Dead or alive? Taking the pulse on bills we’re watching in 2023

February 28, 2023

As the Legislature heads into floor action this week, let’s take a look at what’s dead or alive on the BIAW Government Affairs team’s bill tracking list.

The Good: Good bills still alive

• SHB 1245 /SSB 5364: Increasing housing options through lot splitting.
• SHB 1449: Amending reporting requirements for the project permit application processing timeline.
• HB 1519: Concerning local project review.
• 2SSB 5290: Concerning consolidating local permit review processes.
• 2SSB 5412: Reducing local governments’ land use permitting workloads by ensuring objective and timely design review for housing and other land use proposals within cities and counties and allowing proposed housing within urban growth boundaries to rely on environmental reviews completed at the comprehensive planning level.
• 2SHB 1110: Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing.
• SSB 5466: Promoting transit-oriented development.
• ESHB 1042: Concerning the use of existing buildings for residential purposes.
• HB 1252: Modifying impact fee deferral requirements, including removing lien and foreclosure requirements, the limits on the number of deferrals allowed per applicant, and the provision related to collection of administrative fees.
• SHB 1293: Streamlining development regulations and establishing a categorical exemption from the State Environmental Policy Act for residential housing units within an urban growth area.
• HB 1308: Concerning high school graduation pathway options, including trades.

The Bad: Bad bills that died

• SHB 1735: Adding net ecological gain as a voluntary element of comprehensive plans under the Growth Management Act (GMA).
• SHB 1078:  Concerning urban forest management ordinances.
• SB 5482 (HB 1644): Implementing a margin tax.
• SSB 5541: Requiring transparency in supply chains.

The Ugly:  Bad Bills Still Lurking

HB 1135: Authorizing impact fee revenue to fund improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
SSB 5217: Concerning the state’s ability to regulate certain industries and risk classes to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and disorders through ergonomics.
2SHB 1181 (SSB 5203): Adding climate change to the GMA.
SHB 1068 (SB 5212): Concerning injured workers’ rights during compelled medical examinations.
ESSB 5123:  Concerning cannabis testing for employees.

To keep things lively, BIAW played a little game of “Dead or Alive” with staff to test their knowledge of our legislative package and how we’re doing. Watch our Facebook reels and Instagram stories to see how everyone did!