Legislative engagement critical in challenging political climate

by Jan Himebaugh, Government Affairs Director

Coming into the 2021 legislative session, no one could have predicted how things ended. As the House of Representatives and Senate released plans for a remote legislative session with no access to the Capitol Building, people across the state struggled with the idea of 100-percent remote legislative hearings and having to meet legislators via videoconference instead of face-to-face.

How could builders provide input into the process? How could builders break through the barriers of remote communication? How would legislators vote if they knew they didn’t have to look directly at anyone? Would there even be access?

The remote session provided an opportunity to pass far-reaching and destructive bills like cap and trade, capital gains income tax and an expensive low-carbon fuel standard. But BIAW and its members were still able to use some of our most powerful tools to keep the focus off builders.

Builders matter

Early in the session, government affairs, communications and our contract lobbying team brainstormed new ways to get people’s attention. TikTok? Instagram? Billboards? Blimps? What could we do to break through the noise and get legislators’ attention? Ultimately, BIAW developed a series of weekly videos, AKA the Hammer with Himbaugh. (Finally – they let me call this it’s true name!!!)

Then we paired the videos with weekly legislative update calls and calls to action in the Lawmaker Review, the BIAW blog and social media urging members to testify or sign-in on important bills. Thank you for answering the call! More than 1,500+ sign-ins at hearings for 90+ bills—and 750 emails in response to calls to action—all of which told the story of home construction to legislators.

Home Building Heroes

Special thanks to the following for their continued, steady participation.

These “Home Building Heroes” were top 10 who answered our legislative calls to action— signing in over 100 times:

* Michael Fast, MBA of Pierce County

* Kurt Wilson, MBA of Pierce County

* Juli Bacon, MBA of King & Snohomish Counties

* John Erwin, Olympia Master Builders

* Nick Scheel, Spokane HBA

* Kent Arola, MBA of Pierce County

* Ron Perkerewicz, Kitsap Building Association

* Evan Mann, MBA of Pierce County

* Miriam Villard, Kitsap Building Association

* Jay Roberts, Skagit/Island Counties BA

Connecting Construction to the Capitol

In addition, you and your local associations met with legislators during the virtual annual Hill Days: Connecting Construction to the Capitol.

Check out photos here.

Building Industry Association of Clark County members and staff talk with Rep. Monica Stonier, Dist. 49, D-Vancouver, to discuss pro-housing legislation.

Central Washington Home Builders Association members meet with Rep. Chris Corry, Dist. 14, R-Yakima, to discuss local and state legislative priorities.

Rep. Eric Robertson, Dist. 31, R-Sumner, meets with Master Builders Association of Pierce County members and staff during BIAW’s 2021 virtual hill days, Connecting Construction to the Capitol.

Rep. Alex Ramel, Dist. 40, D-Bellingham, meets with San Juan Building Association members during BIAW’s hill days.

Long-time housing advocate, Rep. Mike Chapman, Dist. 24, D-Port Angeles, speaks with Jefferson County Home Builders Association Executive Officer Lizanne Coker (bottom) and BIAW staff about pro-builder legislation.

Thanks to your participation, compelling testimony, your emails and meetings with legislators, we staved off some really bad bills and passed some good ones.

Stay tuned for the short session in 2022. It may be short, but there’s no telling what can happen. We stopped some bad bills for now, but like zombies, they can all come back to life in January!