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Land Use and Housing
Legislative discussion of frequently contentious land use and housing issues has gotten off to a slow start this session. This could be an indication that, following the defeat this fall of the land use/property rights initiative (I-933), interests are working on fine-tuning their proposals with an eye towards the "doable," rather than outlining positions that have little chance of enactment. We will likely soon see a number of bill introductions and hearings scheduled on these issues.
Hearings on Bills of Interest the Week of January 22
AWC Priority Issue:
Requiring Notice to Property Owners Before Condemnation Decisions (SB 5444)
Sponsored by the Governor and Attorney General, this bill would ensure better notice is given to the public for proposed eminent domain condemnation actions by either public or corporate entities. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Mike Carrell (R-Lakewood) and has 34 of the Senate’s 49 members as sponsors. It seeks to "correct" a recent ruling by the State Supreme Court in a Sound Transit case by requiring better notice. AWC supports this bill, which will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, January 24.
AWC Priority Issue:
Requiring Performance and Reasonable Measures for the Purpose of Growth Management Planning (HB 1358)
AWC has concerns about HB 1358, which would require all 29 GMA-planning counties to adopt policies and performance measures that regularly review progress towards accommodating 20-year population and employment growth projections.
Sponsored by Rep. Mark Miloscia (D-Federal Way), this Realtor-backed bill mandates new performance monitoring goals for cities and counties on how zoning is working to accommodate state population projections, as well as employment targets not currently projected by anyone. Different versions of this bill have been promoted in past years and have failed. AWC is carefully evaluating this version and is meeting with the prime sponsor to better understand his objectives. HB 1358 will be heard in the House Local Government Committee at 8 am on Thursday, January 25.
AWC Priority Issue:
Dedicating Existing Revenue to Infrastructure Funding (HB 1361)
Please see the Infrastructure, Transportation and Economic Development section of the Bulletin for information on this bill.
These bills are scheduled for hearing in the House Housing Committee at 8 am on Wednesday, January 24. All of these bills, sponsored by park owners, affect uses inside mobile home parks – those communities typically populated by older and smaller mobile homes. In communities experiencing escalating land values, some of these parks are facing market pressure to convert to other uses.
HB 1148 preempts cites from regulating the size and age of homes replacing those that move out for one reason or another. HB 1150 amends the statutes that require homes to meet certain age and structural standards if located in a park or manufactured housing community. HB 1228 pre-empts cities from charging unites for stormwater or sewer charges except when charged in the same manner as multi-family units.
AWC would like to hear from interested cities about your positions on these bills so we can appropriately testify. Please contact Tim Gugerty at timg@awcnet.org prior to the January 24 hearing.
These appear to be technical bills dealing with the activities of water-sewer districts. They are scheduled for hearings in the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee at 10 am on Monday, January 22 and the House Local Government Committee at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, January 23.
SB 5231/HB 1238 are identical and contain technical provisions. HB 1239 relates to how cities and counties review and approve water-sewer district comprehensive plans. AWC has asked a number of cities to review these bills for input prior to the hearings.
Regulating Massage Practitioners (HB 1341)
Scheduled for a hearing in the House Local Government Committee at 8 am on Thursday, January 25, this bill would limit the regulation of massage practitioners by cities and counties. We have sent the bill to a number of cities for comment. Please contact Tim Gugerty at timg@awcnet.org prior to the hearing if you have concerns.
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