Democrats in blue state push bill to tax dating apps

Finding love in Washington state could come with an unexpected cost as two state Democratic lawmakers have proposed a bill that would impose a tax on dating apps. Under House Bill 2071, dating app companies would be required to pay $1 per Washington-based user each month, regardless of whether the user pays for the service. The revenue generated from this tax would be used to fund domestic violence programs.

The funds collected would be deposited into the newly established state Domestic Violence Services Account, which supports intervention programs and services for victims of domestic violence. The only users excluded from this tax are those with inactive accounts for at least 24 months.

State representatives Lauren Davis and Shaun Scott, both Democrats, are the driving forces behind this legislation. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Davis explained that online dating companies have the flexibility to absorb this additional cost. They could either deduct it from their profits, increase fees for paid users by $1 per month, or potentially start charging free users.

Dating apps such as Hinge, Match.com, Bumble, and Tinder are the primary targets of this bill. The legislation had its initial reading on Tuesday and has been referred to the state House Finance Committee for further review.

The need for funding for domestic violence programs arose after the passing of HB 1169 in 2023, which eliminated the Crime Victim Penalty funded by those convicted of crimes. This penalty provided crucial funding for victim advocates working in prosecutors’ offices. Unfortunately, the state failed to fulfill its commitment to replace the lost funding with general state funds, resulting in layoffs of victim advocates and a lack of support for victims.

Davis emphasized that the purpose of the proposed tax is to fill the funding gap and uphold the state’s promise to crime victims. She criticized Washington’s legal system for being more geared towards protecting defendants rather than victims. Davis stressed the importance of victim advocates in navigating the legal system successfully and expressed concern for victims who may no longer receive the necessary assistance.

The tax proposal aims to maintain funding for victim services and uphold the state’s commitment to crime victims. While a direct connection between online dating apps and domestic violence is not required for the tax, Davis believes there is a reasonable nexus between the two issues.

In conclusion, the proposed tax on dating apps in Washington state is a controversial but potentially impactful measure to support domestic violence programs and services for victims. It remains to be seen how dating app companies and legislators will respond to this proposal and its potential implications for users.