Act Now: SB 5814 Is Impacting Your Business — Tell Lawmakers Before December 4, 2025
Washington’s new digital services tax, SB 5814, is already creating significant challenges for advertising and creative professionals across the state. With the House Finance Committee reviewing its implementation on December 4, now is the time for our community to speak up. Read how to contact lawmakers and share the real impact this bill is having on your work and your business.
Dear AAF Members & Community,
As you are likely already aware, SB 5814 took effect in October of this year. The revisions to Washington's tax law have profound and far-reaching adverse impacts on advertising, marketing, public relations, and communications firms across the state. This newly applied tax made Washington-based agencies and practitioners less competitive in an already tight market, and creates administrative challenges and confusion. The WA DOR, though attempting to provide guidance, is struggling to clarify administrative questions because of the law's confusing nature. This new tax could cost jobs and even force some small or boutique firms out of business or out of this state. Professionals in our community are not alone in the collateral damage of this shortsighted bill - event planners, commercial filming, and tourism are also struggling to mitigate the impact it has on their industries as well.
This THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2025, at 1:30 PM, the House Finance Committee has an agenda item "Implementation of Senate Bill 5814."
YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
You are encouraged to reach out to the committee and original bill sponsors with comments and recommendations ahead of their meeting. Personal examples of how this bill is impacting you, your employees, your business, and your community of professionals work best. However, if you only have time for a phone call, you can ask them to repeal the law and rewrite one with the consultation and advice of the professionals it impacts.
Below is a list of committee members and their contact info, as well as the original bill sponsors who have an opportunity next session to bring this back to committee for repeal or modification. You will also find an email letter template that you are free to use to help craft your message. Make your voices heard by reaching out to each committee member with your concerns and recommendations. AAF Seattle will be doing the same on behalf of all our community and membership across Washington State.
Committee Members
| Member | District | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berg, April (D) Chair | 44 | 360-786-7892 | |
| Street, Chipalo (D) Vice Chair | 37 | 360-786-7838 | |
| Orcutt, Ed (R) Ranking Minority Member | 20 | 360-786-7990 | |
| Jacobsen, Cyndy (R) Assistant Ranking Minority Member | 25 | 360-786-7968 | |
| Abell, Hunter (R) | 7 | 360-786-7988 | |
| Chase, Rob (R) | 4 | 360-786-7984 | |
| Mena, Sharlett (D) | 29 | 360-786-7996 | |
| Parshley, Lisa (D) | 22 | 360-786-7992 | |
| Penner, Joshua (R) | 31 | 360-786-7866 | |
| Ramel, Alex (D) | 40 | 360-786-7970 | |
| Santos, Sharon Tomiko (D) | 37 | 360-786-7944 | |
| Scott, Shaun (D) | 43 | 360-786-7920 | |
| Springer, Larry (D) | 45 | 360-786-7822 | |
| Walen, Amy (D) | 48 | 360-786-7848 | |
| Wylie, Sharon (D) | 49 | 360-786-7924 |
Bill Sponsors
| Sponsor | District | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame, Noel (D) | 36 | 360-786-7670 | |
| Trudeau, Yasmin (D) | 27 | 360-786-7652 | |
| Alvarado, Emily (D) | 34 | 360-786-7667 | |
| Nobles, T'wana (D) | 28 | 360-786-7654 | |
| Pedersen, Jamie (D) | 43 | 360-786-7628 | |
| Valdez, Javier (D) | 46 | 360-786-7690 | |
| Wilson, Claire (D) | 30 | 360-786-7658 |
Take Part in the Work
If you want to help shape how Washington’s creative sector responds to SB 5814, we invite you to join AAF Seattle’s Government Affairs & Advocacy Committee, a group working year-round to support, protect, and elevate the region’s creative community.
Advertising Day on the Hill
Former US Congressmen Martin Frost (D-TX) and Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) speak to attendees Wednesday.
Our Director of Government Affairs, George Riddell, reports after his recent trip to Washington DC for the American Advertising Federation's "Advocacy In Action: Advertising Day on the Hill":
"Imagine if every one of your agency’s clients were suddenly forced to pay taxes on all advertising expenses which, for the past 100 years, have been fully deductible under approved US tax policies. Do you think that might affect the decisions those clients make about advertising? Like budgets? Might those decisions affect your agency’s business? Maybe your livelihood? The answers to all these questions are likely to be yes. There is one proposal under consideration in Washington DC that could have devastating effects on the advertising industry and the general US economy as well."
This is serious stuff, people. Read the rest of George's report on our Government Affairs News Blog.