[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6315867,"mediaKeyId","2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486","parentId",2378092,"title","Bill would target underutilized retail and commercial corridors for large-scale housing conversion; business groups back plan","audioSeconds",255,"startMs",3149000,"endMs",3404000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486&start=3149&end=3404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486/thumbnail_3149000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6315867/Washington/Bill-would-target-underutilized-retail-and-commercial-corridors-for-large-scale-housing-conversion-business-groups-back-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315867-0e90f3d6da5ae67601afb57e9850dfba/orig.mp4?Expires=1777112613&Signature=lB-50JUlpHlBibE4NIUvbEQDTB2Xd3hx3i6QqgUutDEbdS3YKDxJN2xKGw49MY93rvCWq1K5fFgzok3vmvp0uZ7jFQpXYdllH9fsk65C2YB7BIPWcTZ5RpIDR7YdsQYZ5WyKEitG-gczni00PoknvmdovDVCYWKzfvBbK7gFvWNVNRW~Av-ApMVuHTiWT0UCEJT5QriEWJcZBkEntetau4w9jqo7GhVO641Q9BvRrvPwauMbbivGR~TULxi36wn~DMja7laNjnc0NO9oFufpHGADD0LRwp9dnfK0TNmD5kS9SyzHWfE06~lsfnMaEZunazOEdxjFHH3TLv~5tqYDoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Housing","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 5,755 would require the Department of Commerce to solicit letters of interest from owners or developers of retail or commercial properties with potential for redevelopment to residential or mixed use. Staff described eligibility criteria including location inside urban growth areas, minimum project scale (250 new housing units), minimum street right-of-way width, and a scoring process that prioritizes projects providing public benefits. The bill would allow local density bonuses, eliminate most minimum parking requirements (except for ADA spaces and certain airports), and give prioritized access to several state funding programs (CHIP, Early Learning Facilities, Energy Efficiency Retrofit grants) where needed to move projects forward. The bill would also allow certain sales-and-use tax deferral eligibility and require at least 20% of units to be affordable to low-income households for 50 years to qualify for a new 20% MFE program. Those redevelopment incentives would expire June 30, 2027, under the bill as introduced.

Senator Alvarado, sponsor of the bill, framed SB 5,755 as a tool to unlock underutilized commercial corridors — malls, large retail sites and underused office parks — that are well-located near transit and services and could deliver significant housing supply if paired with incentives and aligned state investments. Alvarado said the measure is a “conversation starter” and urged partners — local governments, owners and Commerce — to use the pilot to test targeted incentives.

Business groups testified in support. Barb Wilson of Microsoft said the firm’s housing fund work demonstrates the need for policies that unlock land and lower development costs; “Senate Bill 5,755 hits the mark,” she said. Riley Benge of Washington Realtors also supported the bill, calling conversion of underutilized commercial property a “significant untapped opportunity” and praising the bill’s pathway for state-local coordination.

Staff noted a fiscal note had been requested but was not yet available. The hearing record shows a mixed written record — the clerk reported 4 pro and 22 con written sign-ins — and no committee vote occurred during the public hearing. Supporters and staff emphasized the bill is intended to accelerate large-scale projects that otherwise face regulatory complexity, while opponents in the written record raised standard concerns about community impacts, infrastructure costs and local planning controls.

