HB 2482 received unanimous approval from the House of Representatives
A bipartisan bill from Rep. Paul Harris that would reinstate semiconductor tax incentives is moving to the Senate. The Washington State House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of House Bill 2482 on Monday, which would extend two tax preferences for semiconductor manufacturing until Jan. 1, 2034.
The bill would also reinstate six tax preferences that expired on Jan. 1, 2024, until Jan. 1, 2034, contingent on new industry investment.
“I brought this bill forward because we have two semiconductor manufacturers in Southwest Washington that together provide more than 3,000 jobs to our communities,” said Harris, R-Vancouver. “They both operate in a global economy, and they need to continue to be competitive in a world market. This bill would help them do that and would help us keep these jobs in our area.”
Under House Bill 2482, the six expired tax preferences would be reinstated contingent upon the construction of a new semiconductor manufacturing fabrication built by Jan. 1, 2034, with an investment of at least $1 billion in buildings and equipment.
“These companies came to our little area of the world for two reasons: a strong workforce and clean and affordable energy,” said Harris. “Currently they both pay roughly $1 million a month for their electricity, and that price will be going up by an additional $125,000 a month due to a recent increase in rates in our area.
“They need this tax exemption reinstated. These are phenomenal companies that provide great jobs to the people of Southwest Washington and a boost to our economy. They have done everything we’ve asked of them. If we help them by reinstating these incentives, they will continue to invest in our community going forward.”
In 2022 the semiconductor industry created $2.5 billion in wages and is the eighth largest export for Washington at $898 million. Semiconductor manufacturing jobs are expected to double in the next 10 years. Additionally, out of the 50,632 semiconductor manufacturing jobs in Washington, 55% of these jobs are in Clark County.
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
Information provided by Washington State House Republicans,
houserepublicans.wa.gov
Also read:
- Opinion: Were Republican voters just sleeping during the August primary election?
CCRP Chairman Matt Bumala says 60% of primary no-shows in the 17th and 18th districts were Republicans. - High school football: New coach prepares for long-term success at Prairie High School
James Young-Lewis, a Clark County native who graduated from Evergreen in 2009, became Prairie’s head coach in May after working as an assistant coach across various programs since 2015, joining Prairie’s staff in 2024. - Cost to battle 20 wildfires in WA has topped $200M
Twenty wildfires have cost Washington $207M in one month, more than two-thirds of what DNR spent all last fiscal year. - Opinion: WA Cares’ launch showcased care WA Cares did not provide
Gov. Ferguson showcased a caregiving arrangement at the WA Cares launch that the program had not paid for a single day of. - Former State Rep. Liz Pike provides update on husband Neil Cahoon
Neil Cahoon, a Camas resident, has undergone multiple surgeries including five on Aug. 15 after the Aug. 10 crash near La Center’s Daybreak Airport. - Opinion: Portland’s War on Cars Part 4 – A smarter automobile strategy to end gridlock
O’Toole argues fuel wasted in Portland-area congestion has sextupled since 1982, generating 250,000 tons of extra greenhouse gases annually. - $1,000 first prize for Camas Plein Air Art Event honoring Marquita Call on Sept. 26
Plein air artists compete Sept. 26 in Camas for $1,000 first prize honoring gallery founder Marquita Call.
