Sign in to support more housing and workforce options, fight new taxes
January 15, 2024
It’s time to sign in to support more housing and workforce options, while fighting new taxes that threaten to make housing more expensive for all.
During week 2 of the 2024 legislative session, your external affairs and lobbying team will be hard at work helping lawmakers understand how their votes affect home prices in Washington.
You can help by signing in pro or con on bills listed in our Legislative Action Center.
Supporting more housing and workforce options
Legislators will hear bills allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in more places across the state this week.
At 8 a.m. Tuesday morning in the Senate Committee on Local Government, Land Use and Tribal Affairs, legislators will hear Senate Bill 6029. Sponsored by Senate Republican Leader John Braun, Democratic Sen. Mark Mullet and others from both political parties, SB 6029 requires all counties to allow ADUs as long as they meet specific requirements.
- Sign in to support SB 6029 no later than 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
- Watch the hearing on TVW
Later that day, at 4 p.m., the House Housing Committee will hear House Bill 2126. Sponsored by Rep. Sam Low, a Republican representing Snohomish and Skagit counties, Rep. Strom Peterson, a Democrat from the Edmonds area and others, HB 2126 also breaks down barriers to ADUs in rural counties. Be sure to sign in to support HB 2126 by 3 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.
Also on Tuesday, legislators will hear another bi-partisan bill, HB 2087, to expand access and increase fairness in establishing new apprenticeship opportunities. Sponsored by Republican Rep. Suzanne Schmidt and Democratic Rep. Mari Leavitt streamlines the objection process to discourage frivolous claims. Sign in to support HB2087 by 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning
Fighting new taxes
BIAW and others will also be staving off a number of bad bills that will increase the cost of building and selling homes by expanding labor costs and increasing taxes. Here are a few highlights.
- SB 6136, which establishes a B&O tax on rental properties. Landlords may be exempted if they agree to rent controls. Sign in to oppose SB 6136 by 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 17.
- HB 2276, which modifies the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) and imposes a new Real Estate Transfer Tax. Sign-in opposed to HB 2276 by 12:30 pm on Jan. 18.
- SB 5770, raising the cap on the state portion of Washington’s property taxes. Sign-in opposed to SB 5770 by 3 pm on Jan. 18.
Stay informed and take action
Each week, we review all the bills scheduled for hearings and post our priority bills with links to sign in.
Be sure to text “BIAW” to 50457 to sign up for text message action alerts. Save (360) 215-8655 as BIAW in your contact list.
Join our weekly members-only legislative calls by contacting Managing Director of External Affairs Jan Himebaugh.
Register for 2024 Builder Legislative Action Day and Hammers & Highballs Reception
This year, members must register for the 2024 legislative action day and reception.
Due to logistical challenges this year, if you fail to pre-register, you won’t be able to participate in the legislative action day and you will not be allowed into the legislative reception.