January 26, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The 2025-2026 legislative session convened this week in Olympia. It will be a short (60 day) session, thereby narrowing the time frame for public input. Below are the bills identified by the Seattle king County Coalition on Homelessness as being worthy of support. You can call, write or email your representative to add your support to any or all of these bills. If you are unsure who your representative is, go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder.
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance is offering a day-long training to develop effective advocacy skills. Registration can be done through their website, linked below.
HB 2100: Representative Scott
Enacting an excise tax on large operating companies on the amount of payroll expenses above the minimum wage threshold of the additional medicare tax to fund services to benefit Washingtonians and establishing the Well Washington fund account. As background: federal HR1 (OBBB) could cost Washington state $51 B in Medicaid funding over the next decade.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2100&Year=2025&Initiative=false
HB 1240: Representative Peterson
Pertaining to residential vehicles; bill intends to resolve the conflicts between statute and case law, and to create an expedited process through which those in deep poverty can more quickly retrieve their only shelter from impound and avoid unconstitutionally excessive fines.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=1240&Year=2025&Initiative=false
HB 1380: Representative Gregerson
Intends to Encourage the efficient use of state and local resources by providing clear guidance to local governments on how to balance public safety with the urgent need to transition people experiencing homelessness to safe and stable housing; and other incentives and protections for local governments.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=1380&Year=2025&Initiative=false
HB 1195: Rep Peterson
Relating to compliance with siting, development permit processes and standards, and requirements for permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor emergency shelters. Essentially this bill intends to facilitate the building of STEM housing
https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=1195&Year=2025&Initiative=false
HB 1687 Representative Reed
Remediating unclean and unsafe supportive housing by providing guidance and assistance to social housing public development authorities
https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=1687&Year=2025&Initiative=false
