Eliminating each local government's proportional share of Washington's housing shortage.

 S-0167.3

SENATE BILL 5659

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senators Goehner, Boehnke, and Dozier

Read first time 02/04/25. Referred to Committee on Housing.

AN ACT Relating to eliminating each local government's proportional share of Washington's housing shortage; amending RCW 82.45.180 ; and adding a new title to the Revised Code of Washington.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that Washington has a severe homelessness crisis and housing shortage. By some estimates, our state needs more than 1,000,000 new homes. While many policy proposals have been offered in good faith as solutions to the housing shortage, the stubborn truth is that Washington simply needs to build more housing.

(2) Local governments will play a key role in eliminating Washington's housing shortage because local governments usually exercise approval authority over new home construction. Additionally, the legislature recognizes that some state laws may constrain local governments' ability to approve construction of new housing. Both levels of government should work together to create public policies that help build more homes in Washington.