Good News for Washington Landlords Ahead of Legislative Session's End

Legislative bills being watched by housing providers included several that are no longer under consideration. They include the following. 

BILLS SUPPORTED THAT PASSED

HB 1732 Delayed the State of Washington's Long-Term Care Act to January 1, 2023 - Passed and signed by the Governor.

BILLS OPPOSED BY HOUSING PROVIDERS THAT DIED IN COMMITTEE:

HB 2017 Would have banned screening for criminal records and penalized landlords $7,500 for each person denied a prospective tenancy for a criminal conviction.

HB 2023 Would have allowed tenants to sue based on the Consumer Protection Act for violations of the residential landlord-tenant act, mobile-home landlord-tenant act, and other laws and agreements. Allowed triple damages and attorneys for prevailing tenants.

SB 5139  Would have established rent control by prohibiting a housing provider from increasing rent or other charges for six months after the end of the Governor's emergency eviction ban and limited increases to 3% over CPI for the following six months. 

BILLS SUPPORTED BY HOUSING PROVIDERS THAT DIED IN COMMITTEE

HB 2105 Would have allowed notices to be served electronically rather than posted if the renter voluntarily agreed. The bill died in committee. 

HB 1035 Would have authorized cities and counties to create an affordable housing incentive program. This bill died in committee. 

OPPOSED BILLS THAT DIED ON THE FLOOR:

SB 5576 Would have removed the judicial discretion in eviction proceedings for tenants receiving three or more pay or vacate notices within the previous 12 months. 

HB 1100 Would have imposed a right of first refusal on manufactured housing communities.

HB 1904 Would have effectively enacted rent control by mandating 180-day notices for rent increases above 7.5% and would have allowed the tenant to terminate the lease with 20 days written notice for month-to-month tenancy or 45 days' notice for a tenancy of a specified period. 

HB 1300 Would have required additional paperwork regarding collection and refund or retention of security deposits. 

OPPOSED BILLS STILL ACTIVE IN COMMITTEE

HB 2064 Allows landlords to offer tenants the option of paying an entirely or partially non-refundable fee instead of a security deposit. 

SB 5825 Establishes a rental and vacant property registration program workgroup to evaluate the feasibility of statewide rental and vacant property registration to add costs and taxes to the identified properties.