Rent Control, Criminal History Bills Dead in Washington

According to the Washington Multifamily Housing Association, proposals that have not yet had a policy committee hearing or vote are considered dead for this legislative session in Olympia. The rent control bill, HB 2779, had a first reading on January 21st and was referred to the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. That committee did not hold a hearing on the bill, so it will not move forward this legislative session. Another bill, Senate Bill 6490, would have prohibited landlords to consider criminal history in tenant screenings. According to WMFHA, this bill is also not going to move forward this legislative session because the committee did not bring it to a vote. Read more.