Rep. Drew MacEwen introduced the fifth and final bill of his 2019 tax reform package Monday, a package designed to let people save more of their money, keep Washington state competitive, and spur economic growth.

House Bill 1677 would exempt a business’s first $1 million in gross sales from the state’s business and occupation (B&O) tax, a move MacEwen says would give businesses the flexibility—and time—to grow. His other B&O tax reform bill is House Bill 1420, which would lower the manufacturing B&O tax rate for all manufacturers by 40 percent.

“Our small businesses and manufacturers are the lifeblood of our economy,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “We should be doing everything in our power to incentivize them to stay here in Washington state, hire more people, and expand their operations. These bills would help achieve that goal.”

MacEwen has introduced three other tax reform bills this session.

House Bill 1090, which was heard in the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, would offer stability and predictability for Washington homeowners ages 65 years and older by capping the property tax rate on the first $250,000 of their homes’ value. Another bill, House Bill 1559, would create a three-day sales tax holiday for purchasing back-to-school clothing and supplies.

“At a time when the governor and majority party are looking to raise taxes on Washingtonians by billions of dollars, these proposals would provide significant savings for individuals and families,” said MacEwen. “We’ve experienced incredible revenue growth in recent years due to the strength of the economy. Instead of constantly asking for more from Washingtonians, we should be looking for ways to let folks keep more of their money.”

Finally, House Bill 1122 would require a portion of the sales tax from the sale of a motor vehicle to be deposited into the state’s motor vehicle fund for transportation improvements, as opposed to being put into the general fund.

“We know many of Washington’s roads and bridges need significant repairs,” the 35th District lawmaker added. “This bill would simply increase our available resources to properly maintain infrastructure and keep commuters safe.”

The 2019 legislative session began Jan. 14 and is scheduled to run 105 consecutive days.