State Rep. April Connors, a Republican from Kennewick, was recognized on Apr. 23 for her leadership during the recent debate over Washington’s new millionaires tax. Connors, who was elected House Republicans’ floor leader in November 2024, played a key role in organizing legislative debates and responding to parliamentary actions.
The significance of this development lies in how minority party members like Connors have used procedural tactics to influence the legislative process despite Democrats holding a strong majority in the state House of Representatives since 2002. Her efforts contributed to extended debates that slowed or blocked several bills proposed by the majority party.
Connors was central to her party’s approach during a marathon 25-hour debate on the so-called “millionaires tax,” which imposed a 9.9% tax on household income exceeding $1 million. “When you have a 24-hour debate like that, it doesn’t just kill Democrat bills. There’s Republican bills that might not make it through as well,” Connors said recently. “But part of having a big debate is slowing down the clock, and it is stopping other bad, harmful bills.” The session resulted in only about one quarter of introduced bills passing—267 out of approximately 1,100.
House Democratic floor leader Rep. Monica Stonier said Connors worked with her to balance intense policy debates with lawmakers’ wellbeing: “We have some serious human things to worry about and April was an incredibly strong partner with me to figure out how to deliver on our parties’ missions and keep it humanity centered.” Stonier added: “She knows how much I respect her, even though we don’t agree on things… Her job is to give me a headache, and she does a good job at it.”
The new income tax is expected by Senate Democrats to bring in around $3.5 billion annually when collection begins in 2029 and affect fewer than 0.3% of Washington residents—about 21,000 filers statewide—including nearly two hundred high earners from Benton and Franklin counties represented by Connors.
A lawsuit has already been filed seeking repeal of the law; meanwhile, some Tri-City lawmakers continue hearing support from constituents for their involvement in what many describe as record-breaking legislative debate.
