[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6345237,"mediaKeyId","2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be","parentId",2249466,"title","Senate bill 5587 would require county housing-gap reporting and limit local permit denials for affordable projects","audioSeconds",1433,"startMs",331620,"endMs",1765430,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be&start=331&end=1765","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be/thumbnail_331620.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345237/Washington/Senate-bill-5587-would-require-county-housing-gap-reporting-and-limit-local-permit-denials-for-affordable-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345237-4ec0f11417c9783af2bee162866781d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911571&Signature=SuOH4w7uWLUdAyJ8Z314u04YuNoFSI90Lv7aTXKmbXEftdnSW8kVsdAuIaXrU5ezDaMT5GY252owN1D8cHjSTkf2X7MQ81p2sXXo4TTEG4C4dHajeTlv2L24XLT7qm0Nd-mDfj5rz-cArGnYg1fVisv7L8szCRBcDMTASRMYaUx8aYvHkjXiinKfcantbnsXlIlmRAUv2BgqaPi3j6e0vuUKmEpCKa-g9BisQNra8U7Tdgc-vkWQ7X3tMGZStfynjbUbN6kLVnmtRAz4SgSl7nBKfqLvwZFl8A7jgZSO7KYugiqnxlAmNBWY45UQhtWlXBweqYjCq9S2t6BITfYecw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Housing","date","2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 5587, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, would expand state housing reporting and impose constraints aimed at speeding and protecting affordable housing development in counties identified as having gaps between existing housing units and estimated needs.

At a Feb. 7 public hearing before the Washington State Senate Housing Committee, committee staff summarized the bill’s core elements: the Washington Center for Real Estate Research would be required to include in its biennial report an analysis, by county and income band, of estimated existing units versus housing needs; the report would also assess progress on emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing capacity. Where a county’s gap has not decreased from the prior year, the bill would prevent a county or any city within it from denying an affordable housing development — or imposing conditions with a substantial adverse impact on viability or affordability — except in narrowly enumerated circumstances. The bill would also require local jurisdictions to prioritize permits for qualifying affordable housing projects and add “encourages infill development” as a Public Works Board prioritization factor.

Sen. Annette Cleveland, prime sponsor, framed the bill as a transparency and accountability measure: \"you don't change what you don't measure,\" she told the committee, saying the bill aims to track meaningful data so state and local efforts can be judged against outcomes. The staff fiscal note had been requested but was not yet available at the hearing.

A broad pro panel — including Washington Realtors, the city of Vancouver’s housing director, community advocates, county leaders and representatives of development interests — endorsed the bill’s goals of better data and increased housing production. Testimony in support noted the need to measure production by income band and to use the data to target resources. Clark County Democrats’ Donna Sinclair described the lack of current annual measurement of the affordable housing gap and urged the committee to act, recounting personal experience as a single parent whose small home provided long-term security.

The Washington State Association of Counties expressed support for many bill elements but raised concerns about section 2. County representatives told the committee counties lack authority over private developers and city zoning decisions, and flagged practical difficulties in matching proposed density and occupancy to neighborhood locations and in long-term affordability auditing of private projects. They recommended using Department of Commerce processes for compliance monitoring or adding clarifications in the bill.

