SB 5647 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

Senate Bill 5647 establishes a new exemption from the real estate excise tax for the sale of properties designated as "qualified affordable housing." This means that sellers of these specific types of affordable homes would not be required to pay this tax. The bill achieves this by amending the existing state law that defines what constitutes a "sale" for real estate excise tax purposes, adding this new category of exempt transactions. This policy change aims to reduce the tax burden associated with the sale of affordable housing.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Substitute Bill · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the legislative session year from 2025 to 2026 and amends the Real Estate Excise Tax code to expand exemptions for affordable housing and supported living facilities. Key changes include extending the required duration for supported living properties from 50 to 50 years (a formatting correction), updating references to the correct fiscal year for tax credits, and adding a new exemption for sales of space in developments that qualify for property tax exemptions for community purposes.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded by adding a new exemption category for affordable housing developments that provide community spaces like health clinics or food banks, while also updating references to align with the 2026 legislative session.
TIMELINE

Updated the legislative session year from 2025 to 2026 throughout the document, including the effective date for new provisions.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new exemption for the sale of qualified space in affordable housing developments to nonprofits or public corporations if the space is used for exempt community purposes like health clinics or food banks.

REQUIREMENT

Corrected the required duration for supported living properties from 'fifty years' to '50 years' to ensure consistency in the statute.

DEFINITION

Updated references to tax credit laws and fiscal years to reflect the 2026 session and current statutory requirements.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2026

How they voted

4011
Passed
Total votes 51
Feb 28, 2026
D Democratic31
30 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
R Republican20
10 Yea 10 Nay
50% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
8
Committee
9
Feb 28, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (40-11)
senate
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
upper
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. On motion, referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Apr 19, 2025
Committee
On motion, referred to Rules.
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
WM - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors