HB 1491 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Promoting transit-oriented housing development.

HB 1491, "Promoting transit-oriented housing development," aims to increase housing options and density near public transportation throughout Washington state. The bill directs cities planning under the Growth Management Act to align their land use policies with transit infrastructure development. It does this by amending various state laws and introducing new definitions for housing types, such as "cottage housing" and "courtyard apartments," and clarifying "affordable housing." This legislation seeks to maximize state investments in mass transit by fostering the creation of vibrant, walkable, and accessible communities that include diverse housing options.

Issues: ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

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 21, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third Substitute Bill → Third Substitute Passed Legislature · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands Washington State's transit-oriented housing laws to include bus rapid transit stops alongside rail stations, requiring cities to allow higher density and affordable housing near all major transit hubs. It also adds a pilot program to repurpose state-owned park-and-ride lots in the largest counties for affordable housing and modifies tax exemption rules to encourage development near transit. Additionally, the bill updates impact fee regulations to provide discounts for projects near transit and clarifies definitions to ensure consistency across different housing and planning chapters.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from focusing primarily on rail and high-capacity transit to explicitly including bus rapid transit stops and park-and-ride facilities in the largest counties. It also broadened the applicability of certain tax exemptions to include counties, not just cities, for projects meeting specific density and affordability standards near transit.

ELIGIBILITY

Added bus rapid transit stops to the definition of 'major transit stop,' requiring cities to permit higher density and affordable housing near these stops in addition to rail stations.

Modified tax exemption criteria to allow counties, not just cities, to approve exemptions for multifamily housing located in station areas if the project meets specific density and affordability requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new pilot program requiring the state Department of Transportation to select up to three park-and-ride facilities in counties with over 2 million people to convert into affordable housing.

Extended the deadline for cities to comply with new transit-oriented housing rules from December 31, 2029, to December 31, 2029, or the first implementation report after December 31, 2024, whichever is earlier, and updated the trigger for new compliance deadlines to include the completion of any major transit stop.

Added a requirement for cities to allow greater building height and increased density in all bus station areas for developments constructed entirely with mass timber products.

FISCAL

Added a requirement for local governments to provide a 50% reduction in impact fees for multiple-unit housing projects located in station areas that qualify for property tax exemptions.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'workforce housing' to clarify income thresholds and added a new definition for 'mass timber products' to incentivize their use in high-density bus station areas.

TIMELINE

Extended the date for cities to continue requiring certain public benefits in incentive programs from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.

Bill → Substitute Bill · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill was amended to broaden its scope by explicitly including bus rapid transit stations alongside rail stations for development incentives. The changes clarify definitions, simplify density requirements, and expand tax exemption eligibility to ensure affordable housing is built near a wider range of high-capacity transit options.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include 'bus station areas' as eligible zones for transit-oriented development, whereas the original version only covered rail stations. It also added a specific exemption for properties located in tsunami inundation areas.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Bus station area' and updated 'Rail station area' to specify it applies to rail, commuter rail, or rail trolleys west of the Cascade mountains.

Added a new definition for 'Station area' to explicitly include both bus and rail station areas.

REQUIREMENT

Simplified density requirements by removing specific distance measurements (e.g., 'one-half mile') and replacing them with the new 'rail station area' and 'bus station area' definitions.

Added a new exclusion for lots located in tsunami inundation areas mapped by the Department of Natural Resources.

Revised the mandatory affordable housing requirement for new buildings in station areas, adding exemptions for projects that already meet stricter local rules or have pre-existing density authorizations.

Added a requirement for cities to identify specific density and affordability requirements for buildings exempt from affordable housing mandates in municipal codes.

Updated the criteria for the 20-year property tax exemption to explicitly include properties located in station areas that meet the new affordability requirements.

FISCAL

Expanded the department's grant program to cover station area planning costs and staffing for implementing transit-oriented development, in addition to infrastructure.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the language regarding tax exemptions to require cities to 'approve' rather than just 'not prohibit' exemptions for multifamily housing that meets affordability standards.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

32–18

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Apr 15, 2025

D Democratic31

28 Yea 2 Nay 1

90% Yea

R Republican20

4 Yea 16 Nay

80% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 2.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Amended

Committee amendment not adopted.

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

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

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Capital Budget at 9:00 AM.

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Capital Budget at 9:00 AM.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Capital Budget.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee relieved of further consideration.

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Housing at 4:00 PM.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing at 4:00 PM.

lower

1 primary · 23 co-sponsors