If enacted, Commerce would be responsible for scoring applications, facilitating development agreements and coordinating priority grant access. The bill sets a tight timeline for letters of interest and Commerce determinations: letters due Oct. 1, 2025, eligible projects identified by Oct. 31, 2025 and scoring completed by Nov. 15, 2025, per staff briefing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Housing - 2/21/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 5,755 would direct Commerce to solicit and prioritize redevelopment proposals that convert large underutilized commercial properties to mixed-use housing, with incentives such as priority funding, density bonuses and parking reductions; supporters including Microsoft and Realtors testified in favor, while several opponents signed in.","taxTitle","Housing, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20505,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315872,"Sponsor urges new public-housing paradigm; bill would create 21-member task force to study publicly owned mixed-income housing",96,2000,98000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486&start=2&end=98","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6315872/Washington/Sponsor-urges-new-public-housing-paradigm-bill-would-create-21-member-task-force-to-study-publicly-owned-mixed-income-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315872-829d98a6b028548e578662a7ebc2134b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777112613&Signature=LfHsnUXjRzoA07EzZPTV-MbJ6VgT3g608Q9v17fXXH5BTB7htHI7AEpgXJNJxsDJpurM7apvP5a44zWYou0TysTBWtbiZ5JM0Wk33-KEdcdkEXwZAFOiVdsJidIMnW3eg7JZ8Fu1Sx0tp2hQHycCcmplHMf~7Okf2m508PNRokU1QurxhlDq9gB2KJMgo2Dc1Z4So2SPZ05QNKlR3-C9xPG96NrFbJFNXRpJHe~jeG8IwWPkoJhHMFWGJJdYPFtOMqcUS8yP3NbqPF-rJFjqQdTRkfTNArGNXgwOWgA27~jTpCGuA4nAIQyZZ8sVI0F~fKLmFqI61Lmkfa3LzSqrcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5,753, carried by Senator Hasagawa, would establish a 21-member public housing task force administered by the Department of Commerce. Staff told the committee the task force must issue a preliminary report to the Legislature by July 1, 2026, and a final report by Nov. 1, 2026, including recommendations on financing, public land use, governance, and strategies to implement publicly owned mixed-income housing statewide. The bill would require Commerce to post meeting summaries within 30 days and set several study tasks, including review of the United Nations’ housing adequacy guidance and whether a state land bank could facilitate affordable housing development. A fiscal note had been requested but was not yet available.

Senator Hasagawa told committee members she was proposing a return to a public-housing paradigm that would differ from mid-20th century projects, describing “livable communities” with clinics, childcare classrooms, small-business storefronts and parks co-located with housing. Hasagawa said past policy favored developer-driven production and that a public-led build strategy could scale supply; she described research visits to Korea and Japan where centralized housing authorities supported social housing and urged the committee to consider a similar statewide structure. Hasagawa also referenced a companion financing bill (SB 5,754) intended to create public-banking capacity to underwrite large-scale public housing development.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about task force membership and financing. Senator Alvarado noted successful local housing-authority sponsored mixed-income communities in her district and suggested the task force could build on existing housing authority practice. Hasagawa said Washington currently has only a handful of housing authorities and that a statewide authority could address statewide shortages.

The staff briefing concluded with no committee vote recorded for this bill during the meeting; the item was heard as part of the public hearing agenda and subsequently suspended in favor of other hearings. The bill’s reporting deadlines and the task force’s broad charge would require subsequent rulemaking and interagency coordination if enacted.","Senate Bill 5,753 would form a public housing task force to examine using publicly developed mixed-income housing to meet state housing demand; sponsor described models in Japan and South Korea and proposed a statewide housing authority and companion public bank bill to finance development.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315878,"Committee adopts substitutes and issues due-pass recommendations on several housing bills at policy cutoff",1593,1105000,2698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486&start=1105&end=2698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486/thumbnail_1105000.jpg","/articles/6315878/Washington/Committee-adopts-substitutes-and-issues-due-pass-recommendations-on-several-housing-bills-at-policy-cutoff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315878-5d056c2616abdcbc167fd3c66a491dcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1777112613&Signature=QKmqzg~ZYyYXyrM2oFsqIY8mUPN0HmUgCfbP5rmaYHu37iwGjp173e9~KAofdPlM1G5ysVnPuvu6Nq5QCjtz12RVGULF279kXO-Ok6aSjGNJ8mer0xV7urgC-rfKgZvICyEQHrk6stJjHW2rHsKR8T81BSuVHfsRiPZZfRoA9n29GW~QH3Qk3pR1g~G4ccYXG5fv1-o~S8W~jLgOhXflwnvXB3C81jM2CV2TxzWLSIj5XcOASvtcnROQUxdsOQ1ihesmp3-H6yQgnFfQYlMeU9Ej9R-Bf6qWDVZj-AFQ4MF5PxgScLXhJQ8HSHpd6LgeiaC9G81WdYEP~WHqxmEhEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During an extended executive session on policy-cutoff day the Senate Housing Committee adopted proposed substitutes and issued due-pass recommendations or sent bills to other committees for a series of housing bills. Committee members acted by voice vote on multiple measures; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the hearing transcript.

