Governor signs bill to increase affordable housing supply

OLYMPIA—Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill on Monday, initially sponsored by Representatives Klicker, Leavitt, Barkis, Jacobsen, Waters, Chapman, Reed, and Graham, increasing affordable housing options in the state.

House Bill 1293 streamlines the permitting process and regulations for developing houses in urban growth areas.

The bill requires cities and counties to plan under the Growth Management Act to ensure their design review process is clear and objective.

“I’m pleased to see this bill pass because it addresses one of our state’s biggest issues,” said Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, the ranking member for the House Republicans on the Housing Committee. “This legislation will remove cumbersome obstacles for many developers who sit around waiting for months to start building because of the slow-moving design approval process.”

The legislation will speed up the review process by limiting the number of public hearings required. It also integrates the consolidated review and design process to streamline and expedite the approval process.

HB 1293 will cut through red tape by providing exemptions for residential projects within an Urban Growth Area from some environmental considerations if certain conditions are met.

“We have a housing shortage in Washington, and we have a lot of work to do to relieve that problem. This bill is one of many solutions that will push us in the right direction,” said Klicker. “We can’t afford unnecessary delays in the building industry. It’s time to expedite and streamline the permitting process, and this bill does that.”

The bill takes effect 90 days after the adjournment of the 2023 legislative session, which ended on April 23.