Keeping the legislature committed to housing

by Josie Cummings Legislative Director

As this issue of Building Insight goes to print, your government affairs team continues to watch several important bills moving into the final days of the legislative session so we can build more homes families can afford and help more students find their pathway to work in residential construction.

HB 1110 – Middle housing

HB

1308 – Graduation pathways

HB 1181 – Climate change in the Growth Management Act (GMA)

This bill encourages local governments to reduce construction in deeply flawed mapping of the wildland-urban interface (most of which is within our current urban growth areas). This bill limits residential zones and housing types by requiring zoning to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Additional requirements to the GMA limit available land for home construction and add time and money to the price of homes.

SB 5217 – Ergonomics

SB

5466 – Increasing transit-oriented development

It’s time to increase zoned capacity, especially around transit, providing better commuting options and lowering reliance on single-occupancy vehicles. We need to increase diversity in housing stock and provide more ownership opportunities in homes of all types.

SB 5290 – Consolidating local permit process reviews

This measure exempts certain interior remodel permits from full site reviews while still requiring permits, inspections and compliance with building codes. It clarifies permit timelines, provides resources to local governments, ensures they adopt best permit practices and offers refunds to applicants when permit timelines are unmet. Saving time saves money—one week can save homeowners over $1,100.

SB 5412 and HB 1293 – SEPA State Environmental Policy Act review

These bills categorically exempt residential construction consistent with the comp plan from SEPA. They require exterior design review standards to be clear and objective. This bill cuts red tape, creates an efficient permitting process and maintains environmental review.

Washington’s junior and high school students need to be equipped with the option to graduate high school and go into a good-paying career. Washington homebuilders need a robust, diverse and capable workforce. This bill ensures parents and students are informed about all the available pathways for graduation and adds a new performance-based graduation pathway.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows unfortunately. We’re fighting the following bad bills because they’re bad for homeowners and create barriers for future homeowners by driving up the cost to build new homes.

HB 1589 – Decarbonization of natural gas

This bill allows Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to cease new natural gas service on June 30, 2023, and completely stop serving natural gas for all existing customers by Jan. 1, 2050. The bill creates an effective building moratorium on residential projects where natural gas is the only utility option, like large portions of Kittitas County.

It also provides no details on how current natural gas users are to bear the costs to transition homes to fully electric. Electrification of an existing home costs over $20,000 – so ratepayers will pay higher rates, need to rewire their homes and purchase new appliances, all while PSE profits.

This bill kills jobs and overturns the vote of the people. Voters approved banning L&I from making ergonomics rules. Targeted technical assistance is more effective in addressing the intricacies of individuals and job types. Ergonomics claims are decreasing for almost every industry and they’re already covered by Washington’s workers’ comp system. This bill will force businesses to automate systems, replacing workers in the future.

SB 5452 – Impact fees for bike and pedestrian lanes

You can’t make housing more affordable by ADDING MORE FEES! This bill allows expanded use of impact fees for bicycle lanes – meaning impact fees will increase to fund not only current transportation-allowed uses but also bicycle lanes of the right-of-way. Nonright-of-way bike paths can be paid for using the existing park impact fees and bike lanes on the right-of-way are already covered under transportation impact fees. Increased fees make it harder for Washington families to buy a home.

Stay in the loop!

We hold a Zoom call every Tuesday morning during session to keep you updated on everything happening each week. To sign up for these calls, email josiec@biaw.com.

You can also receive calls to action by signing up for our text alerts by texting “BIAW” to 50457