One man takes on state government and wins after passage of 3 voter initiatives

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Three of six conservative-backed ballot initiatives have passed and will be adopted in Washington state after the legislative session on Monday. The fate of the three remaining initiatives will be left to voters on the Nov. 2024 ballot.

Initiatives that are passed and adopted do not need a signature from the governor, and laws will take effect 90 days after the end of the session which is March 7.

Brian Heywood, a Redmond multimillionaire and founder of the PAC Let's go Washington, is the man behind all six high-profile initiatives – spending $6 million of his own money to organize and collect 2.6 million signatures for the initiatives to qualify for the ballot. 

Heywood identifies as a conservative and libertarian but says the initiatives themselves are diverse along party lines. The signatures gathered are from Democrats, Republicans and Independents. 

The Democrat-controlled legislature decided to take up three of six initiatives but chose not to discuss the other three at all. That means they automatically will head to the ballot in November and voters will have the final say.

Ballot initiatives that passed and will be adopted in Washington state

I-2111: State income tax

Initiative 2111 prohibits state taxes based on personal income.

Washington State does not have an income tax, but the initiative hopes to close the book on any future attempts to change the state constitution in order to impose an income tax.

I-2113: Removing restrictions on police pursuits

The passage of Initiative 2113 means that law enforcement officers would no longer need reasonable suspicion that a person inside a vehicle has a violent offense, sex offense, or domestic violence assault to initiate a pursuit. Instead, it broadens the requirement, stipulating that reasonable suspicion of a broad "legal violation" would be sufficient.

I- 2113 passed 36 -13 in the Senate and 77-20 in the House. It goes straight to the Secretary of State for certification. It will go into effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session Thursday.

I-2081: Allowing parents to review educational materials

Initiative 2081 will provide parents with 15 specific rights which includes the ability to review educational materials, receive certain notifications and opt out of sexual health education. This voter initiative passed with overwhelming support in the legislature on Monday. Although these rights are in place now, supporters of the initiative say this will abate confusion and cement the rights of parents. They say this will streamline and prevent school districts from treating parents seeking information. 

Ballot initiatives that will be decided by voters

Voting booths stand ready to receive voters in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)

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I-2109: Capital gains tax

If passed, Initiative 2109 would repeal the 7% capital gains excise tax on individuals' long-term capital assets with capital gains over $250,000.

I-2117: Climate Commitment Act

Initiative 2117 would prohibit carbon tax credit trading and repeal provisions of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act. 

I-2124: WA Cares program

I-2124 would allow employees and self-employed Washingtonians to opt out of the state's long-term services and supports trust health care program, known as WA Cares.