Executive Vice President’s message

The 2023 legislative session is well underway. Here’s the good news: Housing affordability is finally at the top of everyone’s list of priorities. But here’s the bad news: Many of the “solutions” being peddled will only worsen the problem.

Housing and homelessness

Gov. Jay Inslee has made addressing housing affordability and homeless two pillars in his 2023 legislative agenda. In fact, his 2023 budget proposal includes a referendum to fund $4 billion in housing construction to address homelessness over the next six years.

The state’s burgeoning population of people living in homelessness is a complex problem. And building government-subsidized housing is one small piece of the solution.

While it’s encouraging the Governor finally acknowledges our state is woefully behind in building new homes, it’s foolish to spend taxpayer money on government housing without also addressing the systemic failures in our planning, land use and permitting regulations.

Greg Lane Executive Vice President

Clearing barriers to homeownership

The state must clear barriers to allow builders to construct more new homes Washington families can afford. It’s the only effective way to create opportunities for middle- and lower-income families to purchase their first homes.

And we all know the benefits of home ownership far outweigh the burden of paying rent. Homeownership remains the number one pathway to generational wealth across all demographics. It also creates stability and community.

We need the Governor’s office to stop pushing new energy code requirements (which add roughly $25,000 to the price of a new home), to support reforms to the Growth Management Act to stop limiting the amount and location of new construction, and to fix the state’s average 6.5-month permit delay that adds $31,375 in holding costs.

Join us in supporting change

Your BIAW advocacy team is working with legislators to prioritize: n Permit timeline reform n State environmental policy act (SEPA) threshold exemptions n State Building Code Council reform n Impact fee deferral program reform

They’re also supporting bills that promote alternative pathways to graduation to help develop residential construction’s future workforce.

It’s not too late to help! First, text BIAW to 50457 to sign up for our text alerts. Next, be sure to visit our Legislative Action Center each week at BIAW.com/ legislative-action-center to learn which bills to sign in on to support or oppose. Finally, plan to join our BIAW Legislative Action Day on March 21 in Olympia!

It will take more than taxpayer money and government housing to solve the state’s long-term housing shortage. We need your help to show legislators the way.