Tag Archives: Housing

Update from Olympia

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

We are fast approaching the halfway point of the 2021 legislative session. There have been some challenges conducting business as usual for the Legislature during this unusual time in our lives. The governor’s decision to close off a large portion of the Capitol grounds to the public is concerning, as are his ever-changing metrics and policies when it comes to reopening our state.

I’m very pleased that all parts of our state have been able to move to Phase 2 of the latest reopening plan. My 13th District seatmates and I had been critical of moves that opened urban areas sooner and pushed back to ensure that decisions in Olympia take into consideration the good work we’ve done in rural parts of the state.

Having been shut out of the policy-making process for the better part of 12 months, it’s past time for the Legislature to weigh in on these decisions. While some of the governor’s proclamations are good in the sense that they’ve cut bureaucratic red tape or waived fees, it is our job to represent the people in an open and transparent manner through the legislative process.

Affordable Housing for Rural Washington

In the Legislature, I am working to bridge the divide, fighting for the needs of rural Washington. I wanted to highlight some of the positive work I’m doing for our communities.

Affordable housing continues to be a focal point for the Legislature. Although some high-profile policies, such as reforms to the housing provider-tenant law, have recently been approved, there is still work needed to fix disparities between rural and urban development.

That is why I sponsored legislation that will help bridge the gaps. We need serious reform of our state’s land-use planning laws and must fix where our dollars are being spent. My proposal, Senate Bill 5375, will help rural communities be competitive when it comes to affordable housing investment. The bill is waiting for a vote in the Senate.

Income Tax by Another Name

Washington state’s economy is in good shape. Despite dismal projections last year as a result of the pandemic, we have rebounded. The state’s budget is still anticipated to grow by nearly 6 percent with no more taxes. However, that is not stopping the majority from pushing for more, especially their long-awaited income tax that is framed as an ‘excise tax.’ Senate Bill 5096 would impose an income tax on capital gains, which, as you can see from this recent survey, shows strong public opposition. In that same survey, it appears Washingtonians are more concerned about getting back to work and protecting our state’s fragile economy than seeing how much more money the government can take in from volatile tax schemes. I’m fighting against this proposal because I believe we do not need more taxes, especially now. You can read more from that survey by clicking here.

Standing up for Principles of Equality

Our district is very diverse and I’m proud to represent those views and backgrounds in Olympia. This legislative session the majority is very focused on a buzzword, equity. A lot of bills are focusing on that concept, but I believe not in a helpful or principled way that will actually address issues that different groups may face in our state. That is why I’m happy to be working with some of my Senate Republican colleagues on a new initiative that is in the works to approach these discussions from a principled, conservative angle, standing true to principles of our party and country’s promise of equality and opportunity for all. We aren’t looking at more government programs, we are looking at ways to empower communities to thrive and get government out of the way of the American Dream. I’ll be sure to update you as this progresses.

Working to lower the costs of home ownership

Housing costs aren’t an issue only in urban western Washington, as extremely low vacancy rates also mean a short supply of affordable housing in many eastern Washington cities.

State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake has introduced legislation to boost affordable housing production east of the Cascade Mountains under a local infrastructure investment program. Senate Bill 6328, which has strong bipartisan support and was approved by the Senate Housing Affordability and Stability Committee, now awaits action by the Senate’s budget committee.

“We need to give local jurisdictions more tools to meet affordable housing needs in their communities,” said Warnick. “My proposal allows for local jurisdictions to create an options infrastructure program, not more taxes or mandates, to help build needed housing.”

A similar bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Steele, R-Chelan. House Bill 1938 would increase home affordability by creating a local infrastructure investment program to help offset some of the initial construction costs.

“We know there’s a problem in many areas of the state because of rising home prices. Even people making a decent wage like teachers, nurses, administrators and others are being priced out of the market,” said Steele. “It’s time to ask the question: What are some ways we can help lower the costs?”

Recently approved by the House Finance Committee, Steele’s bill would allow a 4.37 percent remittance of the state sales and use tax on things like sidewalks, sewer systems, gutters and other items to help lower the initial cost of purchasing a home.

The 12th District legislator says efforts like this—that help make the dream of home ownership a reality for working individuals and their families—need to be stepped up.

“Finding viable solutions to help close the gap between construction costs and what people can afford need to be prioritized. My bill does that,” continued Steele.

Under Warnick’s proposal cities and counties could apply for a remittance of the state portion of sales tax on the construction of affordable housing. The jurisdictions would need to adopt local policies creating the infrastructure program, which would be limited to designated revitalization districts. Localities that choose to move forward with the program could receive a remittance of up to 4.37 percent.

“Cities like Wenatchee have been doing a lot of great work to meet the housing needs of their residents, but there is more we can do at the state level,” Warnick said. “This legislation provides flexibility and incentives for middle-class Washingtonians to access affordable housing.”

The bill approved by the policy committee earlier this week also includes provisions that limit the program to jurisdictions of a certain population and raise the income threshold for families to qualify. Reports on the performance of the innovative program would be due to the Legislature from the Department of Revenue just before the June 2027 end of the application period.