[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6127433,"mediaKeyId","2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88","parentId",2663350,"title","Committee reviews changes to notice and tracking when manufactured-home parks are sold","audioSeconds",575,"startMs",278305,"endMs",853470,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88&start=278&end=853","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88/thumbnail_278305.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6127433/Washington/Committee-reviews-changes-to-notice-and-tracking-when-manufactured-home-parks-are-sold","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127433-4f264e8081257896e9744662f1463836/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447867&Signature=IPxsV~drH3gqgb-F3E28b8mNcGU8jkk099foPNyUzQwsORR99tMppPzqzl2Dpt95OTDcVMUZud17TqOLMRR9e5SKdSX2vy-0yW44zfqb8SCjnFJeDOPbY~8J-sQjucr9jDP-Z1dv2Z2fgvEsOCfQGbOuZFuGsiy90oN3D6QWqcjoMdD2~YSWOwV2kawnInvXNfN44tqfdD81f46SgWgULJ6pQMOvnfFdY~LkvNi45vpBu5uYaJoCdMS924~GNJMgbOnPOZFODCZD1CKvDpZfA1RbeVtI0tORBhp4gUFlQpbRhIEZQGjcrqvUXatBzq6ISkFw8uBjjnaOtjan272UHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Legislature","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Substitute Bill 5,298, on notice of sale and tenants’ opportunity to compete for manufactured housing communities, was heard by the House Housing Committee on March 17.

Serena Dolly, staff to the committee, summarized current law and the bill. Under existing statute an owner intending to sell a manufactured housing community must provide two notices: a notice of sale and a notice of an opportunity to compete to purchase. Under the substitute bill, the written notice-of-sale requirement is removed and several changes are made to the notice-of-opportunity process. The bill adds the city or county and any housing authority where the community is located to the list of entities that must receive notice. Notices to tenants must be served personally or, if the tenant is absent, by affixing a copy to the home and mailing a copy. Notices to other parties may be delivered electronically. The bill would require the notice to the Department of Commerce to include a list of current tenants with contact information, and would require the owner to provide Commerce with status updates every six months until the property is sold or taken off the market.

Senator Noel Frame, a prime sponsor, framed the bill as a response to the vulnerability of manufactured-home residents, who commonly own their homes but not the land beneath them. \"Our manufactured and mobile park residents are some of our most vulnerable renters in the state,\" Frame said, noting reported purchases by private-equity and other investors that have resulted in steep rent increases for residents. Frame said this bill builds on prior legislation that created the early notice procedure and refines that process based on lessons learned during implementation.

Victoria O'Banion, manager for Cooperative Housing Development at the Northwest Cooperative Development Center (NWCDC), testified in support. She described NWCDC's work helping tenant collectives convert parks to limited-equity cooperatives, and said the bill's requirement for Commerce to host post-notice tracking information would answer a common question: \"Did the community sell?\" She urged committee support, saying tracking would help homeowners, landowners, municipalities and eligible nonprofit organizations compete for acquisitions.

Committee members asked about the scale of the problem and whether data exist on the number of manufactured-home communities and residents affected. Senator Frame said up-to-date, comprehensive data are limited and that increasing data collection is an explicit purpose of the bill: \"Data tracking is quite literally the point of this bill,\" she said.

The committee closed the hearing on SSB 5,298 after the invited testimony and indicated no committee vote was taken that day.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Housing - 3/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Substitute Bill 5,298 would revise notice requirements and add periodic status reporting to the Department of Commerce when owners place manufactured housing communities on the market, and would expand the list of agencies and local governments that must receive notice.","taxTitle","Housing, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20263,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6127431,"Committee hears bill to bar certain lease clauses, including class-action waivers and forced \"valet garbage\" charges",1072,1027590,2099950,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88&start=1027&end=2099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88/thumbnail_1027590.jpg","/articles/6127431/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-bar-certain-lease-clauses-including-class-action-waivers-and-forced-valet-garbage-charges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127431-c474a20441dcc7444a6b192cd29cfaed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447867&Signature=Yh6Dv9u5gRZmROcOHrN8ghEkCOP-RhjlC1z~qj5-omM19rLGQB8fTesEXMfSIKfreSJ6klAfIBuUVZdFuxaMTgnYhb8EPW9PGGsFvo5EgnwX0X17uixdV4it7~hdfQ17CHdX4mbuTGG6jvCfag5aGvS2f1eOqazMrxkW~lEZtTBHUmniqTcCgh6zTfJ~6o~sD94dp0rZirff4bTc-hTBcTTciZEC2ogTHR-lbhaIvA47RlPG-zZni5V4BxlmxEDGQVTmcYbvO8-Q6ACieyPbqlMVOIeKezab42z03nnwTCdoTXWjP1FUJoEcXngxdUK000O41tH5pyE9Erl0X4p~JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee staff briefed the House Housing Committee on Senate Bill 5,313 on March 17. The bill would expand provisions currently prohibited under the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RLTA).