Several builders and planning stakeholders testified that more consistent, statewide data and clear expectations would help direct local efforts. After a lengthy public record — the vice chair reported 280 pro sign-ins, 54 con, 6 other — the committee closed the hearing and later moved to executive actions on a separate set of bills.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Housing - 2/7/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 5587 would require biennial county-level analysis of estimated housing units and needs by income level and would constrain local denials or conditioning of affordable housing developments where county gaps persist.","taxTitle","Housing, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20505,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345239,"Committee confirms Michonne Preston as gubernatorial appointee to Housing Finance Commission",319,11840,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be&start=11&end=331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be/thumbnail_11840.jpg","/articles/6345239/Washington/Committee-confirms-Michonne-Preston-as-gubernatorial-appointee-to-Housing-Finance-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345239-ac322dfa036a4e74480e3a25f73fae40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911571&Signature=bVWK4TNSTCLlbbU75J4sBFZOuig5Bs3JJ8J6hqmdSyA2ePDxKfL4Up2fpPBkSiXXjDqId7WTBdmh2BzP~-WpqUdeSOMBeFmhPrso0lJNUi5t02h3loYn02esQt3c-TSvXWL1-8zWM40Y3TDb2CAMZVdK3tDSmYBtLUk1RGaofJGFMXesORBDYnkFup4FYzuujH9VD7SM5tHdYzYBZd5v4rN7pDb0K11VfZNm4ZF8A-jIjxtEgrnRtWjFfZAPqc4Nb9W0IsgRyj0~LpmNHGYqIj3dtNS4ffdtN4lid88VAcnEwtCG7BNQQCK30lb0yZ~PZ32hW5voi6yrGr8fvVUz2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Michonne Preston, CEO of Habitat Washington State, was introduced and sworn in remotely before the Washington State Senate Housing Committee on Feb. 7 during consideration of a gubernatorial appointment to the Housing Finance Commission.

Committee members pressed Preston for a brief statement about her interest and background. Preston told the committee she has spent 30 years with Habitat affiliates, including in Spokane, and that the commission \"has been a fuel beneath our fire to build housing for families in need.\" She described the commission as a primary bond-financing entity for affordable housing in Washington and cited programs ranging from homeownership supports to a \"first time farmer\" program.

The committee framed the appointment as adding an east-of-the-mountains voice to the commission. Ranking Member Gaynor thanked Preston for her willingness to serve and noted his appreciation for farmers; Preston confirmed she is a long-term wheat farmer and cattle rancher based in Spokane.

Committee members said they expect Preston’s experience with Habitat and affordable housing financing to be directly relevant to the commission’s work. The committee did not record any formal roll-call vote on the appointment in the transcript excerpt; the exchange served as the public gubernatorial appointment hearing portion of the meeting.

Preston’s testimony occurred during the committee’s opening minutes, before the legislative public hearings on bills scheduled for the day. The committee adjourned the appointment portion and moved to public hearings on multiple bills.","The Senate Housing Committee heard the nomination of Michonne Preston, CEO of Habitat Washington State, for the Housing Finance Commission and took testimony about her housing experience and ties to eastern Washington.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345223,"Bill to require clear, objective residential development standards advances amid debate on local flexibility",970,4437050,5407910,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be&start=4437&end=5407","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be/thumbnail_4437050.jpg","/articles/6345223/Washington/Bill-to-require-clear-objective-residential-development-standards-advances-amid-debate-on-local-flexibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345223-55772923e4948c7af65537957d86aebc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911571&Signature=Zh3p4UQkrwql6-4w7F8TaVAPu7Q8d9n3hDfu6ASqm49NFFIrJEhLPiO6qwLO2P3lS4GCUVuLNPTfmYL8cDcuftBHUkornWaAjgc7mSc1OkuCljT4BjrTMvPkO-mSB~VcEAQrtoEF9FEJozsWsv8xk-sWR1K0WHrpyIqSRVnC6PwechBPaj10h~RhcFvtQjEP8x-bk-z7MuM2RPCEmIoRTuYetikVN27SJh41PNqg0UHk7mGHZ0FuidkC-UeryAHRbeE~TSHmRup~kCljVhofgTuLfS0iiqGS2GQDi22s2ldDU70IKYbQcdGDxJz2PFYdzvzxmMf3T38mLTA2npvU3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5613 would direct the Department of Commerce to convene a stakeholder group and adopt by rule a model code of clear-and-objective standards, conditions and procedures for residential development. Under certain conditions the bill would allow cities and counties under the Growth Management Act (GMA) to adopt and apply only clear-and-objective rules for residential development; the bill also sets definitions and a process for the Growth Management Hearings Board to review compliance.

Proponents including home builders, Master Builders, and several land-use attorneys said clearer, objective standards reduce subjective, multi-round reviews and lower time and cost to build housing. \"Regulatory clarity and consistency should be the standard,\" attorney Dean Williams told the committee, adding that vague provisions such as \"to the greatest extent possible\" lead to multiple rounds of review and delays. Sightline Institute and other witnesses said a statewide model would provide predictability for builders, local government staff, and neighbors.

