2022 T
The Legislative Session Wrap-up By Hilary Bublitz, CMCA, AMS and Krystelle Purkey, WSCAI Lobbyist
his year’s Legislative Session opened on January 10 and closed on March 10. In total, the Legislature
considered 2,838 bills in the short, 60-day session. With the ever-increasing rate of homelessness and rising home prices, housing continues to be one of the largest policy discussions in Olympia. Lawmakers introduced over 100 bills that touched on the housing industry this year. The most contentious concept that came out of the housing space this session revolved around rezoning to increase multi-family housing and whether the state or local governments should lead these efforts.
Bills That Were Passed Into Law
Of the 309 bills that passed this session, the Legislative Action Committee (LAC) highlights the following: SB 5693 – Supplemental Budget Appropriations. Provides funding for a study to review all community association covenants to determine how many prohibit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and how that impacts the overall housing supply in Washington.
HB 1793 – Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Common Interest Communities. Prohibits an association from placing unreasonable restrictions on the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) within the boundaries of an owner’s unit or in a designated parking space. Requires the homeowner requesting the
SB 5758 – Condominium Conversions. Requires the Housing Finance Commission to implement a condominium conversion tenant-to-homeowner program. Requires the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to conduct a study on condominium conversions and to add a condominium representative to the Board.
Bills That Did Not Pass This Year
The LAC also worked on several bills that did not pass this year, but we feel these issues will return in 2023. The top two bills in this category are: HB 1660 / SB 5648 – Accessory Dwelling Units. Requires those cities and counties fully planning under
the Growth Management Act (GMA) to allow for the construction of ADUs within urban growth areas (UGAs) and prohibits cities and counties from imposing certain ADU regulations. Prohibits community associations from creating new rules and regulations restricting ADUs.
HB 1782 / SB 5760 – Creating Additional Middle Housing Near Transit and in Areas Traditionally Dedicated to Single-Family Detached Housing. Any city with a population of 20,000 or more that plans under GMA must authorize the development of all middle housing types on all lots over 4,500 sq ft zoned for detached single-family residential use and within 0.5 miles of a major transit stop, based on walking distance. These cities must also allow for the development of all other lots over 4,500 sq ft zoned for single-family population between 10,000 and 20,000 must authorize sq feet zoned for detached single-family residential use that do not have an ADU on the lot. This bill precluded community associations from creating new declarations and governing documents of a community association within a city subject to middle housing and density requirements from prohibiting such middle housing and density requirements.
Lawmakers introduced over one hundred bills that touched on the housing industry this year.
How to Stay Informed
The best place to get information about all Washington State bills is the Washington State Legislature website:
apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo. The LAC encourages all residents to stay informed about the legislative process and be engaged by signing up for WSCAI LAC’s calls-to- action:
votervoice.net/CAI/home.
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