Washington Republican’s bill aims to make it easier to start a business

By The Chronicle staff
Posted 1/22/25

Washington state Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, has proposed the creation of the Office of Entrepreneurship in House Bill 1245.

“The goal here is not to grow government,” Couture …

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Washington Republican’s bill aims to make it easier to start a business

Posted

Washington state Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, has proposed the creation of the Office of Entrepreneurship in House Bill 1245.

“The goal here is not to grow government,” Couture stated in a news release. “The goal is to boost our business startup success rates, grow jobs and cut the red tape currently serving as a barrier to entrepreneurs. We need effective and visible state leadership to head this new office and promote the idea that everyone has the right to start a business. An entrepreneurial economy is a win for all Washingtonians.”

Under the bipartisan bill, the Office of Entrepreneurship would be created to promote policies and programs for startups, collaborate with other organizations to support education and technical support, and expand access to other resources for entrepreneurs across the state, according to the news release.

The office would also serve as the point of contact to help businesses navigate their interactions with state agencies and identify government regulations and fees that stymie new business growth in Washington.



The bill would require the state to start tracking whether it is using its power as a purchaser of private sector goods and services to benefit new and early-stage businesses.

Centralizing the responsibility for making it easier to start a business in the Office of Entrepreneurship will allow the public to hold the government accountable for regulations affecting small businesses, states the news release.

“We must support entrepreneurship in Washington,” Couture said. “There are so many barriers to starting a new business here, including high taxes, cumbersome regulations and more. The creation of this office will streamline all of the government bureaucracy and help expand small business across the state.”

House Bill 1245 had a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the House Technology, Economic Development and Veterans Committee.