HB 1403 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Simplifying condominium construction statutes.

HB 1403 simplifies condominium construction statutes, primarily by updating the implied warranties for new condominium units. For units in communities created on or after the bill's effective date, it specifies that construction must comply with approved plans, building codes at the time of permit approval, and manufacturer installation guidelines. The bill also clarifies the conditions a purchaser must prove to establish a breach of warranty and limits damages to the reasonable cost of repairs or loss in market value. These changes aim to affect condominium developers, sellers, and purchasers by providing clearer standards for construction and warranty claims.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Signed May 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Bill → Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill adds a certification section to formalize its passage and modifies warranty rules for condominiums. It expands eligibility for express warranties to include buildings with no vertical stacking of units and clarifies that 'conversion buildings' are included alongside 'new buildings' for specific size limits.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include 'conversion buildings' in addition to 'new buildings' and added a new category for buildings where units are not stacked vertically above one another.

TECHNICAL

Added a 'Certification of Enrollment' section to formally document the bill's passage by the House and Senate with vote counts and dates.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the term 'condominium conversion' to 'conversion building' to broaden the scope of buildings eligible for specific warranty exemptions.

Added a new eligibility category for buildings containing 12 or fewer units where no unit is physically located above or below any other unit, excluding balconies and roof decks.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the list of warranty requirements to include the new eligibility category and added a conjunction to the list of applicable areas.

Bill → Engrossed Bill · 5 edits · Apr 17, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Washington's condominium and construction defect laws to modernize warranty requirements and clarify which buildings must follow specific building codes. Key changes include expanding the definition of 'multiunit residential buildings' to include two-unit homes and buildings without attached units, adding new minimum warranty periods for express warranties, and updating the timeline for when these new rules begin to apply.

Scope change

The bill significantly broadens the scope of buildings subject to strict construction defect laws. Previously, the laws primarily applied to buildings with more than two attached units; the new version now includes two-unit homes and buildings with detached units if the developer elects to be covered. It also clarifies that the new rules apply to condominiums created after the effective date of Section 2, rather than Section 5 as previously stated.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'multiunit residential building' was expanded to explicitly include buildings with only two attached dwelling units and buildings that do not contain attached dwelling units, provided the developer elects to treat them as such.

REQUIREMENT

The warranty coverage periods for express warranties were updated to specify 'defective' workmanship and materials, and the start date for these warranties was clarified to be the later of the unit's conveyance or the completion of the building enclosure.

Warranty requirements were updated to include adherence to manufacturer installation guidelines and published industry standards incorporated into building codes, in addition to approved plans and applicable building codes.

TIMELINE

The expiration and effective dates for various sections of the act were renumbered and adjusted, with Sections 2 and 5 expiring on January 1, 2028, and Sections 3 and 6 taking effect on the same date.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicability of new construction defect requirements to accessory dwelling units was changed to apply only to communities created after the effective date of Section 2, rather than Section 5.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025 · House Mar 11, 2025

How they voted

49–1

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic31

29 Yea 1 Nay 1

93% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 7, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 93; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (49-1-1)

senate

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

HSG - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

CRJ - Majority; do pass.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.

lower

1 primary · 15 co-sponsors