Washington Governor Signs Bills to Delay Start of WA Cares Fund

Governor Jay Inslee has signed off on two pieces of legislation to delay the start of Washington's new long-term care payroll tax.The WA Cares Fund was approved by lawmakers in 2019, but both the House and Senate passed a couple House bills that would halt the WA Cares Fund to fix various problems with it--including the possibility that some people could pay into the tax without ever reaping any benefits.

The first bill will delay the implementation of the payroll tax until July 2023 and refund any premiums that have been collected before that date. The second will allow more people to opt out of the payroll tax.