RPAC Hill Day Recap
Realtor Political Action Committee Legislative Days
(AKA Hill Day)
January 17-18, 2024
Hill day was an adventure to say the least! It was my first visit to the Washington state capital in Olympia, about a two-hour drive from Duvall. I woke up at 4am on Wednesday, Jan. 17th so I could be there for First Time Orientation. I was surprised to find a schedule change when I finally found the registration table - everything was bumped up half an hour, even the first time orientation that had already begun! There wasn’t a single sign to orient people anywhere, it felt almost secretive. Especially when I showed up late to orientation and a helpful fellow agent told me the “secret word” for that session. There was a game afoot!
I didn’t end up winning the secret word challenge (that I submitted on the schedule app I needed to download to follow along with the event) but it did allow me to access the agendas of the committee meetings I sat in on, from Operations to Legislative Steering to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees. Day 1 was all committee meetings while Day 2 was keynote speakers, meetings overviews, and shuttles to the capital buildings to meet with Senators and Representatives to tell our story about why these bills should be emphasized. Some of these bills were up for approval last year but didn’t make it, so are back on the table this year (with amended bill numbers). Here’s a list of our top 4 priorities RPAC highlighted to legislators this year:
2024 WA Realtors Legislative Priorities:
Like last year, there are numerous bills on housing supply and affordability; many of these bills we like and will support; some of them need work; others we will oppose. We’re encouraged that the Legislature fully recognizes the importance of the housing supply and affordability issues that Washington REALTORS® have been advocating for at the state and local level for decades.
LOT SPLITTING
HB 1245 (Barkis) - This bill was introduced last year and in essence creates an administrative process for cities to create additional residential buildable lots through a lot-split. The determination would be made by cities similar to boundary line adjustments, so they can ensure the new lot meets various requirements such as size, utility services, legal access and easements, and comply with any environmental constraints. Consistent with the fast pace of a short session, this bill passed off the House Floor on the 1st day of session 94-4 and is on its way to the Senate.
RURAL DETACHED ADUs
HB 1133 (Chapman) / SB 5357 (Gildon); HB 2126 (Low); and SB 6029 (Braun) - For background, King County allows Detached Accessory Dwelling Units outside of Urban Growth Areas, but Growth Board decisions have prevented other counties from allowing this same type of housing. This has led to illegally converted garages, barns, or sheds – AND an inequity in housing supply for rural areas. Detached ADUs are less expensive, smaller, and easier to build – the Legislature should correct this by allowing either, (within limits) Detached ADUs, or give all counties the option of implementing King County’s Detached ADU ordinance.
DETAILS:Limits lots to one (1) ADU.
Must have access to utilities that can support the ADU.
Water must be metered and have water rights.
Floor are limitations (1296 sft).
Must use the same driveway as the primary dwelling.
Sited to prevent loss of agricultural land or forestland.
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
HB 2160 (Reed) / SB 6024 (Trudeau) - Washington REALTORS® positions can, and do, change as a bill travels through the legislative process. This bill is an example of that. The State will be investing billions of dollars in transit projects, and these areas lend to opportunities for new housing supply and commercial services. However, since last year when the original bills were introduced, there have been some changes creating tension between the need for housing supply and mandated affordability policies. WR supports housing affordability, but we have talked with many who develop affordable housing projects and they believe that in the current version of the bill, zoning levels are too low, and affordability mandates are too high…the result of which makes these projects un-feasible from a development perspective.
Though we support the concept of adding supply and density to these areas that are affordable, if projects aren’t developed because of the affordability mandates then it’s a lost opportunity.
So our position on this bill has changed… but we will continue to work the bill and ask that instead of mandating affordability, the policy defers to local policies and programs [like MFTE - Multi-family Tax exemptions] and offers state support.
DO NO HARM TO REAL ESTATE!
It is not news to anyone that the real estate market faces unique and broad challenges. We have added a fourth category to our Legislative Priorities called ‘Do No Harm’ which serves as a catch-all for bills that might negatively affect housing.
A few examples we’ve heard from members are:Declining investments in new single and multifamily housing construction.
Cancellation or delay of development projects.
Reduction in new building permits.
Competition against other regions to attract investments in housing and real estate.
So, we ask that state and local taxes, and regulatory actions Do No Harm to an already fragile real estate market and avoid disincentivizing investment in future supply.
As I mentioned in my video, there are many more housing bills than these four major talking points floating around the legislature this year. Like RPAC shares, here’s a list of more current housing legislation:
Middle housing / ADU appraiser concerns
Workforce housing revolving loan fund - HB 1892
Review of local GMA housing element - HB 2113
Rent control - HB 2114/SB 5961; SB 5899
Home equity sharing agreements - HB 2081
Tax incentives for market rate and commercial building conversions - HB 2308/SB 6175
County auditor/REET fee
Regulation of “We buy ugly homes” - HB 2274
UGA consistency with infrastructure availability - HB 2158
Some final thoughts on this experience are more personal - I think when I showed up I didn’t really feel like I fit in. I was a new Government Affairs board member, and it was my first experience at the capitol, let alone meeting legislators including the SECRETARY OF STATE (whose name I got wrong in my own recap video!) My friend who introduced me, Kyoko Matsumoto (also a Realtor on the SCCAR GA board and mayor of Mountlake Terrace) was also friends with Steve Hobbs the SOS, whose name I confused with BOB. Because I also met Senator Bob Hasegawa, thanks to the King County team for letting us join them since Kyoko is friends with EVERYBODY!
Maybe it’s because I was hanging with experienced pros, and as an amateur real estate professional, I didn’t really know if I belonged there. But after coming home, sharing my story, and catching up on sleep ;-) I reflected: Anyone should be allowed to meet with those in power to change the law of the land. You and anyone you know should be able to have a say in the way things are done, and speaking up to these very normal people actually have ripple effects beyond what any one person can see. And because the systems of law and order have gotten so complex, it doesn’t mean we should give up hope or seeking understanding. Making sense of these laws and systems means also making sense of a human’s story. And in the end, pretty much all of us are seeking the same things: A safe place to call Home, a community we Love, and space to feel Free.
It doesn’t really matter my tights ripped, my curls fell flat, or my dress got stained. What matters is that I showed up. Real estate business is hard, understanding the law is hard, coordinating transactions is hard, and integrity is hard. But no one said success came easy - and success in my book is causing real change for the better. I help people feel at home in the world, and that’s not an easy job - because there’s no one right way to do it. Humanity is worth believing in, fighting for, and defending. However or wherever I am meant to be a light in this industry, I am here to shine honestly.
