Housing

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 14, 2026

SB 5552: Concerning the creation of building codes for kit homes.

SB 5552 aims to create a new category of building codes specifically for "kit homes" to increase affordable housing options. The bill defines kit homes as residential structures 800 square feet or smaller, built from prefabricated walls, floors, and roofs assembled on-site. It directs the State Building Code Council to establish these specific building codes for kit homes by December 31, 2025. This initiative is intended to provide more affordable small homes for homebuyers of modest means.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates building codes for kit homes (≤800 sq ft) to boost affordable housing access for modest-income buyers, directly advancing affordable housing options.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6220: Ensuring nonprofit housing providers qualify for a property tax exemption when the property is temporarily used for certain community purposes other than affordable housing.

SB 6220 expands property tax exemption eligibility for nonprofit housing providers in Washington State. It allows these organizations to temporarily use their properties for certain community purposes (like events or gatherings) without losing their tax exemption, as long as the use doesn’t exceed 50 days per year and only 15 days are used for business promotion. The bill modifies tax code provisions to clarify that such temporary community uses - when not for profit and within specified limits - do not invalidate the exemption. This directly affects nonprofit housing providers seeking tax relief while hosting community activities beyond affordable housing operations. The bill is currently in committee review after its first reading.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands property tax exemption for nonprofit housing providers, providing tax relief by allowing temporary community uses without losing exemption. Directly modifies tax code for tax policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands tax exemptions for nonprofit housing providers, reducing operational costs to sustain affordable housing efforts without restricting community use.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6184: Updating the office of homeless youth program provisions.

SB 6184 updates Washington state's definitions and administrative provisions for homeless youth programs, primarily affecting unaccompanied homeless youth and HOPE centers (facilities providing temporary housing and services). The bill specifically limits stays at HOPE centers to 90 days for most unaccompanied homeless youth, requiring department approval for extensions, while allowing longer stays if a parent arranges return. It revises key terms like "homeless person," "HOPE center," and "street outreach services" to clarify program eligibility and operations. These changes aim to standardize definitions across state agencies and align with existing homelessness housing frameworks without introducing new funding or major program shifts.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill limits HOPE center stays to 90 days for homeless youth, restricting housing assistance duration and limiting temporary housing options for vulnerable populations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Housing

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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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2590: Exempting limited equity cooperatives from the Washington uniform common interest ownership act.

HB 2590 exempts limited equity cooperatives (LECs) from Washington's Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (UCIOA), which governs rules for condos and other shared-property communities. This means LECs - housing models where residents own shares in a cooperative but have limited equity to keep costs stable - will no longer need to follow UCIOA requirements for fees, voting, or shared property maintenance. The bill amends specific state laws (RCW 64.90.010, 64.90.360, and 84.36.675) to create this exemption, directly affecting LEC residents and operators by allowing them to operate under separate rules. The change is procedural, focusing on clarifying regulatory scope rather than altering housing policies.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempting LECs from UCIOA removes regulatory barriers for affordable cooperative housing models, facilitating stable, low-cost housing development without restrictive fee/voting rules.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5831: Enacting the uniform mortgage modification act.

SB 5831, the Uniform Mortgage Modification Act, standardizes rules for modifying home mortgages in Washington State. It applies to changes like interest rate reductions, maturity date extensions, payment schedule adjustments, or forgiveness of unpaid amounts, directly affecting homeowners and lenders. The law ensures these modifications don’t change a mortgage’s legal priority or require recording, preserving the mortgage’s original standing. It covers specific modifications listed in the bill but excludes changes to property encumbrances, obligors, or mortgage assignments. The act aligns Washington with a nationally recognized model to streamline mortgage relief processes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents foreclosure by standardizing mortgage modifications, supporting housing stability and property rights without weakening tenant protections.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5374: Including tribal representation in certain transportation activities.

Senate Bill 5374 is titled "Including tribal representation in certain transportation activities." While the bill's stated purpose is to incorporate tribal representation, the provided text primarily details amendments to comprehensive planning requirements for counties and cities. These amendments focus on strengthening land use elements to address environmental justice and wildfire risk, and enhancing housing elements to ensure adequate provisions for diverse income levels, address racially disparate impacts, and implement antidisplacement policies. The specific mechanisms for tribal representation in transportation activities are not detailed in this excerpt.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAmends housing elements to ensure diverse income provisions and address racial disparities, directly advancing housing equity goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5496: Preserving homeownership options by limiting excessive home buying by certain entities.

SB 5496 would limit large investment entities (like real estate investment trusts and pooled fund managers) and businesses owning over 50 single-family homes from purchasing additional single-family homes in Washington. It prohibits these entities from acquiring new properties, with limited exceptions for nonprofits, properties needing code modifications, or short-term conversions to multifamily housing. Violations could result in a $100,000 penalty per violation and require the property to be sold to a third party within one year. The bill aims to increase housing availability for residents by restricting large-scale investor purchases, which the legislature cites as contributing to the state's housing affordability crisis. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Rules Committee and has not advanced to final passage.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill restricts large entities from buying single-family homes to preserve homeownership options, preventing market dominance that reduces affordability and access for individual buyers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5729: Encouraging construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process.

This bill, SB 5729, aims to encourage the construction of affordable housing in Washington state by streamlining the project permit application process for local governments and developers. It requires local governments to determine if an application is complete within 28 days, or it is automatically deemed complete. The bill also allows applications certified by licensed professional engineers or architects to be deemed complete by building departments. Furthermore, it introduces a "deemed approved" mechanism if local governments conduct more than six reviews or requests for information without demonstrating clear violations. Finally, it mandates combining environmental review with permit review and limits the process to one open record hearing and one closed record appeal.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill streamlines permitting to accelerate affordable housing construction, directly advancing development goals through faster processing timelines and certified professional approvals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SJM 8006: Concerning the limited license legal technician program.

Senate Joint Memorial 8006 petitions the Washington State Supreme Court to reinstate and expand its Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) program. The memorial asks the Court to reverse its 2020 decision to end the program, citing a current shortage of attorneys and a need for legal services among low and moderate-income Washingtonians. It specifically requests the expansion of LLLT services within one year to include administrative law, eviction, and debt assistance. Additionally, the memorial asks for a work group to be formed to explore how LLLTs could help individuals charged with offenses in courts of limited jurisdiction. The aim is to increase access to legal representation for those facing legal challenges.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands legal aid for eviction assistance, directly supporting tenant protections in housing disputes per LLLT program expansion request.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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