Housing

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5686: Expanding and funding the foreclosure mediation program.

SB 5686 expands and funds the existing foreclosure mediation program, directly affecting homeowners facing foreclosure and unit owners (like those in condominiums or HOAs) facing delinquency for past-due assessments. It broadens the definition of residential real property to include properties with up to four units, bringing more individuals under the program's scope. The bill outlines housing counselors' duties to assist both borrowers and unit owners in good faith to reach resolutions with lenders or associations. It also clarifies that referrals to mediation can occur up to 90 days before a trustee's sale, or 25 days before an amended sale date.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands and funds foreclosure mediation program, protecting homeowners from losing housing and broadening coverage to multi-unit properties, directly strengthening tenant/homeowner protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5232: Updating eligible uses for the essential needs and housing support program.

SB 5232 updates the Essential Needs and Housing Support (ENHS) program in Washington State, impacting individuals eligible for these services and the entities that provide them. The bill allows designated support entities to use funds more flexibly to provide essential needs items and housing support to recipients. A significant change is the allowance of direct cash assistance, including through debit cash cards, when identified in a client's housing stability plan, removing a prior restriction. It also expands eligibility to include certain low or extremely low-income elderly or disabled adults transitioning off other benefits. Additionally, the bill aligns the administration rate for ENHS entities with other programs funded by the home security fund.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves restrictions on direct cash assistance for housing stability plans, enabling flexible support under ENHS program to advance affordable housing access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1774: Modifying allowable terms for the lease of unused highway land.

House Bill 1774 allows the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to consider social, environmental, or economic benefits when determining lease terms for unused highway land. This applies when WSDOT leases property to public agencies, tribes, historical societies, or community-based nonprofit organizations for specific "community purposes." These purposes include providing housing, shelter programs, parks, public recreation, salmon habitat restoration, or public transportation uses. The bill outlines factors for WSDOT to evaluate such lease agreements and requires lessees to maintain the property and use it solely for the designated community purpose. WSDOT must also provide annual reports to the legislature on these active lease agreements.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly permits leasing highway land for housing as a 'community purpose,' enabling affordable housing development through land access.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly permits leasing highway land for public transportation use, enabling infrastructure support through land access for transit purposes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Washington · House May 7, 2025

HB 1217: Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.

HB 1217 aims to improve housing stability for tenants in Washington state, applying to those under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. It limits combined rent and fee increases to no more than seven percent within any 12-month period after the initial year of a tenancy, though some exemptions may apply. The bill also requires landlords to provide notice for increases, places limits on various fees and deposits, and allows tenants to terminate their lease if an increase is unlawful. Additionally, it establishes a landlord resource center and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce its provisions, providing specific remedies for tenants in cases of violation.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingLimits rent/fee increases to 7% annually, requires notice for increases, restricts fees/deposits, and strengthens tenant rights under landlord-tenant acts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1177: Concerning the child welfare housing assistance program.

House Bill 1177 concerns the child welfare housing assistance program, which aims to reduce the need for foster care placement and shorten the time children spend in out-of-home care. The program provides housing vouchers, rental assistance, navigation, and support services to eligible families. These families include parents whose children are dependent and whose lack of appropriate housing is a barrier to reunification, or whose housing instability puts their child at risk of foster care. The department administers the program, often contracting with outside entities, in counties both east and west of the Cascade mountain range.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides housing vouchers, rental assistance, and support services to stabilize housing for families at risk of foster care, directly advancing affordable housing access and preventing homelessness.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1494: Concerning the property tax exemptions for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings in urban centers.

House Bill 1494 modifies existing property tax exemptions for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings in urban centers. The bill clarifies definitions related to "affordable housing" and the population requirements for cities to qualify for these exemptions. A key provision expands the definition of "rehabilitation improvements" to include modifications to occupied buildings that increase the number of multi-family housing units. These changes do not extend the duration of the exemptions or expand them to include conversions of market-rate buildings to affordable housing. The bill primarily affects property owners, developers, and residents involved with multi-unit housing projects in designated urban areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax exemptions for affordable housing developments, providing tax relief to developers and potentially lower-income residents through reduced tax burden on qualifying properties.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands property tax exemptions for new/rehabbed multi-unit housing, broadens rehabilitation definitions to increase housing units, directly advancing affordable housing development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1183: Concerning building code and development regulation reform.

HB 1183 reforms building codes and development regulations for cities and counties in Washington to encourage affordable and sustainable building practices. The bill mandates that cities allow for increased housing density, reduced parking requirements, and streamlined permitting when adding residential units within existing commercial or mixed-use buildings. It also provides flexibility in setback and roof height rules for existing buildings undergoing residential retrofits and for new construction or retrofits meeting "passive house" energy efficiency standards. These changes aim to reduce regulatory barriers for converting existing structures into homes and promote energy-efficient construction.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates increased housing density, reduced parking requirements, and streamlined permitting to encourage affordable housing development per bill summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Washington · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1696: Modifying the covenant homeownership program.

This bill modifies Washington's covenant homeownership program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers from historically marginalized communities. It raises the household income eligibility threshold for participants from 100% to 140% of the area median income. The bill also introduces a provision allowing for full loan forgiveness after five years for participants whose household income is at or below 80% of the area median income at the time of the loan. Additionally, it adjusts the membership of the program's oversight committee.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRaises income eligibility threshold for homeownership program and provides loan forgiveness for low-income participants, expanding access to affordable housing for marginalized communities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing