OLYMPIA – A Ritzville lawmaker has pre-filed a bill that would require the state to study the private long-term care market before implementing a new tax set to begin Jan. 1.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, introduced Senate Bill 5503 to create a committee to study financial opportunities that could replace the long-term care tax that will be taken out of the paychecks of anyone working in Washington state after the first of the year.

“It’s time for the Legislature to create a joint committee to examine private-market alternatives to this program and look for a better way to provide...