Housing (Affordable Housing)

signed · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 1859: Expanding opportunities for affordable housing developments on properties owned by religious organizations.

HB 1859 allows Washington religious organizations to develop affordable housing on their properties with increased density allowances. To qualify, at least 50% of units must be permanently affordable for low-income households (earning at or below 80% of local median income) for 50 years, with no discrimination based on protected characteristics. Religious organizations must cover all development fees and costs, and local governments must approve such projects if requested. This applies to new construction and rehab projects on religiously owned land, amending zoning laws to support affordable housing expansion.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly enables affordable housing development on religious properties with 50% permanently affordable units (80% AMI) for 50 years, prohibiting discrimination and requiring orgs to cover costs, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2027: Increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing.

HB 2027 increases real estate transfer taxes on property sales above specific thresholds to fund affordable housing programs. The tax applies at 1.1% for sales under $500,000, 1.28% for $500,000-$1.5 million, 2.75% for $1.5-$3 million, and 3% for sales over $3 million. Revenue from these taxes will support state housing programs targeting low- and middle-income households, including seniors, veterans, farmworkers, and others facing housing insecurity. The bill aims to build over 500,000 new affordable homes for residents earning under 50% of area median income by addressing supply shortages.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases real estate transfer taxes on high-value properties to fund affordable housing programs for low/middle-income households, directly allocating tax revenue to public services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds affordable housing via progressive real estate taxes on high-value sales, targeting low/middle-income households and aiming to build 500k+ units.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly funds housing programs targeting veterans as a designated beneficiary group alongside seniors and others facing housing insecurity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5647: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts affordable housing sales from real estate tax, reducing burden on lower-income sellers, aligns with tax relief for middle/lower income.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts affordable housing sales from real estate tax, reducing seller costs to encourage development and increase affordable housing supply.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Property Taxes

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1695: Concerning unincorporated villages in the growth management act.

HB 1695 amends Washington's Growth Management Act to update land use planning requirements for counties and cities. It requires all comprehensive plans to explicitly address environmental justice, wildfire risk mitigation (including adopting codes like Firewise USA), and housing equity. Specifically, housing elements must now identify racially disparate impacts from local policies, implement anti-displacement strategies, and ensure affordable housing access across income levels. The bill directly affects all jurisdictions subject to the Growth Management Act, including unincorporated areas, by mandating these specific provisions in their planning documents.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates environmental justice, wildfire risk mitigation (Firewise USA), and environmental considerations in land use planning under Growth Management Act, strengthening environmental protections.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates housing elements to identify racial disparities, implement anti-displacement strategies, and ensure affordable housing access across income levels per Growth Management Act amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice Forestry Affordable Housing Land Use

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 27, 2026

HB 1974: Establishing land banking authorities.

HB 1974 establishes a framework for counties to create land banking authorities aimed at increasing affordable housing. These land banks - public entities or nonprofits - can acquire, hold, and develop land within urban growth areas, requiring at least 33% of housing units to be affordable to extremely low-income households, no more than 33% at market rate, and the remainder for moderate-income residents. The bill mandates 99-year affordability covenants on developed land, prioritizes displacement mitigation, and requires advisory boards reflecting community diversity to oversee land bank activities. It directly affects counties, housing developers, and low/moderate-income residents, particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by housing inequities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 33% affordable units for extremely low-income households with 99-year covenants, directly advancing affordable housing goals per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Land Use

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5740: Concerning eviction reform and tenant safety.

SB 5740 (Washington State) standardizes eviction notice forms and procedures to streamline the unlawful detainer process. It requires eviction summons to clearly state response deadlines (5:00 p.m. prior to court date), include tenant legal aid resources (like the Eviction Defense Screening Line at 855-657-8387), and list mediation options. The bill directly affects landlords (both non-profit and for-profit) and tenants facing eviction, particularly in affordable housing communities. Key provisions include mandating specific content in summons forms and clarifying how tenants can legally respond to eviction filings. This is a procedural reform focused on improving process clarity, not altering tenant rights or landlord obligations.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStandardizes eviction procedures with tenant protections, legal aid resources, and mediation options, directly strengthening tenant rights in affordable housing communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Landlords Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5753: Establishing a public housing task force.

SB 5753 establishes a 12-member task force to study how Washington State could expand public housing as a solution to the housing crisis. The task force will examine funding options, public land use, UN housing standards, and governance changes needed to develop mixed-income housing, with a focus on affordability for low-income residents and communities of color. It must submit preliminary and final reports to the legislature by July and November 2026, respectively, including recommendations for creating publicly owned housing that meets international adequacy standards. This bill does not fund or build housing but creates a study group to develop a strategy for future action.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates task force to study expanding public housing for affordability, focusing on low-income residents and communities of color, directly advancing affordable housing goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1694: Concerning revenues from the excise tax on real estate transactions imposed by cities and counties under RCW 82.46.035.

HB 1694 modifies how Washington cities and counties can use revenues from local real estate transaction taxes (up to 0.25% of sale price). It requires local governments to specify in budgets how these funds finance capital projects like roads, parks, or infrastructure, and mandates that tax revenues must be used solely for those purposes (with limited exceptions for operations until 2023). The bill explicitly allows using funds for homelessness and affordable housing projects through interlocal collaborations, while restricting new spending to 25% of available funds annually (capped at $1 million) for such projects. It also requires documentation of future funding plans for traditional capital projects and temporarily suspends tax authority if local governments fail to comply with reporting rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates use of real estate tax revenues for capital projects & homelessness housing, ensuring fiscal accountability and directing funds to public services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExplicitly allows real estate tax revenues to fund affordable housing and homelessness projects through interlocal agreements, directly advancing housing initiatives.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates real estate tax revenues fund capital projects including roads and infrastructure, directly advancing transportation funding priorities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Affordable Housing Homelessness

Track

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

Sub-Topics Affordable 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

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing