OLYMPIA, WA – Washington State Governor Jay Inslee today signed multiple bipartisan housing bills into law, saying the Legislature passed the measures as part of their commitment to building more housing in the state. He says the bills are “the blocks in the foundation to help us go big and build more houses so people can go home.”
Representative Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia) says the 2023 legislative session was a “landmark” session in regard to housing.
One of the bills signed was by Representative Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla). House Bill 1293 streamlines the permitting process and regulations for developing houses in urban growth areas. It requires cities and counties planning 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,” according to Klicker, who is the top-ranking Republican member 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.”
From House Republicans:
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 overall approval process.
HB 1293 will further 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 adjournment of the 2023 legislative session, which ended on April 23.