Key actions recorded in committee minutes and motion language include:

- Senate Bill 5,725 (community and technical college lands for affordable housing): Proposed substitute B was adopted in committee and the committee moved a due-pass recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee. Committee debate noted concerns about preserving college land for future campus uses versus using surplus land for affordable housing.

- Senate Bill 5,249 (kit homes / temporary housing): Proposed substitute C was adopted; the substitute tightened the kit-home definition (800 sq. ft. or smaller) and required local governments to inspect such structures at least every five years when used as temporary housing. Committee moved the bill with a due-pass recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee.

- Senate Bill 5,749 (housing development opportunity zones): Proposed substitute D was adopted and the committee moved it to the Rules Committee with a due-pass recommendation. The substitute added a JLARC review requirement and an expiration date of July 1, 2045 if affordable housing outcomes were not achieved.

- Senate Bill 5,614 (impact fee timing and deferrals): Proposed substitute E, which implemented a JLARC technical recommendation and revised impact-fee deferral mechanics, was adopted and moved to the Rules Committee.

- Senate Bill 5,659 (local proportional share of housing shortage): The committee moved a due-pass recommendation to Ways and Means; sponsors and supporters framed the bill as a data and accountability step to identify local regulatory barriers to housing production.

- Senate Bill 5,729 (deemed permit completeness / permit streamlining): An amendment labeled F was introduced and then withdrawn to allow further work with the Department of Ecology; the committee later moved the underlying bill with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee.

One measure with major coalition pushback — Senate Bill 5,612 (SEPA categorical exemptions expansion) — was not moved by the committee on policy-cutoff day after Senator Solomon said stakeholders including tribes and others were not yet in agreement on language that preserves tribal notice and consultation. Senator Solomon asked that committee members continue work rather than move the bill at cutoff.

Committee discussion and staff briefings emphasized that many actions were intended to increase housing supply by easing permitting or enabling new land for housing but that concerns remain about impacts on tribes, environmental review, campus land use, and local capacity. Multiple senators urged continued negotiation on contentious provisions despite the substitutes adopted during executive session.

The committee’s actions were voice votes recorded as “aye” or “nay” in the transcript and were entered as passed or recommended subject to signatures where indicated; the transcript did not include roll-call vote-by-name tallies in the public record.","In executive session the Senate Housing Committee adopted substitutes and recommended due pass or moved bills to rules or Ways and Means for several housing measures, including college land redevelopment, kit homes, opportunity zones, impact fees reforms, and permit streamlining; one SEPA reform was held back after tribal-notice concerns.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":93,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315883,"Senate committee hears bill to create short-term tenant assistance program funded by recording fees",1730,4428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486&start=2698&end=4428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378092-c8720ec1210b9964205950aaba294486/thumbnail_2698000.jpg","/articles/6315883/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-create-short-term-tenant-assistance-program-funded-by-recording-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315883-1197c3bd63a89d8f8cca9974e81db736/orig.mp4?Expires=1777112613&Signature=EaGS3s1VitqaEIwW92A4aZEN78WGd43HKYEcFn7vYh0g1iiuQNdvz2J9ZGm9K~TN8t6ndws3qtsJtSPvW5J6l~4TnVnwI2Bt3wH~Ox5nbf0d4nS9ZMIHoKzxKkitUsDnvRDXgea58So07yHRWSvej3uao0BBnq8FjLC9iWzFEHnlzzzoDU-~aVhmGk4ES4roE-TypUYGXycMxeRjGKJhj4SUYE4qOf1T1J4R58yqHdqtz~iSE3kFAeS9jN-e5d1OJKsfjanT7gmUglCDjivVeC3YZXADKPjPNmsETafJhZBiwAbM24gE695c1L42~feVaWZutu2uS7Y16UArGc7Z6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5,731, presented to the Senate Housing Committee, would create a tenant assistance program in the Department of Commerce to provide short-term grants to public housing authorities for eligible renters. Under the bill, payments could not exceed the lesser of $400 or the amount needed to reduce a household's monthly housing costs to no more than 30% of income. Eligible renters could receive payments for up to 12 consecutive months and would be required to recertify income monthly; recipients who provide false documentation would be required to repay benefits and would become ineligible.

