[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6125118,"mediaKeyId","2678652-1cd1aaf92a7165de0b9ca422a2406010","parentId",2678652,"title","Bill would let utilities use additional funding sources to waive connection charges in large inland counties","audioSeconds",1072,"startMs",1061000,"endMs",2133000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2678652-1cd1aaf92a7165de0b9ca422a2406010&start=1061&end=2133","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2678652-1cd1aaf92a7165de0b9ca422a2406010/thumbnail_1061000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6125118/Washington/Bill-would-let-utilities-use-additional-funding-sources-to-waive-connection-charges-in-large-inland-counties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125118-ba4d079c676a6d237e1dc589e9fb4b55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143318&Signature=FsewPeuOLOAPzR-QAYuWDXzG7Ja75QZHjESVpbhL2lF3x9Gn2FTWfYypjiCAyKhkDtBUS58qKr9TghTqWM6Tleis3w1bwx1E4e2P2hcumMwq2fjEXPkZfddaG81JdrDtXAEZUmaw9HsF5N~XOnExts4c9oXDGtUHnMbs4D1m-X5vtQXtdnq9xyPH7w5Hy4qC76tW3RPXdgQ07yjJPC~XYEBo1~NenNmaJLQYUBFCn~ULeBuYYrhYq4AiGG9e73YEU6ZKEOXn7-AWZbdATmnqVEHdHx2~I0i1iy-Y4QCkLypQEqznYWiurtpvXrvF6Cuv6bzHFbEnw8zKiNs114FrvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Housing","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 5,662, heard March 18 by the House Housing Committee, would allow municipal utilities in counties east of the Cascade crest with populations greater than 500,000 to use additional funding sources to pay for waived utility connection charges for properties developed by certain affordable housing providers, subject to recorded covenants and conditions, speakers said.

Audrey Vaisik, staff to the committee, summarized the bill as a targeted change to existing waiver authority for municipal water and sewer connection charges. Under current law, local waiver programs may be funded only from general funds, grants, or other identified revenue streams; the bill authorizes other funding sources for qualifying counties if the waiver is conditioned on a recorded covenant with price restrictions and household income limits and requires repayment of connection charges if the property is converted to an unauthorized use.

Senator Marcus Richelli, sponsor for the Inland Empire, said the amendment limiting the change to the inland county was added after objections from some utilities; he said the measure was requested by the Spokane Low Income Housing Coalition and intended to help nonprofit developers such as Habitat for Humanity. Dana Leroy, policy and advocacy coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Spokane, told the committee that in Spokane a recent increase in general facilities charges would add about $16,000 per new Habitat home and that the proposed authorization is “crucial and critical legislation” to continue affordable homeownership projects.

Ben Stuckert of the Low Income Housing Consortium explained the legislative background: waiver authority existed, but a 2023 amendment required identification of a funding backfill after cities raised connection fees sharply, which blocked some planned waivers. Stuckert and other witnesses said Spokane’s general facilities charges rose rapidly in 2023—witnesses cited increases described as 500% or larger—and that the waiver authorization would allow local governments and nonprofit developers to craft workable backfill solutions at the local level.

Community Bankers of Washington supported changes to how a newly proposed mortgage fee would be applied in another bill, and emphasized changes in the lending market; Brad Tower noted several state‑chartered banks had recently left residential lending. Committee members asked whether allowing additional funding sources would shift costs to other utility ratepayers; sponsor and witnesses said Spokane’s volume of waived projects is relatively small (about 250 units per year) and the bill was limited geographically to reduce broader impacts. Representative Jacobson asked whether waiving capital buy‑in fees could produce unintended pressure to raise impact fees elsewhere; witnesses said the measure mirrors prior impact‑fee waiver language and that limiting the change to Spokane County would keep overall utility impacts small.

