Concerning delayed utility connection fees for residential construction.
SB 6096 requires Washington cities and towns to implement systems allowing residential property owners (for single-family and multifamily homes) to delay paying water and sewer connection fees until after construction is complete. Specifically, cities must offer deferral options - such as delaying payment until final inspection or certificate of occupancy - by 2030. The bill does not change the fee amount but mandates that cities withhold final certification (like occupancy permits) until fees are paid in full. This applies to new residential construction only, excluding cities already using such deferral systems. The legislation aims to ease upfront costs for homebuilders and buyers while ensuring utility systems remain financially sustainable.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Feb 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill
→
Substitute Bill
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill updates the requirements for cities to offer deferred utility connection fees for new residential construction. It clarifies that these deferral options apply to the cost of physically connecting a home to existing infrastructure, rather than the broader definition of charges previously used. Additionally, it exempts cities that already have deferral systems in place from the new mandate.
Scope change
The bill narrows the definition of 'connection charges' to specifically include only costs for physical connection to existing infrastructure, removing references to administrative costs and new system construction.
DEFINITION
Changed the definition of 'connection charges' to exclude administrative costs and charges for building new infrastructure, limiting it to costs for connecting to existing systems.
ELIGIBILITY
Added an exemption for cities and towns that already implemented a deferred collection system before the act takes effect.
REQUIREMENT
Updated the description of deferral options to explicitly refer to 'connection charges' instead of 'impact fee payment'.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Keith Goehner
RRepublican
Co
Jess Bateman
DDemocratic
Co
T'wina Nobles
DDemocratic
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