• Week 10: 3/20/2022 
• Week 9: 3/6/2022 
• Week 8: 2/27/2022 
• Week 7: 2/20/2022 
• Week 6: 2/13/2022 
• Week 5: 2/6/2022 
• Week 4: 1/30/2022 
  
• Week 3: 1/23/22 
  
• Week 2: 1/16/2022 
  
• Week 1: 1/9/2022—No report this week

Bill Descriptions

HB 1117  Adds salmon recovery as a goal in GMA and mandates that the land use elements of comp plans contain strategies to achieve net ecological gain of salmon habitat as well as requires the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to adopt criteria for net ecological gain.  Also requires a schedule for elimination of all fish passage barriers.

HB 1660 Concerning accessory dwelling units, requires incorporation of ADUs and restricts local jurisdictions from requiring owner occupancy in the primary residence unless the ADU is offered for short-term rental.

SB 5428 Exempts permits for temporary shelters or transitional encampments from SEPA requirements.

Bills the League Supports That HAVE Passed

HB 1099  Adds climate change mitigation as a GMA goal and mandates a climate mitigation section in comprehensive plans. Also requires the Dept. of Commerce to provide guidelines for local jurisdictions’ actions related to greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

HB 1241  Amends the GMA to increase the timeline for comp plan updates from 8 years to 10 years; requires progress reports every five years; requires consultation with tribes in plan updates and directs the Department of Commerce to resolve disputes between tribes and jurisdictions.

HB 1717  Authorizes a federally recognized Indian tribe to choose to participate in the local planning process under GMA and sets forth expectations for agreement between the tribe and jurisdiction about how that participation will be done. Also requires jurisdictions to collaborate with adjacent tribes when container port elements are addressed.

HB 1769 Concerning community municipal corporations, would remove the provisions in state law that allow community councils formed prior to an annexation to veto city land use actions post-annexation.  There are currently two such community councils.

SB 5042 Sets an effective date for actions relating to urban growth areas; agricultural, forest, or mineral resource lands; limited areas of more intensive rural development; new fully contained communities; or master-planned resorts. Closes loopholes related to vesting of development in rural areas.

SB 5593 Requires comprehensive plans to include reviews of patterns of development and allows adjustment but not enlargement of urban growth areas if necessary to accommodate those patterns.

Bills the League Supports That Did Not Pass

HB 1157  Authorizes counties and cities to establish a real estate excise tax density incentive zone within urban growth areas and provides for the distribution of state real estate excise tax revenues within such incentive zones.

HB 1337 Concerning accessory dwelling units, establishes an incentive account to financially support city and county processes to adopt ADU provisions.  The details of what qualifies a jurisdiction for this support, including no off-street parking requirements, no impact fees for ADUs, and more, are helpful in guiding local jurisdictions.

HB 1627 Making it possible for more properties to have access to water, storm drains, and sanitary sewage systems. This bill would allow extension of urban levels of service into the rural areas.

HB 1711 Concerning accessory dwelling units, authorizes cities and counties to enact methods of encouraging ADU development, including incentives for property owners

HB 1714  Defers payment of impact fees for new development until final inspection or occupancy has been certified.

HB 1856 Adding counties to the voluntary stewardship program, would  reopen the opportunity for counties to participate in the Voluntary Stewardship Program and develop local work plans that use voluntary and incentive-based tools, as an alternative to regulation, to protect critical areas and agricultural lands.

HB 2066 Concerning exemptions for infill development under the state environmental policy act.  If passed, this bill would require cities planning under GMA to consider how to maximize the use of the infill development categorical exemption under the State Environmental Policy Act and provide that a SEPA infill development categorical exemption adopted by a city or county must provide a means for collaboration and coordination with any federally recognized tribe or tribes whose ceded lands, usual and accustomed areas, or areas protected by executive order or federal statute are affected by the infill development.

SB 5312 Authorizes grants from the Department of Commerce to cities for planning-related costs associated with transit-oriented development and changes the date to April 2025 by which actions related to increasing housing supply must be taken, for eligibility for the grants.

SB 5390 Amends the elements of a comprehensive plan to ensure consideration of multifamily housing units and housing targets and creates real estate excise tax density incentive zones in areas of build-able lands within urban growth areas.

SB 5670 Creating additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. Creates additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single- family detached housing, would amend the Growth Management Act to require cities over a certain size to include middle housing, such as courtyard apartments and townhouses, in single family neighborhoods; with technical assistance from the Department of Commerce

How To Be Involved

• Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have climate teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
• You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under considerations as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Cynthia Stewart, Growth Management Issue Chair, cstewart@lwvwa.org.