Audrey Vasek, committee staff, described the existing RLTA limits and the proposed additions. Current law already bars clauses that waive tenant rights, require confession of judgment, or broadly limit landlord liability. The bill under consideration would add several new prohibited provisions: waivers of any right to participate in causes of action against a landlord (including class actions); nondisclosure agreements related to the lease or its terms; arbitration clauses that require tenants to arbitrate disputes unless the landlord pays the entire arbitration cost and the agreement is notarized; and clauses that force tenants to buy or subscribe to \"nonessential services\". Vasek explained that nonessential services are third‑party services offered by the landlord at the tenant's cost, excluding utilities and insurance.

Senator Jamie Peterson, sponsor, framed the bill as a response to lease provisions that can take away tenants' bargaining power or access to the courts. Peterson said she was motivated by news reports and constituent stories of tenants who unwittingly waived class-action rights and of renters charged for valet garbage. \"I read a story ... about a woman who ... had, in the fine print of her lease, waived away her right forever to be able to join a class action lawsuit,\" Peterson said. She and stakeholders negotiated changes that would discourage mandatory arbitration by requiring landlord payment of arbitration costs and notarization for arbitration clauses.

Committee members asked detailed implementation questions. Representative Connors asked whether the bill defines nonessential services; Peterson said the bill specifies some essential services (such as utilities) and uses a general definition for nonessential services, and she said she was open to clarifying language. Representative Reed asked about the \"timely fashion\" standard tied to automatic enrollment in services; Peterson said the provision targets health-and-safety uses by landlords and is not intended to impose precise hour-by-hour timing requirements.

Tenant advocates supported the bill but raised concerns about a floor amendment that they say may expand the legal definition of rent and thereby affect eviction standards. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance said tenants almost never can negotiate lease terms and that nondisclosure and forced-service clauses are appearing in some leases. She urged cleanup of the floor amendment language. Emily Rosenzweig, who runs a national campaign opposing valet-garbage practices, testified the amendment may create a loophole that landlords could exploit to force tenants into paid services and asked that the committee prohibit overcharging and limit automatic enrollment practices.

The committee closed the hearing on SB 5,313 after testimony and questions; no vote was taken during the session.","Senate Bill 5,313 would add several tenant-protection provisions to the Residential Landlord Tenant Act, banning lease clauses that waive rights to participate in causes of action, block disclosure of lease terms, or force tenants into third-party \"nonessential\" services without an opt-out.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6127426,"Committee weighs allowing smaller elevators, differing safety standards to expand small-scale multifamily housing",929,933615,4457,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88&start=933&end=4","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88/thumbnail_933615.jpg","/articles/6127426/Washington/Committee-weighs-allowing-smaller-elevators-differing-safety-standards-to-expand-small-scale-multifamily-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127426-f38bb043e71e6601354ef621b9659579/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447867&Signature=cK8nDUdo71QBJwjduigP~QhCEU9JB~wwBVRme9kLXiiAApqLHMEZ6KovECxg-~5EhZLmZJvi77sXM-s293HczbVVU2mqsExgjkZP28-ye3duU-G1AjfnhIa~yenrQBYTLL5KLRMD0sUUjh6JBk3SbnCVmqywxvbW9lr8v-3vVZapeHktr51hkWNZ2DQBYGrLei-yxpp9jW0kkyM3aijQTVAZ-SlxCbc6wqtjdSatmtb9jIgwQyM~Lcz8QwvVJKvTtOG6alYioQ63YyqHaP~ofzn5r4w-ZJI6dOdqtwLEYqMzZZrUEsa1BhKZs8xXhMh5dZxa7eu7JmlMr1~vx2kIcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Housing Committee heard Senate Bill 5,156 on March 17. Committee staff summarized the bill and witnesses presented competing technical and safety perspectives.

Serena Dolly told the committee that the state building code requires elevators to meet certain emergency-access and stretcher-size standards. Under the bill, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) would be required to adopt two new standards: allow passenger and freight elevators to meet either the most current North American (ASME) standards or the current global (ISO) standard; and allow passenger elevators sized no larger than necessary to accommodate a wheelchair in apartment buildings with no more than six stories and 24 units.

Sponsor Senator Solomon said the measure aims to encourage infill and small-scale multifamily housing by making it feasible to install smaller, less costly elevators in single-stair or point-access buildings. \"If you're gonna put an elevator into that single stair, it doesn't have to be ... a third of the width of the building,\" he told the committee, adding that some European countries routinely install smaller elevators in similar buildings.

Proponents argued the existing U.S. elevator market and standards make elevators significantly more expensive than in Western Europe, reducing uptake. Architect Michael Eliason and researcher Steven Smith said permitting smaller elevators and harmonizing standards with global norms could lower costs and increase the number of accessible units. Dan Berdelet of Sightline cited Seattle data showing many small multiunit buildings lack elevators and said allowing smaller elevators could add accessible units.

