Housing (Housing Finance)

in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2227: Providing a real estate excise tax exemption for the sale of qualified affordable housing.

HB 2227 would exempt sales of "qualified affordable housing" from Washington's real estate excise tax. This bill amends the state's tax code (RCW 82.45.010) to create this specific exemption for qualifying affordable housing properties. The exemption directly affects sellers of eligible affordable housing units, reducing their tax burden when selling such properties. The bill is currently pending in the House Finance Committee after being prefaced in December 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts affordable housing sales from real estate tax, providing targeted tax relief for lower-income housing transactions.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts affordable housing sales from real estate tax, reducing seller costs to encourage development and increase supply of affordable units.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 6028: Establishing a revolving loan fund for mixed-income affordable homeownership development.

SB 6028 creates a revolving loan fund administered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to support mixed-income housing developments where a portion of units are permanently affordable for low-income households (defined as those earning under 80% of the county median income). The fund provides loans to eligible developers (nonprofits, for-profits, public agencies) up to $5 million or 50% of project costs, requiring all affordable units to be sold/resold only to low-income households for at least 99 years via deed restrictions. Repaid loans and interest are recycled into new projects, with geographic limits of $5 million per county per funding round to ensure statewide distribution. The bill mandates strict monitoring to verify affordability compliance and penalties for noncompliance, including repayment of full loans plus interest for unmet affordability targets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-administered revolving loan fund ($5M max) to finance affordable housing, directly funding a public service through state fiscal management.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingSB 6028 establishes a revolving loan fund to create mixed-income housing with permanently affordable units for low-income households (under 80% AMI), directly funding affordable housing development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Housing Finance

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signed · Washington · Senate Mar 27, 2026

SB 6027: Modifying requirements and allowed uses for certain funding related to providing and maintaining affordable housing and related services.

SB 6027 allows Washington counties and cities to impose up to a 0.1% sales tax to fund affordable housing and related services. It requires at least 60% of the revenue to support housing construction, rehabilitation, or services for specific groups including homeless individuals, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. The bill limits how funds can be used (capping supplanting of existing local funds at 10%) and mandates that counties coordinate with cities on projects, prioritizing 15% of housing units for residents with local ties. It also permits using funds to offset state/federal reductions and authorizes bonds for housing development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 0.1% sales tax to fund affordable housing, requiring 60% revenue for housing construction/services, directly advancing fiscal support for essential housing programs.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllows 0.1% sales tax funding for affordable housing construction/services, requiring 60% allocation to vulnerable groups (homeless, veterans, seniors, disabled) with coordination mandates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Affordable Housing Homelessness Housing Finance

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 6018: Concerning the housing finance commission.

This bill clarifies that Washington's Housing Finance Commission cannot make mortgage loans for owner-occupied single-family homes, except for down payment assistance programs. It ensures the Commission focuses on financing multifamily and nonowner-occupied housing while preserving private lenders' role in residential mortgage markets. The bill updates eligibility standards to consider income, family size, housing conditions, and energy efficiency for housing assistance programs. It also requires annual audits to verify bond funds support affordable housing and energy-efficient improvements as intended.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRedirects Commission focus to multifamily housing and updates eligibility for income/housing conditions, promoting affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Housing Finance Mortgages

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signed · Washington · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2442: Providing local governments tax resources and fund flexibility.

HB 2442 allows Washington counties and cities to impose specific real estate excise taxes to fund local capital projects and affordable housing. It authorizes a 0.25% tax on real property sales for general capital projects (like streets, parks, and sewer systems), with strict usage rules requiring projects to align with comprehensive plans. Additionally, it creates a separate 0.5% tax exclusively for affordable housing development, including acquisition, construction, and maintenance for low- and moderate-income residents. Local governments must document funding plans for future projects and follow voter approval processes for new taxes, while funds must be managed through competitive grant processes for housing initiatives. The bill directly affects local governments by expanding their tax tools for infrastructure and housing priorities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes local real estate taxes (0.25%/0.5%) to fund capital projects and affordable housing, directly advancing public service funding through new tax mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates 0.5% tax exclusively for affordable housing development, including construction and maintenance for low-income housing.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly authorizes 0.25% tax for streets (transportation infrastructure) as part of general capital projects under the tax provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes Tags Local Government

in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2673: Establishing tax exemptions for property used as affordable housing owned or operated by a social housing agency.