Ending: Supporters characterized the bill as a narrowly targeted tool to preserve affordable housing production in Spokane County after sharp increases in connection and facility charges; opponents did not dominate the hearing record, and committee members asked questions about statewide spillovers and funding mechanics. No committee vote was taken on March 18.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Housing - 3/18/2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 5,662 would permit municipal utilities in counties east of the Cascade crest with populations over 500,000 to use additional funding sources to fund waived connection charges for qualifying affordable housing projects, subject to recorded covenants and restrictions.","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},6125124,"Committee hears bill to expand foreclosure mediation to condo/HOA liens and create $80 mortgage fee",3162,54000,3216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2678652-1cd1aaf92a7165de0b9ca422a2406010&start=54&end=3216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2678652-1cd1aaf92a7165de0b9ca422a2406010/thumbnail_54000.jpg","/articles/6125124/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-expand-foreclosure-mediation-to-condoHOA-liens-and-create-80-mortgage-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125124-0638a8b2e78b8aeadd2d99b0c1bd0c92/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143318&Signature=bTHhKOvaZLnfm1vFGYHc7XoGSYgdAuvy-Fut2a-XBFNUVzviHPod3mLU1aRIugD5dTEzndY93BrwQmymqXsaVh~8dWXytdshMly3YQrDgVAS91PlXK384nhyozeQH1lBu8BTobx8jY5LtYp7puZ-C3yVMTimgLBH3EJPvolSzP27XR0XqdGSTWdnj~s7nlqQ8GpuCGLV5ovo~2z5QM-0MX4x3G7T8fTWBxVn4Vy2zFrjMa4sKhzyUokCgq8eN5BXG134Pe~hC~sgEGJ92p47Yjw~l9SPKtR-MUcKHTTG5FbPrmUnqwHcjvap5sdW0K1lTvwqgq4BV5Ix4H90zypfYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington House Housing Committee on March 18 heard testimony on Senate Bill 5,686, which would expand the state’s foreclosure mediation program to include unit owners in common‑interest communities facing foreclosure on association liens and create a new $80 foreclosure prevention fee on most residential mortgage originations to fund the program. Audrey Vaisik, staff to the committee, described the bill and its funding mechanism during the hearing.

The bill would add unit owners of condominiums and other common‑interest communities to the mediation framework established under the deeds of trust statute and the state’s Foreclosure Fairness Act. The expansion would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, according to committee staff. The proposed $80 fee would be remitted at closing by the escrow or settlement agent; reverse mortgages for borrowers over age 61 would be exempt. The Department of Commerce would report annually on fee remittances, and the bill would require an online common‑interest community resource center.

Supporters told the committee the program provides critical legal and counseling services that help people avoid losing homes and that sustainable funding is needed as federal and other temporary sources wind down. Denise Rodriguez, executive director of the Washington Homeownership Resource Center, said her agency’s statewide foreclosure prevention hotline served 12,000 homeowners in 2024 and warned that without funding from SB 5,686 “we risk losing this critical safety net and stranding about 9,000 homeowners” who would otherwise reach the hotline. Mark Cote, executive director of Parkview Services, said 82% of distressed homeowners who receive housing counseling remain in their homes or sell and realize equity an average of five years later.

Several legal‑aid and consumer‑protection organizations urged passage. Tom McKay, managing attorney of the Northwest Justice Project’s foreclosure prevention unit, said Northwest Justice Project has opened more than 9,300 foreclosure‑related cases since 2010 and estimated the organization has preserved about $138,000,000 in homeowner equity; he said NJP would need the bill’s funding to continue foreclosure prevention work beyond July. Steve Horvath of Homeowners of America United submitted data from the Department of Commerce showing 822 HAF grants to condo and HOA owners over the past three years totaling more than $5,000,000, and said attorney fees and assessments are often a large share of the amounts owed.

Stakeholders also flagged issues still under discussion. Bennett Taylor of the Washington State Chapter of the Community Association Institute (WSCAI) said WSCAI opposes provisions in the most recent draft that would limit associations’ ability to charge delinquent owners for legal fees tied to meet‑and‑confer and mediation; he argued shifting those costs to other owners would be unfair. Raylene Schifano, a volunteer with HOA United who used the program to avoid a sheriff’s sale, recommended defining “reasonable” attorney fees and asked for better reporting to understand causes of HOA sales. Representative Dufeau raised a question about how the fee allocation would affect housing counseling: she noted the draft had reduced the share for housing counseling from 69% to 50% and asked whether that could be increased; Senator Orwell said she had “bumped it up” from an earlier proposal but left it below the original level to fund other needs tied to HOA mediation.

