Creating additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. Companion Bill SB 5670

In the Media:

TVW’s Inside Olympia – January 27th, 2022

Host Austin Jenkins talks with Legislators from Republican and Democrat leadership about the legislative session’s housing and homelessness debate. Inside Olympia is TVW’s in-depth interview program. We bring the governor, state legislators, and other state elected officials and leaders into our studio for unedited conversations about the top issues of the day.

In the second half (30 min) of this EPISODE – Austin Jenkins hosts a discussion with Sen. Fortunato and Sen. Kuderer to discuss Missing Middle Housing & Homelessness.

Below are edited together compilations of highlights from the episode:

• Senator Kuderer on Affordable Housing – 3 min.
• Senator Fortunato on Affordable Housing – 4 min.
• Senator Kuderer on HB 1782 – 3 min.
• Senator Fortunato on HB 1782 – 3 min.
  • Both Senators agree there needs to be more housing supply built, how do they differ?
  • What type of housing does Sen. Kuderer prefer to be built? Why? 
  • What type of housing does Sen. Fortuanto prefer? Why?
  • How do the Senators differ on Density and the Urban Growth Boundary? What is “Sprawl’?
  • What are the arguments around the “character” of a neighborhood? Should people have a say about who their neighbors might be? How has this concept contributed to historical inequities or injustices? 

Full 30 min Discussion:

TVW Primary Source Footage:

Public Hearing before the House Local Government Committee – January 18th, 2022

Public Testimony is an excellent glimpse at the different ‘stakeholders’ that may be affected by a bill if it were to pass. How does hearing the many aspects of an issue inform your position on the bill?

• Staff Presentation or HB1782 3 min.
  • Here a Staffer reads the scope and intent of the bill along with some background information on it.
• Testimony from HB 1782’s Prime Sponsor 6 min. Key Perspective PRO
  • Rep. Bateman presents her argument for bringing the bill and answers questions from committee members.
• Governor’s office with supporting statement 
  • Spokesperson John Flanagan presents the Governor’s support and addresses questions from a committee member.
• Panel of Mayors with two opposition testimonies 4 min.
  • The Mayors of Auburn and Federal Way both testify in opposition. 
• Third Mayor in panel with supporting tesimony 1 min.
  • Mayor of Bothell sees local governments failing to address the issue.
• City Council Member with opposing testimony 1 min. Key Perspective CON
  • Covington City Council Member points to risk to current housing projects.
• Washington Climate Solutions with supporting testimony 1 min.
  • Points out housing zoning impacts on climate .

Entire Public Hearing on HB 1782 – 1hr 40min

NOTE: HB 1782 was heard as a group with 3 other housing bills addressing similar zoning issues, so you will notice some of the testimonies referring to HB 1782 and the other bills as well.

Executive Action in the House House Local Government Committee – February 1st, 2022

Executive Action in the committee is an opportunity to hear proposed amendments, the pro and con perspectives on those amendments and the final vote by the committee members along with their final arguments for or against HB 1782 as amended.

• Staff Presentation of proposed substitute to HB 1782 and proposed amendments 6 min
  • Staff reads through a long list of changes included in the proposed substitute HB 1782 and a list of amendments for consideration by the committee. 
• Review of proposed amendments 10 min 
  • Committee members discuss pros and cons, then vote on the proposed amendments.
• Committee statements and vote on SHB 1904 as amended 17 min
  • Now that amendments have been added to SHB 1782, the committee members offer their closing remarks and vote on SHB 1782. 
  • Committee member supporting statement 1 min
  • Committee member opposing statement 1 min
  • Prime Sponsor statement 7 min
  • Final Vote 2 min

Entire Executive Action on HB 1782 – 41 min

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations – February 5th, 2022

Now that SHB 1782 has made its way out of its House policy committee it moves onto a fiscal committee to review the cost of the bill if implemented in its current form.

• Staff Briefing – This time 2 staff brief the committee members – Starting at 1:46:45 – 15 min
  • Staff briefing on SHB 1782 – Starting at  1:46:45 – 7 min
  • Staff Briefing on the Fiscal note on the SHB 1782 – Starting at 1:53:38 – 4 min
  • Follow up questions on the breifing from the committee – Starting at 1:57:55 – 5 min
• Public Testimony for SHB 1782  – Starting at 2:04:31 – 19 min
  • NOTE: Public testimonies in the fiscal committees are very similar to the procedure in the policy committees except that the committee is more focused on costs – though only some testimonies from the public actually focus on the fiscal impact.
  • Pro – Concerned Citizen –  1 min
  • Con – Mayor of Gig Harbor 1 min
  • Other – Tacoma Council Member 1 min
  • Con – Mayor of Issaquah 1 min
  • Pro – Kirkland Planning Commission 1 min

Full Public Hearing – Starts at 1:46:43 – 40 min

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations – February 7th, 2022

Just as the bill had an Executive Session in the policy committee, it now needs to get through another Executive Session vote in the fiscal committee to move to the next stage in the process. This is also an opportunity for legislators to weigh in on any concerns they may have with the bill, introduce amendments and share how they intend to vote and why.

Introduction of the proposed amendments

• Proposed amendments go before the committee for a vote – Starting at 02:31:34  47 min
  • Several amendments were proposed with much discussion
    • No amendments were adopted

Final Passage out of Appropriations

• Final Discussion – Starting at 03:18:26
  • Bill co-sponsor makes a statement for passing the bill – 2 min
  • Con – Committee member makes a statement against passing the bill – 3 min
  • Pro – Closing statement by committee member – 2 min
  • Roll Call vote – Starting at 03:26:47 – 2min

Full Executive Action on SHB 1728 – Starts at 2:31:00 – 1 hr

Died in House Rules Committee

Track all HB 1782 related activity at the Legislative website here.