HB 2673 proposes a tax exemption for property used as affordable housing owned or operated by social housing agencies in Washington State. This bill directly affects affordable housing providers by removing certain property taxes on qualifying properties. The key mechanism adds an exemption to existing tax codes, specifically excluding from taxation real property used for affordable housing under a social housing agency's ownership or operation. The exemption applies to properties meeting the bill's defined criteria for affordable housing use, without altering other tax obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exemption for affordable housing properties, reducing property tax burden on social housing agencies, aligning with tax relief for lower-income housing services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingTax exemption for affordable housing properties reduces costs for social housing agencies, directly advancing affordable housing access and development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2650: Concerning notifications and effective dates for department of revenue administration of certain excise taxes.

HB 2650 creates a tax deferral program for property owners developing affordable housing on underdeveloped land (like surface parking lots) in qualifying cities. It requires owners to complete construction within three years, offer housing to low/moderate-income households (costing ≤30% of income), and submit verification to cities within 30 days of a certificate of occupancy. Cities must then confirm compliance with affordability and construction standards before the Department of Revenue finalizes the sales/use tax deferral. The bill directly affects property developers, local cities administering the program, and the Department of Revenue. If requirements aren’t met, cities can deny the deferral or require interest on nonqualifying taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax deferral for affordable housing developers, reducing immediate tax burden to incentivize low-income housing construction.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates tax deferral for affordable housing development on underused land, requiring 30% income cap and city verification to increase affordable units.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6201: Establishing tax exemptions for property used as affordable housing owned or operated by a social housing agency.

SB 6201 creates a property tax exemption for housing units classified as "affordable" when owned or operated by social housing agencies in Washington State. The bill amends tax code sections to exclude qualifying affordable housing properties from standard property tax calculations, directly benefiting social housing agencies and their tenants. Key provisions require properties to meet affordability standards (likely defined in other state regulations) and be managed by eligible agencies to qualify for the exemption. This policy change reduces operational costs for social housing providers without altering existing tax structures for other property types.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exemption for affordable housing, reducing tax burden on low-income housing providers per bill's tax code amendment.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates tax exemption for affordable housing properties owned by social agencies, reducing operational costs to maintain/expand affordable units per bill's core purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2451: Concerning local tax increment financing.

HB 2451 modifies Washington State's tax increment financing (TIF) rules to help local governments fund public improvements. It allows cities, counties, and other local jurisdictions to use increased property tax revenue from designated "increment areas" (geographic zones where property values rise after designation) to pay for eligible projects like roads, water systems, affordable housing, and park facilities. The bill sets limits: an increment area cannot exceed $200 million in assessed value (adjusted annually by the consumer price index) or 20% of a jurisdiction's total assessed value, whichever is smaller. It clarifies which costs qualify, including infrastructure, affordable housing development, and administrative expenses directly tied to TIF implementation. This bill directly affects local governments seeking to finance public projects through targeted tax revenue growth within specific zones.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables local governments to fund public improvements (roads, housing) using tax increment revenue, strengthening fiscal tools for public projects.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly designates affordable housing as an eligible TIF project, directly enabling local funding for housing development and affordability initiatives.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly lists roads as eligible TIF projects, enabling local funding for transportation infrastructure improvements within designated increment areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2528: Creating uniformity for the process by which cities planning under the growth management act implement real estate excise taxes.

HB 2528 standardizes how cities and counties under Washington’s Growth Management Act can impose a 0.25% real estate sales tax to fund capital projects. It requires tax revenue to be used exclusively for specific infrastructure like roads, parks, airports, and affordable housing projects, with limits on how much can fund homelessness housing (capped at 25% of funds or $100,000, whichever is greater). Cities must identify these projects in their budget and may need voter approval for new taxes, while ensuring funds align with comprehensive planning requirements. The bill updates existing law to create uniform rules across jurisdictions, replacing inconsistent local approaches.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesStandardizes real estate tax for infrastructure/funding, mandates specific capital project use with fiscal caps, promoting responsible budget management.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates real estate tax revenue for affordable housing projects with 25% cap on homelessness housing funding, directly advancing housing funding requirements.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates 0.25% real estate tax revenue fund roads, airports, and infrastructure projects under Growth Management Act, explicitly linking to transportation infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Sales Tax Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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