BIAW sees a mixed bag of industry successes, frustrations from WA Legislative Session

TUMWATER — While Washington’s housing crisis continues to linger, the Washington Legislative Session for 2024 session brought mixed results for housing costs in Washington, according to a press release from the Building Industry Association of Washington.

Residential home builders, including BIAW members, spent a lot of time during the session to stop expensive new taxes, environmental policies and labor measures which they felt would add to the cost of housing in Washington, the release said. 

“The cost of new homes in Washington runs more than $200,000 higher than the rest of the nation,” said BIAW Executive Vice President Greg Lane. “Washington still needs to build thousands of new homes to meet the state’s demand. Yet legislators continued to reject opportunities to increase density, expand available land to build or reduce the cost of housing construction.”

Some of that effort was focused on defeating what the BIAW described as an “egregious measure” in the form of House Bill 1589, which allows Puget Sound Energy to pass costs of its decarbonization efforts onto natural gas and electric customers. It also allows that company to stop serving natural gas customers, thus forcing homeowners to convert from natural gas to all-electric homes or homes heated by other means. 

Some of BIAW’s supported bills did pass though. 

Senate Bill 5792 eased condominium development rules to allow construction of developments of a dozen or fewer units to add one story of above or below-ground parking or retail space. 

Additionally, SB 5980 solved a problem wherein builders were frustrated with late notification for Department of Labor and Industries violations, sometimes months after the violation occurred. 

“This bill improves the timeline for issuing safety violation citations so builders can fix potential problems,” the press release said. “This creates safer workplaces and helps eliminate unnecessary fines.” 

Other legislation helping to clarify planning for the state’s Wildlife-Urban Interface code was passed, making associated maps easier to weigh in on at the local level. 

“Finally, builders applauded the passage of SB 6291, a measure streamlining the state building code council operating procedures and creating more certainty,” BIAW announced in the release.

BIAW was also pleased at the defeat of other legislation the press release described as “anti-housing.” 

• A property tax increase proposal (SB 5770)
• Extending unemployment benefits for striking workers (HB 1893)
• Another measure to increase real estate taxes (HB 2276).
• Rent control (HB 2114).

Builder bills left on the table

Several bills (supported) by the building industry failed to pass through the Legislature.These included:

• HB 2035 — Creating more opportunities for 16- and 17-year-olds in training programs to work on job sites.
• HB2087 — Limiting apprenticeship objections to create more opportunities in residential construction.
• HB 2451 — Increasing the consistency and transparency of impact fees.
• SB 6285 — Ensuring the timely and balanced use of impact fees.
• HB 1468 — Modifying the requirements for impact fee deferrals.
• HB 1245 — Increasing housing options through lot splitting.
• HB 2126 — Authorizing accessory dwelling units in rural areas.
• SB 6029 — Authorizing counties planning under the Growth Management Act to allow detached accessory dwelling units outside of urban growth areas.