The bill hasn’t had a hearing yet, but it is still alive in committee.
SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington’s proposed soda tax is back, adding three cents per ounce on sugary drinks.
House Bill 2734 hasn’t had a hearing yet, but it is still alive in committee.
Soda taxes aren’t new. Since 2015, eight U.S. cities, including Seattle, have rolled out their own version.
A 2024 study from the University of Washington looked at buying habits in cities like Seattle, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Researchers tracked nearly 400 households after those taxes took effect.
They found that lower-income households cut their sweetened beverage purchases by nearly 50%. Higher-income households reduced purchases by about 18%.
Researchers at the University of Washington say that because lower-income families tend to consume sugary drinks at higher rates, that drop could help reduce health disparities over time.
“If households reduce their sugar intake, they will experience health benefits,” said Melissa Knox, an associate teaching professor of economics at the University of Washington.
Here in Spokane County, the stakes are real.
Diabetes ranked as the 8th leading cause of death in 2022. About 10% of adults are living with it, which is the same rate for the state. And roughly a third of adults, and nearly 30% of youth, are categorized as overweight or obese.
Supporters of the proposed tax say that’s exactly why this proposal matters. They argue that fewer sugary drinks could mean better long-term health, while the tax revenue could also support food security programs.
The proposal is still early in the process, but the research gives us a preview of what could happen if it passes.