Housing

signed · Washington · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 5184: Concerning minimum parking requirements.

Senate Bill 5184 limits the minimum parking requirements that cities and code cities in Washington state can impose on new construction projects. It caps required parking at 0.5 spaces per multifamily dwelling unit, one space per single-family home, and two spaces per 1,000 square feet of commercial space. The bill also eliminates all minimum parking requirements for specific categories, such as affordable housing, senior housing, child care centers, and smaller residential or commercial spaces. These changes directly affect developers, residents, and local governments, though cities with populations of 30,000 or less are exempt, and exceptions can be made for safety concerns or areas near major airports.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEliminates minimum parking requirements for affordable housing, reducing development costs and directly supporting housing affordability initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · House May 7, 2025

HB 1106: Recognizing the tremendous sacrifices made by our military veterans by phasing down the disability rating requirements to ensure more disabled veterans are eligible for property tax relief.

House Bill 1106 expands eligibility for property tax relief to more disabled military veterans in Washington state. It lowers the required combined service-connected disability rating from 80% to 40% or higher for veterans to qualify for property tax exemptions on their primary residence. This change allows a broader group of disabled veterans to receive a reduction in their annual property tax obligations, provided they meet other existing criteria related to residency, ownership, and income thresholds. The bill aims to recognize the sacrifices of veterans by making property tax relief more accessible.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax relief by lowering eligibility thresholds, reducing tax burden for disabled veterans under state tax system.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides property tax relief to disabled veterans, reducing housing costs for eligible homeowners, indirectly supporting affordability without addressing core housing policy areas.65% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransLowers disability rating requirement from 80% to 40% for property tax relief, expanding eligibility for more disabled veterans' benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 5529: Amending the county population threshold for counties that may exempt from taxation the value of accessory dwelling units to incentivize rental to low-income households.

Senate Bill 5529 amends the county population requirements for jurisdictions that can offer property tax exemptions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). It lowers the minimum population threshold, allowing counties with populations between 900,000 and 1,500,000 to also exempt ADUs from taxation. This aims to incentivize homeowners to rent these units to low-income households, provided conditions like tenant income verification and rent limits are met. For these newly eligible counties, the exemption specifically applies to detached ADUs and requires a local legislative authority resolution.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates property tax exemptions for ADUs rented to low-income households, providing targeted tax relief to incentivize affordable housing while meeting income verification requirements.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill lowers population threshold for ADU tax exemptions to incentivize low-income rentals, directly increasing affordable housing access through tax incentives for property owners.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 5611: Streamlining and clarifying local governments' land use permitting workloads.

Senate Bill 5611 streamlines land use permitting for local governments and property developers by clarifying alternative procedures for dividing land. It allows cities, towns, and counties to adopt ordinances enabling the use of binding site plans instead of traditional subdivision processes for specific property types. These types include commercially or industrially zoned land (now explicitly covering multifamily residential uses), property leased for non-permanent residential structures, and land intended for condominiums or co-ops. The bill also permits administrative approval for individual lot finalization and improvements once a general binding site plan is approved for industrial or commercial divisions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStreamlines permitting for multifamily residential developments, reducing barriers to housing construction and potentially increasing supply.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1540: Expanding eligibility for the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program to an accredited tribal college.

HB 1540 expands eligibility for the "students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program" to include accredited public tribal colleges in Washington. This program, previously available only at public four-year institutions, provides assistance to students experiencing homelessness and those who were in the foster care system when they graduated high school. Support services can include access to laundry, storage, reduced-price meals, technology, housing assistance, and case management. Participating institutions are also enabled to develop affordable housing from surplus property and are required to submit annual reports to the legislature on the program's impact.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands access to support services for homeless/foster youth at tribal colleges, enhancing higher education accessibility for vulnerable students.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands housing assistance program to tribal colleges, directly supporting homeless students' housing needs as part of eligibility expansion.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1260: Concerning administrative costs associated with the document recording fee.

HB 1260 updates the rules for how administrative costs are handled for the $183 document recording fee in Washington state. The bill maintains the existing surcharge on recorded documents and its distribution to county auditors, counties, and state accounts for housing and homeless services. It specifically amends how counties can use their share of these funds for local homeless housing plans and related administrative costs. This includes new provisions for how funds are distributed to cities that operate their own homeless housing programs, allowing them to receive funds directly for program and administrative expenses.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMaintains surcharge distribution to state housing/homeless services accounts and amends county fund use for homeless housing plans, directly funding housing initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1760: Removing barriers for organizations selling manufactured homes to low-income households.

House Bill 1760 aims to remove regulatory barriers for organizations that sell manufactured homes to low-income households at cost. The bill directly affects these organizations and the low-income individuals they serve by facilitating access to affordable housing options. It achieves this by amending RCW 46.70.011, which pertains to vehicle dealer regulations and related definitions. This change is intended to streamline the process for these specific types of manufactured home sales.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves regulatory barriers for low-income manufactured home sales, directly increasing affordable housing access at cost.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1191: Concerning removing vehicle titles from manufactured homes.

HB 1191 eliminates vehicle-style titles for manufactured homes in Washington State, treating them as real property attached to land instead of personal property. Homeowners who voluntarily apply through their county auditor can remove the title, after which the home is conveyed with the land via deed or lease rather than a separate title. The law changes how ownership and security interests (like mortgages) are handled, requiring that untitled manufactured homes be transferred with the land they sit on. This applies only to homes where owners choose to eliminate the title through the county recording process, not to all manufactured homes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingTreats manufactured homes as real property, strengthening property rights and financing options for a common affordable housing type, supporting housing stability.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1075: Expanding housing supply by supporting the ability of public housing authorities to finance affordable housing developments.

HB 1075 amends Washington state law to give public housing authorities more tools to finance affordable housing developments. It allows authorities to form partnerships with nonprofits, include wage requirements in contracts, and manage commercial space within housing projects, while requiring that at least 50% of units in new developments serve low-income residents. The bill directly affects public housing authorities and the low-income renters they serve by streamlining their ability to build and maintain affordable housing. The law, effective July 27, 2025, updates existing authority powers under RCW 35.82.070 to support expanded housing supply.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires 50% low-income units, expands financing tools for public housing authorities, and enables nonprofit partnerships to increase affordable housing supply.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates wage requirements in housing development contracts, directly advancing worker compensation standards for construction labor in affordable housing projects.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1003: Addressing service of notice by mail in cases involving forcible entry and forcible and unlawful detainer.

HB 1003 amends Washington state law to clarify how eviction notices must be served by mail in forcible entry and unlawful detainer cases. It requires that notices sent by certified mail (from within Washington) be considered complete upon deposit in the U.S. mail, and adds a mandatory five-day waiting period before an eviction action can begin after mail service. The bill directly affects tenants, landlords, and legal processes in housing disputes by standardizing mail service procedures and extending the timeframe for tenants to respond. This change, effective July 27, 2025, aims to ensure clearer notice delivery in eviction cases while providing additional time for affected residents.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAdds mandatory 5-day waiting period for eviction notices, strengthening tenant protections in housing disputes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing