[WSBARP] Legislative Update - Estate Tax Exemption - Hearing Schedule 2/20 1:30pm

[Brent Williams-Ruth]

For those interested in the Estate Tax Inflation fix....we got a hearing!
See below for how you can continue to assist.

Right now, the Washington State Estate Tax Exemption is *$2,193,000*. The
Exemption is supposed to be indexed for inflation; however, the Consumer
Price Index referenced in RCW 83.100.020 no longer exists (the CPI index
changed in 2018). Without a change to the law, the Exemption will remain
the same indefinitely. HB 1375 will fix this issue by updating the CPI
reference and making an adjustment for the last seven years of missed
inflation adjustments. This change will increase the Exemption to
*$2,959,000* for deaths on or after August 1, 2025.



*A hearing has been scheduled for HB 1375 on Thursday February 20th at
1:30pm*. *If this issue is important to you, please sign up to testify at
the hearing or submit written testimony (see details below).*



While we have sent a letter (see attached) to Representatives Berg and
Orcutt outlining support for this legislative change, it would be helpful
to get more people to sign up for the hearing. As previously mentioned, in
light of GR 12.2 and *Keller v. State Bar of California *(1990), the RPPT
Section cannot actually take a position on most legislation. BUT members of
the WSBA in their individual capacities are still allowed to take a
position on legislation (see attached for more information).



The deadline to register to testify (in person or remotely) is generally
one hour before the hearing.  In this case, that’s 12:30pm on 2/20. You can
submit written testimony up to 24 hours after the hearing start time. The
link to register to testify is below – it has more detailed info:





https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1375&Initiative=False&Year=2025



https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House?selectedCommittee=31643&selectedMeeting=32814



*Brent Williams-Ruth* (pronouns: he/him)
*Attorney-At-Law*

*Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, **a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC*

*Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal Way, WA 98003*

*Mailing Address: **PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 *

Office/Scheduling Phone: (253) 285-7751

For All Meetings & Scheduling: info at williams-ruthlaw.com

e-mail <Brent at Williams-RuthLaw.com> / website
<http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/> / facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw> /
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