Unions and industry groups opposed the bill in its current form. Lindsay LaBrasse of International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 19 and Michael Halpin of the international union said the global ISO standard lacks specific safety requirements found in U.S. practice, including features firefighters use during emergencies and requirements for two-way communications. They said mechanics and inspectors in the U.S. are trained to ASME standards, and shifting to ISO would require a large retraining effort. Tom McBride of the National Elevator Industry Association said there is currently no established supply chain of ISO-certified equipment, car sizes required by the bill do not exist in the North American market, and adopting ISO or dual standards could create regulatory confusion and possible safety and accessibility conflicts with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing requirements.

Committee members asked for technical comparisons of elevator car sizes, details about first-responder needs and the status of harmonization work between standards bodies. Several members said they want additional written information from unions and industry about their safety concerns and from proponents about space and cost savings. The committee closed the hearing without recording a vote.","Senate Bill 5,156 would require L&I to allow smaller passenger elevators in certain small apartment buildings and to consider global elevator technical standards alongside North American rules, aiming to reduce elevator costs and expand accessible, small-scale multifamily housing.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6127437,"Committee hears bill to allow limited \"middle housing\" on rural parcels in growth areas",1005,28880,1034640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88&start=28&end=1034","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663350-1acbc80cae43f8e7b837e23625080a88/thumbnail_28880.jpg","/articles/6127437/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-allow-limited-middle-housing-on-rural-parcels-in-growth-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127437-513fd9d7430c4e047b9a7a2e8e0a7df5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447867&Signature=UMIuP979Wd6vkV86pJWx1yMXYy8115HzbwKLHir07N7~VfZZQLVRhl4dd0tdk87-nSM2qCf74fJFU9JD7sb1~0Q81CiqmqbeiIJknx40rDOG5FOLQ0HslvNp3BqJQvEPz1~XfEZpYBvntXTaNL7Au2oYVue~N-MDZrjt-h3p2QGX2Xcbp~45ZL6VfjpfrZKAtXkDpBSBp3d3zh95-2Z06r5r4VxbgS6Z11djhdg07b~MvGV8zncySWAN41PT7cgpnEmCWViXm9ukyYogHVysJ~OI08UxyPQyfZO0F0ipufEmmdZAdzN2kpAvPspL4y35GI2EN0p-OVgle4o7IkSzXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5,471, a measure to allow \"middle housing\" in some rural and growth-area settings, received a public briefing during the March 17 meeting of the Washington State House Housing Committee.

The bill briefing was delivered by Serena Dolly, staff to the committee. Dolly said the bill ties to the Growth Management Act's existing framework for Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMRs) and designated urban growth areas (UGAs). \"Senate Bill 5,471 relates to middle housing in rural areas,\" she said, and explained that middle housing includes duplexes, multiplexes and townhouses that are compatible with single-family homes.

The bill would allow a county to authorize middle housing on any parcel that permits detached single-family residences within UGAs and LAMRs, but limits development to no more than four residential units per parcel. Counties that adopt the authorization could not impose standards for that middle housing that are more restrictive than those required for detached single-family homes, and applicants must follow the same permit and environmental review processes unless state law requires otherwise. Dolly also said that middle housing in a LAMR must be served by sewer service; middle housing in a designated UGA would need water and sewer. The bill text, as explained by staff, would also make actions taken by a county under this authorization not subject to appeal under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) or the Growth Management Act (GMA).

Senator Keith Gaynor, one of the bill's prime sponsors, said the measure \"just creates a housing option\" and is intended to extend housing types commonly allowed inside city limits into nearby growth areas. Gaynor cautioned, however, that the sewer and water requirements will likely limit where the policy can be applied. \"I only bring that to light because I'm concerned that the application of this opportunity is going to be very limited,\" he said, adding that improving access to housing options in rural areas is the bill's aim.

Representatives of housing and county groups who testified expressed general support. Brian Enslow of the Washington State Association said the measure \"strikes a balance\" by requiring public sewer and water while avoiding unnecessary barriers. Bryce Aden of FutureWise said counties have worked through many details and raised only a remaining technical point about stormwater and the definition of existing sewer in LAMRs. Committee staff and proponents said they would work on language to ensure consistency with existing LAMR law.

The committee took the testimony and did not take a vote during the hearing. The chair suspended the public hearing on SB 5,471 to allow further consideration and to reconcile technical language raised by witnesses and sponsors.

The bill briefing and testimony stressed that the measure is narrowly targeted and infrastructure-dependent. No formal action or vote was recorded during the March 17 hearing.","A House housing committee heard Senate Bill 5,471, which would let counties authorize up to four-unit \"middle housing\" on parcels zoned for single-family homes within designated urban growth areas and limited areas of more intensive rural development, subject to sewer and other infrastructure requirements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews changes to notice and tracking when manufactured-home parks are sold

Committee hears bill to bar certain lease clauses, including class-action waivers and forced "valet garbage" charges

Committee weighs allowing smaller elevators, differing safety standards to expand small-scale multifamily housing

Committee hears bill to allow limited "middle housing" on rural parcels in growth areas