NAIOPWA Legislative Session Report - Week 8
Krystelle Purkey and Riley Benge, State Lobbyists
Things are moving quickly in Olympia. Monday marked the Opposite House of Origin Fiscal Cutoff, and today is the Opposite House of Origin Policy Cutoff, meaning bills must advance out of policy committees in the opposite chamber to remain alive this session.
Several bills of note have already passed out of their opposite chambers, including:- SB 6026 – Commercial to Residential Conversions: Expands opportunities for commercial-to-residential and mixed-use zoning conversions, helping activate underutilized commercial spaces and increase housing supply.
- HB 2664 – Certified Mail Notice Fix: Provides a technical fix to certified mail requirements for service of certain housing notices, improving administrative clarity and workability.
- HB 2418 – Permit Review Processes: Addresses local permit review timelines and processes to improve predictability and efficiency in development approvals.
- HB 1859 – Housing Development on Religious Organization Property: Expands opportunities for housing development on property owned by religious organizations, supporting additional housing capacity.
- SB 5156 – Elevators in Smaller Apartment Buildings: Updates building requirements to allow greater flexibility for elevators in smaller apartment buildings, helping reduce development costs while maintaining accessibility.
- HB 2304 – Condominium Warranties: Modifies condominium warranty provisions, with the goal of reducing liability barriers that have contributed to limited condominium development.
- SB 6347 - Estate Tax Reform: Undoing certain changes to the estate tax.
Revenue Update
To illustrate how quickly things are moving in Olympia, since this update was originally drafted the Governor announced he will sign the latest striker amendment to SB 6346 introduced by House Finance Chair Rep. April Berg, which was released Friday morning. The updated version of the bill, made public by House Democrats, specifies that a portion of the approximately $4 billion annually the tax is projected to generate would be used to fund free school breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students statewide. The proposal would impose a 9.9% tax on certain individual earnings, impacting an estimated 30,000 taxpayers, with collections beginning in 2028. The tax would not apply to home values or retirement savings. The revised bill also dedicates 5% of the tax proceeds to an account supporting childcare and early learning programs.
Share Your Experience with Housing in Washington to Inform Potential State Department of Housing
Washington State Department of Commerce has released a Department of Housing Task Force Survey to help inform the Department of Housing Task Force report, which will provide recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on how to structure a new Department of Housing. The Department will serve as the state's coordinating and problem-solving hub to ensure adequate housing supply and housing stability for everyone in Washington.
Survey will take about 15 minutes and is open to anyone who is interested. Survey will not collect names or personally identifying information. The Survey closes April 26.
Click here to complete the Department of Housing Task Force Survey.
In December 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed executive order 25-12 creating the Department of Housing Task Force, which includes NAIOPWA Board Member, Carl Shorett (Senior Director of Development at AvalonBay Communities). The Task Force's final report is due November 15, 2026 and will be submitted to the Governor and the Washington State Legislature for consideration. For more information on this effort, visit the Department of Housing Task Force webpage.
To submit feedback on behalf of an organization, email [email protected]. Submissions are public record and may be subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act.
Refrigerant Management Program (RMP) – Registration Due March 15
If you’re a building owner or operator with systems that meet the RMP thresholds, you should have received information from the Washington State Department of Ecology. The Refrigerant Management Program applies to facilities with refrigeration or air conditioning systems containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant with a GWP of 150 or higher. Covered facilities are required to conduct and report periodic leak inspections, promptly repair leaks, maintain onsite service records, and follow service practices that minimize refrigerant emissions.
Ecology has been actively reaching out to assist building owners and property managers to help ensure everyone has the support needed to comply. If you have not yet registered, please do so by March 15. For more information, FAQs and how to register, click HERE.
For questions about whether your systems are covered or what compliance looks like, please reach out to Leonard Machut at [email protected].