exemption from the tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020 is provided for sales to qualifying businesses and to qualifying tenants of eligible server equipment to be installed, without intervening use, in an eligible computer data center to which a …
Sponsors
- Noel Frame (D) · primary sponsor
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026*.
- : Chapter 266, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : Speaker signed.
- : President signed.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 51; nays, 46; absent, 0; excused, 1.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (March 12, 2026): 51 yea, 46 nay, passed
- 2663 Orcutt Pg 2 Ln 25 (March 12, 2026): 47 yea, 50 nay, failed
- House Committee on Finance: Do pass (March 7, 2026): 8 yea, 6 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 28, 2026): 26 yea, 23 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Ways & Means: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6231 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (February 19, 2026): 13 yea, 9 nay, passed
Subjects: TAX PREFERENCES - EXEMPTIONS, CREDITS, DEDUCTIONS, DEFERRALS, ETC.
Common questions
- What is SB6231?
- SB6231 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Data center equipment/taxes.
- What does SB6231 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers; amending RCW 82.08.986 and 82.08.9861; creating a new section; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB6231?
- Signed into law as of April 1, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026*. (April 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB6231?
- Noel Frame (D), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB6231?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6231&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.