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Legislative Priorities

2025 Session Recap
SUPPORT: A Pause on Statewide Building Codes for 10 Years
  • Pause new code updates for 10 years after the 2024 edition.
  • Since 2009, code changes have added over $40,000 to new home costs and have priced out more than 80% of Washington families ' ability to purchase a home.
  • Washington needs a decade of code stability to build one million homes. Let’s focus on building, not rewriting rules.  
SUPPORT: Impact Fee Uniformity for Fair Growth and Planning
  • Require local governments to cost-share by limiting how much a project (50%) can be paid for with collected impact fees.
  • Tie fee updates to comprehensive plan cycles to ensure consistency with capital facility plans.
  • Replace lien-based deferrals with promissory notes.  
SUPPORT: More Access to Buildable Lands
  • Expand land supply by reforming the Growth Management Act and allowing diverse options like rural ADUs.
  • With only 3.7% of land open for housing, expanding growth areas (even to 10%) could dramatically improve affordability.
SUPPORT: Real Permit Reform
  • Allow licensed professionals to certify code compliance to fast-track project approvals.
  • Encourage the use of AI by permitting authorities to streamline permit intake.
SUPPORT: Subdivision Reform & Streamlining
  • Allow administrative plat approval, clarify pre-application meetings, and encourage concurrent review of plats and construction plans to reduce costs, speed approvals, and expand infill housing.
SUPPORT: Clear & Objective Development Standards
  • Require local development codes to use clear, measurable, and objective standards. The goal is to remove subjective interpretation, provide predictable outcomes, and deliver faster, more affordable housing approvals.
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Protecting and Promoting the American Dream of Homeownership

The Government Affairs team partners with BIAW members to protect and promote the American dream of homeownership for Washington families. During the legislative session, we work to pass pro-housing and pro-business legislation and defeat efforts that drive up the cost of buying or remodeling a home.

All year round, we represent you in state agency rulemaking and before the State Building Code Council, providing your perspectives to decision-makers and keeping you informed of new codes and regulations.

Current Codes & Regulations

If you have any questions regarding BIAW External Affairs, contact BIAW Vice President – External Affairs Jan Himebaugh at 360-352-7800 ext. 135.