| Environment For the last 32 years, the state has operated under the guidance of the Growth Management Act (GMA). This Act was intended to preserve valuable rural and resource lands and open space and direct most development into urban areas. Its requirements include planning for land use, housing, transportation and more. With the emergence of the climate change and housing crises, modifications to the GMA are being proposed to strengthen the state’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience and mitigation and provide adequate housing for the entire population. Issue Team Chair: Cynthia Stewart, cstewart@lwvwa.org |
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Overview One significant proposal for 2023 will be to enact a new climate change element in the GMA. This was intended for passage in 2022 but was deferred. Another proposal is to enhance environmental justice principles in the GMA. A set of proposals to address housing needs are also anticipated.
League priority bills are in bold below.
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| House Bills | House | Senate | After Passage | |||||||||
| Bill # | Bill Name (Brief Title) | League Position | Take Action | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | Passed Legislature | On Governor's Desk | Signed |
| HB 1110 | Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing | Supports |
x |
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| HB 1167 | Relating to residential housing regulations | Supports |
x |
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| HB 1181 | Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework. | Supports |
x |
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| HB 1133 | Establishing limitations on detached accessory dwelling units outside urban growth areas. | Watch |
x |
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| HB 1245 | Increasing housing options through lot splitting | Supports |
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| HB 1351 | Encouraging transit-oriented development through a prohibition on the imposition of minimum parking requirements | Supports |
| x |
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These weekly updates will provide you with a "deep dive" into the progress of each bill, along with more analysis of the potential impact of the bill if it should pass.
- Weekly Report 1.15.23— Read More
- Weekly Report 1.22.23— Read Here
SB 5190 Companion bill to HB 1110 below.
SB 5203 Companion bill to HB 1181 below.
SB 5235 Relating to accessory dwelling units, amends the Growth Management Act (GMA) to require cities and counties to allow for the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) within urban growth areas (UGAs), and prohibit such cities and counties from imposing certain ADU regulations.
SB 5357 Establishing limitations on detached accessory dwelling units outside urban growth areas.
SB 5364 Increasing housing options through lot splitting, would amend the GMA to prohibit, within a residential zone that allows for the development of detached single-family residences, the splitting of a single residential lot into two residential lots under certain conditions.
SB 5412 Reducing local governments' land use permitting workloads, by ensuring objective and timely design review 3 for housing and other land use proposals.
SB 5466 Promoting transit-oriented development, amends the GMA in order to relate land use policies and practices to keep pace with progress being implemented in transportation infrastructure development and new investments in transit. Establishes a grant program to assist cities with development of affordable housing units in conjunction with transit service.
HB 1110 Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. Modifies the Growth Management Act to authorize minimum development densities in residential zones.
HB 1167 Relating to residential housing regulations, establishes a grant program to assist counties and cities adopt preapproved middle housing plans and prohibits a city or county from imposing any regulations, reviews, or standards on multiplex housing that is not applied to detached single family residences.
HB 1181 Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework. This bill substantially changes the GMA and comprehensive planning process by adding a new section to the GMA related to climate change and resiliency and adds a climate change and resiliency element to the list of elements that must be included within the local comprehensive plans.
HB 1133 Establishing limitations on detached accessory dwelling units outside urban growth areas.
HB 1245 Increasing housing options through lot splitting, would amend the GMA
HB 1351 Encouraging transit-oriented development through a prohibition on the imposition of minimum parking requirements.
How To Be Involved
To be involved in support of the League’s work on growth management issues , you can:
- Respond to Action Alerts in the legislative newsletter. These will primarily appear in the section of the newsletter related to growth management.
- Contact Cynthia Stewart, cstewart@lwvwa.org., to receive additional information.