Washington Multifamily Association - Weekly Update for Rental Owners on the State Legislature

Your voice is more important than ever in 2021. This session provides you an easy opportunity to directly participate in the legislative process and lawmaking. From anywhere in the state, you can sign up to testify before the legislature on any piece of legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• Provide your voice in the Senate.
• Provide your voice in the House of Representatives.

We encourage you to provide your opinion on any of the bills before the legislature in 2021.  If you’re interested in testifying, please let me know. I will work with you to prepare your testimony before the committee. 

Also, look out for two calls to action this week to oppose legislation that will be harmful to the rental housing industry. 

The legislative session began Monday, January 11, and ends April 20. The first policy cut-off is Monday, February 15, 2021, when any policy proposal must be voted out of its committee of origin or it is considered dead for the session. 

High Priority Legislation we are Following:

Rental assistance is a critical component of this legislative session. While we await the arrival of federal rental assistance dollars, the state continues to propose investments in state-funded rental assistance. 

• Senate Bill 5156 proposes to provide $100,000,000 from the state savings account to fund additional rental assistance to be used by June 30, 2021. These funds, if approved, would become available to housing providers directly on behalf of rental residents.
  
  
• House Bill 1093 / Senate Bill 5091 proposes more than $65 million in emergency rental assistance to be used by June 30, 2021, and available to rental residents earning less than 80 percent of Area Median Income.
  
  
• House Bill 1094 / Senate Bill 5092 proposes an additional $164 million towards emergency rental assistance beginning July 1, 2021.

Tenant Protections / COVID-19 Recovery:

The House and Senate are both likely to introduce tenant protection bills and some have already been introduced.  

• Senate Bill 5139 implements rent control in Washington after the expiration of the eviction moratorium. It would prohibit any rent increases for the six months following the end eviction moratorium, and would further limit rent increases to three percent plus CPI for an additional six months. We strenuously OPPOSE Senate bill 5139. This proposal is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, January 21, 2021 beginning at 8:00 am.
  
  
• Senate Bill 5160 proposes additional eviction protections that extend permanently beyond and well after the public health emergency ends, including the removal of carefully negotiated eviction protection provisions from 2019. It would drastically limit the ability of housing providers to adequately manage the health and safety of residents within their community. We OPPOSE Senate bill 5139. This proposal is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 beginning at 10:30 am. 
  
  
• House Bill 1228, introduced by Representative Barkis, creates a gradual path towards normality that supports those who are directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides necessary rental assistance to housing providers and tenants. By relying on existing programs and court practices, this Bill would assist everyone needing assistance without creating avenues of abuse of the program. We SUPPORT House Bill 1228. 
  
  
• House Bill 1236 would implement just cause eviction across Washington, and require one of a limited number of reasons to terminate a rental agreement at the end of the tenancy. This bill also permits residents to add occupants to a lease agreement. We OPPOSE House Bill 1236.

Other Proposals affecting Rental Housing: 

• Senate Bill 5096 proposes a 9 percent capital gains tax earned on long-term property or assets wherein the gain exceeds $25,000 per individual ($50,000 per couple) against individuals that reside in Washington.
  
  
• Senate Bill 5039 proposes limiting the Governor’s authority in a state of emergency and requires any action lasting longer than 30 days to have the consent of the House and Senate Democratic and Republican leadership.
  
  
• Senate Bill 5114 proposes safely moving the state to phase two of the Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery plan. This bill is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday at 8:00 AM.