Melissa Van Gorkom, staff to the committee, told members Commerce would prioritize renters at or below 60% of area median income or those receiving Supplemental Security Income and that the program would be funded by redirecting document recording fee distributions from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2032. Van Gorkom said Commerce anticipates additional staffing needs and JLARC was expected to audit the program, with an estimated JLARC cost of $440,000 for the 2029–31 biennium. Van Gorkom said a preliminary fiscal estimate shows a shift of about $25,500,000 each year from the Home Security Fund account and the Affordable Housing for All account to the new tenant assistance program.

The bill prompted sharply divided public testimony. Supporters from landlord and small-owner groups argued short-term rental assistance prevents evictions and stabilizes housing. Chester Baldwin, testifying for the Rental Housing Association Coalition and the Manufactured Housing Communities, said, “Rental assistance really puts everyone in the right positions because it has the housing provider able to continue to provide housing, it has the tenant who is paying rent when they can.” Gordon Hagerty, a small affordable housing provider, and others said short, targeted assistance is a cost-effective alternative to eviction and its downstream costs.

Tenant advocates, service providers and clinicians urged caution or opposed the proposal because it would divert existing homelessness-prevention funds. Carrie Burnside of the Bellingham Tenants Union told the committee the bill “allows landlords to continue excessive rent increases while shifting their financial burden to the state, the taxpayers.” Terry Anderson, interim executive director of the Tenants Union of Washington State, and Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned the measure would deplete document recording fee dollars that currently fund homelessness prevention and legal representation programs; Ms. Thomas cited a DRF shortfall figure raised in testimony and warned that sweeping funds from existing programs would weaken the state’s broader homelessness response.

Senator Alvarado asked whether the bill would allow a landlord to raise rent after assistance was provided. Van Gorkom replied the bill does not regulate future rent increases or landlord-side rent-setting. Dr. Daniel Lo, a family medicine physician testifying on behalf of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, said he supported the bill's intent to prevent homelessness but opposed the revenue shift, arguing that taking funds from acute services would worsen health outcomes.

No committee vote occurred; the bill was heard in public testimony only. Senators and advocates repeatedly urged alternative funding sources and broader housing policy options — including rent stabilization — as complementary or alternative strategies.

The hearing record shows substantial division: providers and some housing owners framed the bill as a short-term, targeted measure that prevents evictions; tenant advocates and homelessness-service providers said the design and funding source risked hollowing out other prevention services and urged structural fixes to rent increases instead.

Looking ahead, Commerce would be responsible for program rules, eligibility verification and administration if the Legislature enacts the bill. JLARC review and an annual Commerce report to the Legislature are required under the bill's provisions.","Senate Bill 5,731 would create a Department of Commerce tenant assistance program that pays up to $400 per month for up to 12 months to bring a renter's housing costs to 30% of income; staff and advocates disagreed sharply over using document recording fee revenues to fund the program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would target underutilized retail and commercial corridors for large-scale housing conversion; business groups back plan

Sponsor urges new public-housing paradigm; bill would create 21-member task force to study publicly owned mixed-income housing

Committee adopts substitutes and issues due-pass recommendations on several housing bills at policy cutoff

Senate committee hears bill to create short-term tenant assistance program funded by recording fees