Olympia Dispatch – Opposite House: Hearings and Bill Updates – Week of March 20, 2023

The second half of the legislative session is in full swing. Bills that are still alive need to be voted out of their respective Policy Committees by March 29th or Fiscal Committees by April 4th.

We are also entering the budget announcement season. The House will likely release their version of a 2024-2025 state budget on March 27th and hold a hearing on the 29th, whereas the Senate will likely release theirs on March 29th and hold a hearing on the 30th. There will be a short window after these hearings to lobby your legislator on the budget line items regarding our priorities while they reconcile the two versions.

In the mean time, all eyes are on one of our key partner bills—SB 5466, Promoting transit-oriented development—which needs your support. We’re working to strengthen housing development near transit. At issue right now is a key provision that removes parking requirements near transit stops. Requiring parking drives up the cost of housing, discourages transit use, and undermines the spirit of the bill.

What’s coming up

SB 5466 – Promoting transit-oriented development (TOD)

As noted above, we are working on strengthening parking provisions that would require approval from the Department of Commerce for parking minimums near transit. We need to beat back opposition that wants more parking near transit. After a public hearing last Friday, the House Housing committee will likely take up the bill in Executive Session next week.

HB 1181 – Improving the state’s response to climate change by updating the state’s planning framework

The bill was referred to Senate Ways & Means last week, and is scheduled for public hearing on March 23rd at 4:00 p.m. 

HB 1110 – Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing

The Senate Committee on Housing is scheduled to take action on the bill in an Executive session on March 22nd at 1:30 PM.