Housing (Community Development)

SB 6223 creates a new program allowing community-scale weatherization projects targeting multiple low-income homes in the same neighborhood facing shared environmental, social, or economic challenges. It defines "community scaled projects" as weatherization efforts for groups of homes in areas identified by the Department of Commerce using data on pollution, housing vulnerability, and health disparities. Sponsors (like community agencies or utilities) can apply for grants and matching funds to cover energy efficiency upgrades, structural repairs, and health improvements - without requiring low-income households to pay for weatherization. The bill mandates prioritizing proposals serving areas with high concentrations of low-income residents (defined as 80% of median county income) and requires the Department to approve or deny applications within 90 days.

HB 1057 creates a state fund to help Washington communities secure federal economic development grants by providing matching dollars. It directly affects local governments, rural areas, tribes, nonprofits, and businesses seeking federal funds for projects like broadband, housing, infrastructure, and workforce training. Key mechanisms include establishing scoring criteria prioritizing rural counties and job creation, setting grant tiers (up to 100% matching for most entities), and requiring the state to provide a template letter supporting federal applications. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund usage and expands online resources to track available federal opportunities.

SB 5460 creates a new funding source by directing 30% of state sales tax revenue from large stadiums (with specific size requirements) into community development accounts. This funding supports county-level community preservation authorities in areas affected by major public projects, with funds split between operating and capital needs. Authorities must use the money for economic development, safety improvements (like addressing homelessness impacts), and housing initiatives (including low-income units). The program expires in 2037 but requires a legislative review by 2034 to assess its impact on communities.

HB 1408 establishes a new funding stream for community preservation and development authorities in Washington. It requires 30% of state sales tax revenue from qualifying large stadiums or arenas (with specific seat capacity and facility size requirements) to be deposited into community development accounts starting January 1, 2026. The funds are split equally between operating and capital subaccounts to support local projects addressing economic vitality, safety, and housing needs in communities affected by major public facilities. The bill mandates biennial reporting by these authorities and expires January 1, 2037.