2020 legislative review
application for water-based on opposition from the community , which further negated the need for this bill to be passed . The bill passed out of the Senate but did not advance in the House .
land use
SHB 2343 urban housing supply
Passed / AWB Supported
AWB supported Substitute House Bill 2343 , sponsored by Rep . Joe Fitzgibbon , D-West Seattle , which expands on the housing progress made last session by adding to the list of actions cities are encouraged to take to increase residential building capacity . These actions qualify cities for eligibility for a grant from the Department of Commerce to support planning and outreach . The bill also applies the program to all cities , limits parking requirements based on proximity to transit stops , modifies the definition of permanent supportive housing , and directs the Department of Ecology to adopt a rule removing parking from the SEPA environmental checklist . The bill passed the House by a vote of 92-5 and the Senate by a vote of 35-11 .
ESSB 6574 growth management hearings board
Passed / AWB Supported
AWB supported Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6574 , sponsored by Sen . Dean Takko , D-Longview , which clarifies the respective administrative powers , duties , and responsibilities of the Growth Management Hearings Board ( GMHB ) and the Environmental Land Use and Hearings Office ( ELUHO ). The number of members on GMHB is reduced from seven to five , and administrative duties are the responsibility of the ELUHO . The bill also amends several provisions of the ELUHO regarding member requirements , responsibilities , term length , and appointments . ESSB 6574 passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0 and the House by a vote of 97-0 .
SHB 2673 sepa infill development
Passed / AWB Supported
AWB supported Substitute House Bill 2673 , sponsored by Rep . Andrew Barkis , R-Olympia , which amends exemptions for infill development under the State Environmental Policy Act ( SEPA ). The bill removes planning redundancy by allowing a categorical exemption for government actions on development where current density and intensity of use is roughly equal to or lower than what ’ s required in the comprehensive plan . SHB 2673 passed the House by a vote of 98-0 and the Senate by a vote of 43-4 .
SHB 2950 mfte extension
Passed / AWB Supported
AWB supported Substitute House Bill 2950 , sponsored by Rep . Nicole Macri , D-Seattle , which extends the Multi-Family Tax Exemption ( MFTE ) through 2021 . The MFTE allows cities and counties to exempt the property tax from construction or rehabilitation of residential projects . The exemption lasts for eight years but can be extended to 12 if the property owner rents or sells 20 percent of the units as affordable housing . There are about 2,000 properties that are scheduled to fall out of the program by 2022 . SHB 2950 extends the MFTE on the properties receiving the 12-year exemption through 2021 and directs the Department of Commerce to convene a workgroup to study and make recommendations on the MFTE program . Most stakeholders were looking for a more robust extension but lawmakers could not find agreement , so a temporary compromise was adopted . SHB 2950 passed the House by a vote of 93-4 , and the Senate by a vote of 42-7 .
HB 1590 sales tax / affordable housing
Passed / AWB Opposed
Sponsored by Rep . Beth Doglio , D-Olympia , House Bill 1590 allows cities and counties to impose the sales and use tax limited for housing purposes by councilmanic authority . Cities and counties can implement up to 0.1 percent sales and use tax for housing-related needs . The bill also requires King County to spend at least 30 percent of the revenue within cities that have populations greater than 60,000 people . HB 1590 passed the House by a vote of 52-44 and the Senate by a vote of 27-21 .
2SHB 1938 infrastructure program / affordable housing
Failed / AWB Supported
AWB supported Second Substitute House Bill 1938 , sponsored by Rep . Mike Steele , R-Chelan , which would have created a local infrastructure investment program to support the development of affordable housing , workforce housing , and revitalization efforts . The bill would allow cities and counties to apply for a remittance of 4.37 % of the state sales and use tax on construction of local infrastructure to support the development of affordable housing , workforce housing and revitalization efforts . This program would provide a tool for local governments
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