Committee members also discussed where the fee would be collected and who would pay it. Representative Connors asked for clarification that the $80 fee would be charged at origination, so a buyer at closing would pay it; the sponsor and staff confirmed that the new fee is remitted at closing to create funding that is available earlier in the homeowner’s lifecycle. Representative Jacobson asked whether refinance transactions would trigger the fee; staff confirmed the bill includes an exception for reverse mortgages but not a blanket exclusion for refinancings. Representative Kamala suggested an amendment to require clear notice to homebuyers at closing about the program; the sponsor expressed support for an amendment addressing homeowner notice and education.

No committee vote was taken at the March 18 hearing; the bill remained under consideration and multiple stakeholders asked for further refinements on attorney‑fee language, reporting, and outreach plans.

Ending: The hearing record includes a range of stakeholders—including housing counselors, legal‑aid attorneys, consumer‑protection officials, community association representatives, and homeowner advocates—who generally supported the bill’s intent to preserve homes while asking for clarifications on cost allocation and procedural safeguards. The committee suspended the hearing with staff and the sponsor indicating follow‑up work on draft language and possible amendments.","The House Housing Committee heard Senate Bill 5,686 on March 18, 2025, which would expand Washington’s foreclosure mediation program to include association lien foreclosures for common‑interest communities and create an $80 foreclosure prevention fee on most mortgage originations to fund the program.",{"_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},6125113,"Bill would require housing‑gap analysis and factor affordable housing into Public Works Board prioritization",251,3324000,3575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2678652-1cd1aaf92a7165de0b9ca422a2406010&start=3324&end=3575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2678652-1cd1aaf92a7165de0b9ca422a2406010/thumbnail_3324000.jpg","/articles/6125113/Washington/Bill-would-require-housinggap-analysis-and-factor-affordable-housing-into-Public-Works-Board-prioritization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125113-9d13876c25b0272663d6d94b454531cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143318&Signature=DK4BpD0S5xeJzJ5vZy-zvS8LlDW8QhEoDvyqetRq9ebZozTGdW6h3boaG~~hA31rvWDIAP0sDam-wZTnEsmfGQv7aN8lLoQx-IbkvTRa9j2kPQ3PwKqyuzbiyxzYuc04VyF4AOOT15bbh2Ux0ucVCzBPzJx0O1zqLaFfsqU9y2NSoD7G5-JQQ2lZ8xElgrSyW51VWoTvUFdgbgeIMtzAAjei3kSBQPhuIq2KQeLqfWZP3mW7vUctEyMUjQQVQhbOSGildU13G2NqCK3MOBUM-TJlqNk7OlZ1R390VNhJJA4SIvdjRUGZM9LoPPGXeXqkEY78h4PpyeQA8K7jiWk-rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Housing Committee heard Senate Bill 5,587 on March 18, which would require the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington to produce a biennial county‑level analysis of existing housing and estimated needs across income levels, and would direct the Public Works Board to consider whether Public Works Assistance Account projects encourage infill or otherwise increase affordable housing when prioritizing funding for counties with a documented gap.

Serena Dolly, committee staff, summarized the bill and its data requirements for the committee. Patrick Quinton, director of economic prosperity and housing for the City of Vancouver, testified in support and told the committee Vancouver is among the most severely cost‑burdened communities in the state. He said the bill would fill a data gap by tracking production by income band and create accountability that helps prioritize infrastructure investments.

The bill would add published analytical information to the Public Works Board’s considerations when prioritizing loans and grants from the Public Works Assistance Account, including measures such as project readiness, sustainability, and ability to meet state policy objectives. No formal votes were taken in the March 18 hearing; proponents said the measure would provide planners and policymakers with better information to align infrastructure investments with affordable housing goals.

Ending: Witnesses urged the committee to advance the bill to provide consistent, comparable housing‑need data to inform local and state infrastructure prioritization.","Senate Bill 5,587 would require the Washington Center for Real Estate Research to prepare a biennial county‑level analysis of existing housing and estimated need by income band and direct the Public Works Board to consider whether projects encourage infill or increase affordable housing in counties with identified gaps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would let utilities use additional funding sources to waive connection charges in large inland counties

Committee hears bill to expand foreclosure mediation to condo/HOA liens and create $80 mortgage fee

Bill would require housing‑gap analysis and factor affordable housing into Public Works Board prioritization