988 line tax

AN ACT Relating to increasing the statewide 988 behavioral health 1
crisis response and suicide prevention line tax; amending RCW 2
82.86.020; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the state has 5
made significant progress in establishing and implementing the 988 6
suicide and crisis lifeline, creating greater access to crisis 7
services for individuals and their families in need. The legislature 8
further finds that an improved crisis response system reduces 9
reliance on emergency room services and the use of law enforcement 10
response to behavioral health crises and helps to stabilize 11
individuals in the community whenever possible. To accomplish 12
effective crisis response and suicide prevention, Washington state 13
must continue its integrated approach to address mental health and 14
substance use disorder and continue its progress toward implementing 15
the 988 suicide and crisis lifelines and crisis systems in the 16
country. The legislature finds it is critical to provide funding to 17
enable greater access to crisis care services and supports.18
Sec. 2. RCW 82.86.020 and 2021 c 302 s 202 are each amended to 19
read as follows: 20
Z-0257.1
HOUSE BILL 1581
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Macri, Gregerson, Ormsby, Scott, Pollet,
Salahuddin, Reed, and Kloba; by request of Office of Financial
Management
Read first time 01/24/25. Referred to Committee on Finance.
p. 1 HB 1581
(1)(a) A statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and 1
suicide prevention line tax is imposed on the use of all radio access 2
lines: 3
(i) By subscribers whose place of primary use is located within 4
the state in the amount set forth in (a)(ii) of this subsection (1) 5
per month for each radio access line. The tax must be uniform for 6
each radio access line under this subsection (1); and7
(ii) By consumers whose retail transaction occurs within the 8
state in the amount set forth in this subsection (1)(a)(ii) per 9
retail transaction. The amount of tax must be uniform for each retail 10
transaction under this subsection (1) and is as follows:11
(A) Beginning October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, the tax 12
rate is 24 cents for each radio access line; ((and))13
(B) Beginning January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025, the tax 14
rate is 40 cents for each radio access line; and15
(C) Beginning January 1, 2026, the tax rate is 70 cents for each 16
radio access line. 17
(b) The tax imposed under this subsection (1) must be remitted to 18
the department by radio communications service companies, including 19
those companies that resell radio access lines, and sellers of 20
prepaid wireless telecommunications service, on a tax return provided 21
by the department. Tax proceeds must be deposited by the treasurer 22
into the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide 23
prevention line account created in RCW 82.86.050. 24
(c) For the purposes of this subsection (1), the retail 25
transaction is deemed to occur at the location where the transaction 26
is sourced under RCW 82.32.520(3)(c). 27
(2) A statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide 28
prevention line tax is imposed on all interconnected voice over 29
internet protocol service lines in the state. The amount of tax must 30
be uniform for each line and must be levied on no more than the 31
number of voice over internet protocol service lines on an account 32
that is capable of simultaneous unrestricted outward calling to the 33
public switched telephone network. The tax imposed under this 34
subsection (2) must be remitted to the department by interconnected 35
voice over internet protocol service companies on a tax return 36
provided by the department. The amount of tax for each interconnected 37
voice over internet protocol service line whose place of primary use 38
is located in the state is as follows: 39
p. 2 HB 1581
(a) Beginning October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, the tax 1
rate is 24 cents for an interconnected voice over internet protocol 2
service line; ((and))3
(b) Beginning January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025, the tax 4
rate is 40 cents for an interconnected voice over internet protocol 5
service line; and6
(c) Beginning January 1, 2026, the tax rate is 70 cents for an 7
interconnected voice over internet protocol service line.8
(3) A statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide 9
prevention line tax is imposed on all switched access lines in the 10
state. The amount of tax must be uniform for each line and must be 11
levied on no more than the number of switched access lines on an 12
account that is capable of simultaneous unrestricted outward calling 13
to the public switched telephone network. The tax imposed under this 14
subsection (3) must be remitted to the department by local exchange 15
companies on a tax return provided by the department. The amount of 16
tax for each switched access line whose place of primary use is 17
located in the state is as follows: 18
(a) Beginning October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, the tax 19
rate is 24 cents for each switched access line; ((and))20
(b) Beginning January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025, the tax 21
rate is 40 cents for each switched access line; and22
(c) Beginning January 1, 2026, the tax rate is 70 cents for each 23
switched access line. 24
(4) Tax proceeds collected pursuant to this section must be 25
deposited by the treasurer into the statewide 988 behavioral health 26
crisis response and suicide prevention line account created in RCW 27
82.86.050. 28
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p. 3 HB 1581