The bill creates a new statutory authority (a new chapter in Title 82 RCW) allowing a city governing authority, and a county governing authority for unincorporated areas, to impose by ordinance or resolution a household excise tax to fund the operation, maintenance, capital needs, and bond payments for animal control and shelter systems owned, contracted, or operated by a city, county, or an animal service provider organization. The tax would apply to every dwelling unit and to each parcel containing nonresidential property in the jurisdiction. The initial maximum is capped at not more than $2.50 per household unit per month for the first five years; after the first year the maximum may be increased annually by ordinance or resolution if needed, limited to the lesser of 2 percent or the percentage change in the implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures as published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The act takes effect January 1, 2027. The bill also sets procedural rules for voter involvement and referenda: a governing authority may refer the tax ordinance or resolution to voters before imposing it; a referendum petition to repeal or alter the tax must be filed within seven days of passage, the filing officer must act within ten days to confer with the petitioner, assign an identification number, and prepare a ballot title, and the petitioner then has 30 days to collect signatures equal to at least 15 percent of registered voters in the affected city or county. If sufficient signatures are verified, the measure must be submitted to voters at a general or special election on dates specified in RCW 29A.04.321 and no later than 120 days after the petition filing. This is a new-law authorization and procedural change establishing a local excise tax and setting rate limits and referendum procedures; it does not create a new crime or change criminal penalties. Important gaps in the provided text include no definition for "animal service provider organization," no specific new chapter number in Title 82 RCW, some ambiguity about when the five-year period begins (the act’s effective date is given), the specific election dates listed in RCW 29A.04.321 are not included here, and there are no details in the extracted text about tax administration, billing, exemptions, collection mechanisms, or enforcement.

If enacted, cities and county governments could add a small monthly household or parcel excise specifically to pay for running, maintaining, and investing in animal control and shelter systems that they or authorized animal service providers operate or contract for. Households would face up to $2.50 per month per dwelling unit during the first five years, with possible modest annual increases after year one capped at the lesser of 2% or the change in the federal implicit price deflator; revenues must be used for operations, maintenance, capital projects, and bond payments. The law would take effect January 1, 2027. The groups most affected are householders and owners of nonresidential parcels in cities or unincorporated county areas (who would pay the new levy) and city and county governments and animal service providers (who would gain a new, dedicated funding option). Local governing bodies can impose the tax by ordinance or resolution and may refer it to voters; citizens have a defined 7‑day filing window and a 30‑day signature period with a 15% registered‑voter threshold to force a referendum, and filing officers and election authorities are given specific duties and timelines. The bill leaves unclear who exactly qualifies as an “animal service provider organization,” how the tax would be billed and collected, whether any exemptions apply, and whether the five‑year cap period begins on the January 1, 2027 effective date.