Vote NO on I-645: FAQ

This election season, Northwest Harvest is supporting the No on I-645 campaign to protect the Millionaires tax that passed during the 2026 Legislative Session. Here’s a quick primer to answer some questions you may have on why Northwest Harvest is focusing on the No on I-645 campaign.

What is the Millionaires Tax and what does it do?

The Millionaires Tax is a new law that asks the wealthiest households, those making more than $1 million a year, to pay a 9.9% tax on income above that threshold. If your household earns less than $1 million annually, this tax does not apply to you.

The goal is simple: make Washington’s tax system fairer. Right now, working families and everyday consumers often pay a larger share of their income in taxes than the wealthiest residents. The Millionaires Tax helps rebalance that by asking those who have benefited the most from Washington’s economy to contribute more.

What will the Millionaires Tax fund?

The revenue from the Millionaires Tax will help fund programs that lower everyday costs and create more opportunities for young people, families, and small businesses across Washington.

This includes:

• Free breakfast and lunch for every K-12 public school student, helping families save money and ensuring no student has to learn on an empty stomach.
• Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit to 18-24 year olds, putting money back into the pockets of young workers who are often starting careers, paying rent, or balancing school and work.
• Providing tax relief to more households, with an estimated 460,000 additional families qualifying for the credit.
• Removing sales tax from over-the-counter medicines and essential hygiene products, making everyday necessities more affordable.
• Cutting taxes for small businesses, allowing more local businesses to grow, hire, and invest in their communities.
• Strengthening investments in public schools, healthcare, higher education, and other essential services that help people succeed.

What is the No on I-645 campaign?

The No on I-645 campaign is working to protect the Millionaires Tax and the investments it makes in Washington’s working families, students, and communities.

After the Millionaires Tax became law, opponents launched Initiative 645 (I-645), a ballot measure that would repeal the tax. If passed, I-645 would eliminate a major source of funding for programs that help make life more affordable for Washington residents.

What is at stake?

A repeal of the Millionaires Tax would mean losing funding for free school meals, and many other essential programs that benefit all of us.  It would mean less money going to young people and families through the Working Families Tax Credit. It would mean that working class individuals would continue to pay more in taxes than the most wealthy people in Washington state.

Why is Northwest Harvest supporting the No on I-645 campaign?

At Northwest Harvest, we believe that access to food is a human right. We’re working toward a Washington where everyone has the resources they need to feed themselves and their families with dignity. That’s why we’re supporting the No on I-645 campaign.

The Millionaires Tax is an important step toward building a more equitable Washington. For too long, our state’s tax system has placed a heavier burden on working people and families than on the wealthiest households. At the same time, Washington continues to face budget challenges that threaten funding for essential services, including food security, healthcare, and education.

The Millionaires Tax will help address that imbalance by asking households earning more than $1 million a year to contribute more toward the well-being of our communities.

Why does this matter?

No child should have to worry about being hungry at school. No family should have to choose between food, rent, medicine, or childcare. No young person just starting out should face barriers to opportunity because basic necessities are out of reach.

That’s why Northwest Harvest has spent years advocating for universal school meals. Protecting the Millionaires Tax means every public-school student will be able to count on healthy breakfasts and lunches every school day, regardless of their family’s income. It will also help fund the services and supports that make it easier for Washingtonians to put food on the table and build stable futures.

The bottom line

Voting No on I-645 means protecting investments that benefit our communities, reducing costs for working families, supporting young people, and ensuring every child has access to healthy meals at school. It’s about creating a Washington where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and where prosperity is shared more fairly across our communities.