County associations and planning directors supported the goal of predictability but raised concerns that a model adopted as a rule could produce a one-size-fits-all approach that would not accommodate local circumstances. The Washington State Association of Counties noted the bill’s requirement that Commerce adopt the model by rule could reduce local flexibility; county planning directors said they needed more time to analyze possible local impacts. Sponsor Senator Solomon said the bill intentionally creates a stakeholder process and a model safe harbor so that courts and localities do not develop the doctrine piecemeal through litigation.

The committee received many pro testimonies (vice chair reported 50 signed pro, 19 con, 1 other) and several builders and attorneys recounted multi-year, multi-round reviews of single-family projects as evidence for the need for clearer rules. Sponsor Senator Solomon emphasized he sought to avoid Oregon-style litigation outcomes by using a stakeholder-developed model code as a predictable safe harbor for jurisdictions that adopt it.","Senate Bill 5613 would have the Department of Commerce develop model clear-and-objective standards and allow cities/counties to adopt only clear-and-objective requirements for residential development under certain conditions; supporters argued it would reduce delay while counties and planning groups warned about one-size-fits-all rulemaking.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345228,"Senate Bill 5591 would let cities/counties create sales-tax remittance program to support affordable housing; broad support from providers",1321,3113830,4434880,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be&start=3113&end=4434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be/thumbnail_3113830.jpg","/articles/6345228/Washington/Senate-Bill-5591-would-let-citiescounties-create-sales-tax-remittance-program-to-support-affordable-housing-broad-support-from-providers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345228-bb5490bb36bd921d0c47abab52cd9e26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911571&Signature=DlzcYj7Gj6iiaNbrlZoTAknA2IcBixeq1NJeBr34vYJ8h04e6qsBw~fmeCdmXCRRSAsQinqBvbkm11xjzjFgEYstdzE7SQ93qkJcVoiH1mmyPYzECwl1N1J1X3LK6q9lZn7Pd52fDlaBH~iSnTG~NzfffoblcV024dvHbEJAS5g8xXqZiylwi1q7cbOq7WFiUct0kj4fPsXYlHx-rO4gOqYz~gLDKsT~6guPQjGxeMhvA96gOslK48TvAIsBqMhNH5hTUlTny2mSM~d~ls~4ejsVz6kJvnY2K1uj13DQuQxubE3MKij2Zv2oc81X-JOfYERRfiKKf35ncS4JVkBStg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5591 would authorize a city or county to establish a sales-and-use tax remittance program to support eligible affordable housing development. Under the bill, an eligible organization (including nonprofit and for-profit developers, public housing authorities, or entities designated under Housing Finance Commission rules) could receive 50% of the sales and use tax imposed by the participating local jurisdiction, subject to qualifying project requirements (including commitments that at least 50% of units be rent- or sale-restricted to low-income households for at least 40 years). The remaining 50% of state sales tax affected by the remittance would be distributed back to the participating jurisdiction to be used for affordable housing acquisition, construction, operations, or behavioral health supports tied to housing.

Committee staff summarized the program’s mechanics, documentation requirements, and fiscal estimates: the Department of Revenue estimated administration costs of about $1 million and the bill’s revenue impact included a projected $7 million decrease in state revenues beginning in the 2027–29 biennium. The Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC) would be required to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and recommend repeal if the program did not increase the number of households housed by Dec. 31, 2033.

The bill drew broad support from counties, cities, housing authorities, Habitat affiliates and nonprofit developers, and the governor’s office. Proponents said the remittance would reduce construction costs for affordable projects, help mix funding streams, and provide jurisdictions with a steady local resource to pursue more projects. Developers, including Habitat affiliates, reported high sales-tax burdens per unit (testimony cited $34,000–$44,000 in sales tax per home for one Habitat affiliate) and said recovering a share of those costs would materially advance projects.

Supporters included the Washington State Association of Counties, Association of Washington Cities, governor’s housing advisor, multiple Habitat affiliates, local housing authorities, and nonprofit developers. Testimony emphasized the bill’s opt-in structure, ability to be stacked with other incentives (such as multifamily tax exemptions), and the potential to accelerate projects currently stalled for lack of financing. At the close of public testimony the vice chair reported 42 pro sign-ins, three con, and two other.","Senate Bill 5591 would permit local opt-in sales-and-use tax remittance programs where half of the local sales tax remitted on qualifying projects would reimburse eligible developers and half would stay with the jurisdiction for affordable housing uses; affordable-housing developers and local governments broadly supported the concept.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345232,"Bill to create corporate homeowner registry draws mixed testimony; implementation costs flagged",1343,1776500,3119710,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be&start=1776&end=3119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249466-0e880edf9ce3d3bf9f22c4aa955ba1be/thumbnail_1776500.jpg","/articles/6345232/Washington/Bill-to-create-corporate-homeowner-registry-draws-mixed-testimony-implementation-costs-flagged","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345232-42faec795b4f9ea17cd751a0201d621d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770911571&Signature=IENkGnQlDlZPvXRAyTaLjdxIKMgtjXxv58bekZMqluA7lIL3~ITJlVo62lHjjOgwd20stX9LEXaYwp99sCRCkM93GTo8F-dd7fhLBuPwxDSbmM7SGKtHg5UjXkxh5Eo~X75gEhUOPBotoh2p9MFI8g7tY4gY3MGfkvYWYuZez1vTGl4jBpjdYbkLZ9mO4kL7dnTruvPvjqDiKcz43nyCrfmMhT-rV4ENEp1vzc4tnJTya9infwLnimS0uTukREQ-GHU71-U63BvwjR12M3DhKdhNSASIj09uzBCn5Jqhzm7fpWUijZv-hP2QJ12WSRo8A5eoMW20e5~C~AtrJnxM-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5580 would create a corporate homeowner registration program in the Office of the Secretary of State, requiring entities that own 20 or more single-family homes or condominium units to register and report ownership and contact details. The bill also sets up a Corporate Homeowner Transparency Account to fund administration and allows the Secretary of State to set a registration fee by rule.

Sponsor testimony (Senator Orwall) said the measure seeks \"adding transparency and gathering information around corporate ownership of single family homes\" and framed the policy as a way to protect homeownership opportunities and understand investment impacts. The sponsor cited research showing corporate buyers accounted for a rising share of purchases in recent years and said the bill’s 20-unit threshold could be adjusted in stakeholdering.

Witnesses supporting the bill included condo and HOA advocates who linked registration to foreclosure prevention and community protection, and national researchers who described structural challenges in tracking private-equity ownership through LLCs and shell companies. Jordan Ash of the Fair Housing Equity Stakeholder Project urged the registry, describing how private equity owners often use many LLCs, which can obscure patterns of conduct and complicate enforcement.

Opponents included the Building Industry Association of Washington and Washington Realtors, which said the registry alone might not prevent investor activity they characterize as creating \"artificial scarcity\" and preferred approaches that directly limit purchases by large investors. The Office of the Secretary of State signed in as \"other\" and warned that the bill would create a new book of business requiring substantial systems work; the office estimated approximately $2.2 million per year in system modernization costs over two years to implement the registry, and said it has no independent enforcement authority to compel registration beyond annual renewal notices.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether existing research centers could fulfill components of this work and about intended uses of the registry. The vice chair reported five pro, 19 con, and two other sign-ins for the bill’s hearing.","Senate Bill 5580 would require entities owning 20+ single-family or condominium units in Washington to register with the Secretary of State; supporters said the registry improves transparency, while opponents and the Secretary of State warned of implementation costs and limited enforcement authority.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate bill 5587 would require county housing-gap reporting and limit local permit denials for affordable projects

Committee confirms Michonne Preston as gubernatorial appointee to Housing Finance Commission

Bill to require clear, objective residential development standards advances amid debate on local flexibility

Senate Bill 5591 would let cities/counties create sales-tax remittance program to support affordable housing; broad support from providers

Bill to create corporate homeowner registry draws mixed testimony; implementation costs flagged