Washington State has taken the first step toward losing its status as one of the few states lacking a personal income tax.

It took over 24 hours of grinding floor debate, but Democrats in the Washington House approved a 9.9% income tax Tuesday on households earning over $1 million a year.

For the bill to become law, it must first return to the Senate for agreement on changes before going to Gov. Bob Ferguson, who has said he’ll sign it. After that, challenges in court and at the ballot box are expected.

Democrats rejected a slew of Republican amendments but did agree to one that aims to prevent the tax from being levied on any household with an income below a million dollars. It clarifies a provision exempting the bill from the prohibition on new statewide personal income taxes that the Legislature adopted in 2024 is only effective “so long as the standard deduction is at least $1,000,000 for a household.”

Democrats also rejected, 46-49, and amendment making the tax contingent on voters approving a change to the state constitution allowing for it.