Former foes join BIAW in affordable housing fight

by Josie Cummings Legislative Director

Housing bills are front and center in the legislature this year. Legislators have sponsored a large and growing list of housing legislation aimed at tackling the supply and affordability problem that our state faces. BIAW has been partnering with stakeholders to push a package of these bills forward.

BIAW participated in the Growth Management Act (GMA) roadmap collaborative process that builds upon the findings, concepts and recommendations in recent state-funded reports to make recommendations to the legislature on reforms to the state’s growth policy framework. The group produced several housing bills moving through the legislature this year.

The process brought groups from different perspectives and political interests together to work on a roadmap for housing reform. BIAW was very active in this process to ensure we had a voice in the final product. The group consisted of: n BIAW n Department of Commerce n Washington Realtors n Washington Association of Water and Sewer Districts n American Planning Association n Department of Ecology n Front and Centered n Washington State Association of Counties n CAFÉ n Association of Washington Cities n Puyallup Tribe of Indians n Futurewise

For years BIAW has been pushing for policies that now finally seem to be making headway. It has been a unique opportunity to partner with groups BIAW hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with on policy issues.

In addition to the groups listed to the left, BIAW has also been working closely on housing legislation with the Association of Washington Business (AWB), Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS), NAIOP (National Association of Investor-Owned Properties), and members of the Washington Construction Industry Council.

This year more than ever partners have been critical to come together to push legislation like:

HB 1026: Replacing unelected design review boards with administrative design reviews by local government employees to break down unnecessary barriers during the design phase of a housing project.

HB 1110/SB 5190: Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing.

HB 1245 /SB 5364: Increasing housing options through lot splitting.

HB 1252 /HB 1468: Impact fee deferrals.

HB 1296/ SB 5290: Concerning consolidating local permit review processes.

HB 1449: Amending reporting requirements for the project permit application processing timeline.

HB 1519: Concerning local project review.

SB 5058: Exempting buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories from the definition of a multi-unit residential building.

SB 5258: Increasing the supply and affordability of condominium units and townhouses as an option for homeownership.

SB 5412: Reducing local governments’ land use permitting workloads.

SB 5473: Permit reporting and permit timeline.

SB 5609: Establishing housing approval requirements to eliminate Washington’s housing shortage.

SB 5466 /HB 1517: Promoting transit-oriented development.

HB 1133/SB 5357: Establishing limitations on detached accessory dwelling units outside urban growth areas.

As always, BIAW continues to fight a host of bills harmful to the housing industry. We want affordable homeownership and more housing for people at every level. We are committed to developing a comprehensive housing policy that includes more affordable homes to purchase or rent and we support the production of new housing at all levels, including single-family homes, the missing middle and condominiums.

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.