SB 6069 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Encouraging permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters.

SB 6069 requires Washington cities and counties to permit permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency shelters, and indoor emergency housing in any zoning area where hotels or residential development is allowed, without imposing extra restrictions beyond standard residential rules. It streamlines permitting by requiring local governments to apply the same development standards (like setbacks and environmental reviews) to these housing types as other lodging, while allowing minor community notification requirements for shelters (e.g., 500-foot notice and one meeting). The bill aims to increase housing supply for people experiencing homelessness by removing regulatory barriers, but does not override restrictions on building in natural hazard zones, agricultural land, or critical areas. It directly affects local zoning decisions and housing providers seeking to expand these services in urban growth areas.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its status as a Substitute Bill after committee review, changing the bill number and sponsorship details. Substantively, the scope of required housing allowances was expanded from 'urban areas' to 'any zones where hotels or residential units are allowed,' and a new requirement was added for cities to allow emergency housing in additional zones if needed to meet projected demand. A new administrative process was introduced requiring sponsors of emergency shelters to certify specific community notification and safety steps before construction.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to apply to any zone permitting hotels or residential units rather than just general urban areas, and it now explicitly mandates allowing emergency housing in extra zones if necessary to meet state-identified needs.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the requirement to allow transitional and permanent supportive housing from 'urban areas' to any zone where residential units or hotels are permitted.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate for counties and cities to allow indoor emergency shelters and housing in additional zone types if necessary to meet projected needs under state law.

Introduced a new administrative requirement for emergency shelter sponsors to certify written notifications to nearby residents, community meetings, and operational safety policies before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

Added a specific prohibition preventing cities from requiring sponsors to provide certifications beyond the newly listed items or to repeat/revise submitted information.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill header to reflect the new bill number (S-4708.1) and the date it was read for the first time (02/04/26) instead of the original filing date.

TECHNICAL

Changed the sponsor attribution from individual names to 'Senate Housing' and updated the list of amended RCW sections to include 36.70A.030.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors