[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6190062,"mediaKeyId","5052960-520ba455ab14ae94933b49040eccbed3","parentId",5052960,"title","Renton staff outline gains and losses from 2025 Washington legislative session","audioSeconds",2492,"startMs",140000,"endMs",2632000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052960-520ba455ab14ae94933b49040eccbed3&start=140&end=2632","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052960-520ba455ab14ae94933b49040eccbed3/thumbnail_140000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6190062/Renton/King-County/Washington/Renton-staff-outline-gains-and-losses-from-2025-Washington-legislative-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190062-d5b88e23308cac495db611bed55dc71b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163603&Signature=AG6j05hZ6FQoY9X-NTJv6BxkUMB2jPbjSAd-2hmyG9Oh8mpMiku-22efkoWvtl--5hyPsQKBIyfGgdYzo~F3pTR8-OCDAPBe3bxANZ4qI0Fs3WKCKB6FWaH5xZzaLIGnWO65HyPoUNcYxieVjtPKapfmD4mL3xkPt9PS3Dwk7dCn5DD2kdRj9n5ygfwLJvn1cVMIyiAQqbNmYe9MB1tabuaLIVa54omDz8NFL7k9ywm~Ue~spuUuE7kXopunuIhTZ3iRH93kIFTlgaW6keNQKxIQTpcSQAk25u8exPoBa56IZ~kBKr8or-Wi6QswF5VIkXhX8TxAWSKY5470fuyF~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Renton City, WA","date","2025-06-24T04:50:00.883Z","article","Eric Perry, government affairs manager for the City of Renton, and David Foster, the city’s contract lobbyist in Olympia, briefed the Renton City Council on the outcomes of the 2025 Washington state legislative session and what those results mean for city projects and budgets.

\"We are here to present a post session update on the 2025 state legislative session,\" Perry said, opening the presentation. The update summarized changes to legislative membership, the three state budgets, and legislation Renton staff tracked or supported.

The nut graf: The session produced a mix of targeted capital funding that protects existing projects and broader policy changes that will affect local planning. For Renton, officials highlighted capital allocations that preserve construction timelines, new local options for public safety funding, and statewide policy changes on housing, parking and transportation that reduce some local control.

Most immediately tangible for the city were capital wins and losses. Renton received the full $1.5 million requested for Legacy Square from legislators in the 11th District. City presenters also said state funding continues for ongoing construction on the I‑405 widening work near Renton and for State Route 167 corridor improvements; Perry described those as roughly \"90 some million dollars\" and \"94,000,000 and some change,\" respectively, for current work. At the same time, city staff said the legislature removed $2 million that Renton had sought for a Practical Solutions study tied to the North Eighth Street direct access ramp — funding for preliminary cost‑saving design work rather than the main construction pot.

Public safety and local option funding: House Bill 2015

Perry and Foster flagged House Bill 2015 as a major policy development. HB 2015 authorizes a council‑level local sales tax option — a one‑tenth of one percent councilmanic sales tax — that jurisdictions could use for officer recruitment and retention, public defenders, domestic violence programs, behavioral health, alternative response and associated programs. The bill also creates a statewide grant program administered by the Criminal Justice Training Commission (referred to in the presentation as the Criminal Justice Training Center/Commission) with about $100 million available to cities and counties.

Perry noted details of the grant program cited in the bill: the state grant can fund up to 75% of a sworn officer salary for up to three years with a $125,000 cap per position. Perry said the commission will publish guidance and eligibility details, and Foster added that the guidance will \"take a little bit of time to come out\" and that staff expect to return to council with recommendations once state rules are released.

Transportation, connectivity and other budget items

To help close a multi‑year shortfall in the transportation budget, the legislature approved a 6‑cent per gallon gas tax increase; Foster said cities should see increased revenue share from that change. The operating and capital budgets remain sensitive: Renton staff said the state entered the session facing a multiyear operating shortfall that reached roughly $16 billion on a four‑year outlook and an approximately $8 billion shortfall in the transportation six‑year outlook, driving a mix of new taxes and cuts in the final package.

Behavioral health and human services

Perry grouped HB 2015 within behavioral health and human services because its allowable uses include co‑responder teams and behavioral health personnel. Renton also won a portion of Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA) funding — $25 million statewide for one year — short of the $60 million the city and other jurisdictions had requested but identified by staff as important near‑term support.

Housing, planning and local control

Session legislation will change local planning and code in several ways Renton staff flagged. House Bill 1491 includes provisions on transit‑oriented development (TOD) density that cities must plan for. Senate Bill 5184 limits local parking requirements for many housing projects to roughly one half‑space per unit (or one space per two units) with complete exemptions for affordable housing, which staff described as a significant reduction in previous local discretion on parking. Foster summarized the trend as the legislature taking a more proactive role on zoning to increase housing supply and reduce development costs.

Other notable laws and policy changes

Renton staff also noted passage of the RAP Act extension of producer responsibility (a step staff said could enable broader recycling programs), changes to the Clean Buildings performance pathways and an extension of paid family and medical leave. The legislature approved limited allowances for \"libation zones\" (outdoor areas where patrons can carry drinks) tied in part to planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup; attendees asked staff about sunset dates, and presenters said the outdoor authorizations run through Dec. 31, 2026, while certain civic campus permissions run through Dec. 31, 2027. Foster and Perry emphasized that staff will return with implementation options and that many of the new authorities and grants will require further guidance from state agencies.

What happens next

Perry reminded the council that the enacted two‑year budgets take effect July 1, 2025, and that statutory effective dates for many bills are typically about three months after the session ends. Foster said several items — especially HB 2015 guidance, grant rules and details on implementation — will arrive later and that city departments are already reviewing which programs and projects could use the new authorities or grants. He added, \"a lot of education that had to take place,\" on the session itself as many legislators were newly assigned to committees and leadership roles.

Council members asked for follow‑up details on how Renton could use HB 2015 revenue, how safe‑routes and shared‑street grants would be distributed, and whether Renton Airport would be exempt from certain parking statutes; presenters said staff would follow up with specific briefings and legal review. Foster and Perry also reminded the council that unresolved items — notably a proposed property tax cap — did not pass and could return in future sessions.

Why it matters locally: Renton faces a mix of preserved construction funding, narrower local policy control on housing and parking, new local revenue tools for public safety, and grant opportunities that may offset some state fiscal pressures. City staff framed the session as a difficult one for legislators and local governments — heavy on transition, shortfalls and consequential policy choices — and said more implementation details are coming back to the council for policy decisions.

Ending: Staff committed to bringing recommendations to council on both how to pursue the new grant and sales tax options under HB 2015 and on projects that may apply for safe‑routes and transportation grants. Foster said staff will track special elections and initiative activity that could change the landscape further in 2026.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Eric Perry, government affairs manager for the City of Renton, and David Foster, the city’s contract lobbyist in Olympia, briefed the Renton City Council on the outcomes of the 2025 Washington state legislative session and what those results mean for city projects and budgets.","taxTitle","Renton, King County, Washington","taxId",2571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190057,"Renton council adopts SKHHP 2026 budget, approves multiple contracts and grants",150,3600000,3750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052960-520ba455ab14ae94933b49040eccbed3&start=3600&end=3750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052960-520ba455ab14ae94933b49040eccbed3/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6190057/Renton/King-County/Washington/Renton-council-adopts-SKHHP-2026-budget-approves-multiple-contracts-and-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190057-f91940daaa097cb7143c29705d210f9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163603&Signature=Sp5IoFnCHoIpuOyRo-J5EuYQGyBVoi1DHBBAzCL7lulth16J0kEQvxZC2Ja34indDr9t1PlhFce5i2DF2k09RR1wt4IHA-CRXKCHsvpAizL7ySCyju4wqtIozSxzuCnqKh47TY9cZpqipwbQz4-2wLOGwim4Dk2zkms~cpc59H0v92S6GofdCbDdJIb~LVtBAlEcc~JCvyI6pVpUk5WMIvUkGy7MW6Ywi03IivEh5l-wV5EogBdYv1IjuBVVV3GYOPfvJwjP50WJehsqW9qUHYC9Lbd8SlBVLzmdAfdA1CcDkMLSiKBI5qk5X3UA1i0tkh2RmZnEbXBFtuTQOXFpIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Renton City Council adopted a resolution approving the South King County Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) 2026 work program and operating budget and unanimously approved a slate of finance committee recommendations on contracts, grants, personnel and insurance renewals.

The nut graf: In a single council meeting the body approved SKHHP’s 2026 work plan, authorized capital and operating contracts, accepted multiple grant agreements funded from state sales‑and‑use tax allocations, approved a property purchase agreement and authorized the state auditor engagement for the 2024 audit. Most motions were approved by voice vote at the council meeting; where vote counts were not recorded on the record, the proceedings show the motions passed.

Items adopted or authorized at the meeting included:

- Adoption of a resolution approving the SKHHP 2026 work program and operating budget. The planning and development committee recommended concurrence and the council voted to adopt the resolution.

- Approval of claims and payroll vouchers (accounts payable and payroll disbursements). Finance staff presented vouchers and payroll totals; council concurred with the finance committee recommendation.

- Approval to add one full‑time equivalent capital project coordinator position with a 2025 budget allocation of $176,242 to address backlog in capital and repair maintenance projects.

- Conversion of a vacant public records specialist position (salary grade A17) to an enterprise content specialist I/II (salary grade A16 or A20) and related appropriations to fund the conversion.

- Authorization for a professional services agreement with Facet Northwest, Inc. for preliminary site assessment and community engagement for the Cedar River Natural Area Mountain Bike Park project in the amount of $56,065, and a related budget appropriation of $200,000 to cover the contract and a future design/permitting amendment.

- Approval of a $900,000 grant agreement to Homestead Community Trust for Willowcrest Phase 2, funded by HB 1590 sales and use tax allocations.

- Approval of a $500,000 grant agreement with Wayback Inn and St. Stephen Housing Association for the Steel House townhome development, funded by HB 1590 sales and use tax allocations.

- Authorization to execute a purchase and sale agreement with Stacy Holdings LLC for King County parcels 3023059096, 3023059098, 3023059099 and 3023059091 and related documents, with total sale price and closing costs not to exceed $8,500,000.

- Approval to execute the annual audit engagement letter with the Office of the Washington State Auditor for fiscal year 2024 services at an estimated cost of $112,000.

- Renewal of the city’s property, pollution and cybersecurity insurance policies for the period 07/01/2025 through 07/01/2026 in the amount of $1,438,455.31 (a 2.74% decrease from the prior year premium), to be bound through the city’s broker, Alliant Insurance Services.

Each of the above items was introduced to the council by committee report (primarily the finance committee) and carried by motion. The meeting record shows voice votes with \"all in favor, say aye,\" followed by \"motion passes\" for the listed items; no roll‑call tallies were recorded on the public record included in the meeting transcript.

Also on first reading the council placed an ordinance amending several subsections of the Renton Municipal Code (4‑6‑060 series) on second reading at the next council meeting. The ordinance was moved to second and final reading on the next meeting without recorded opposition.

Ending: Council members and staff asked for follow‑up materials on several items — including project timelines for the Cedar River bike‑park planning contract and legal clarifications on the Stacy Holdings property purchase — and staff said they would provide those details in future committee materials and council packets.","Council voted to adopt the South King County Housing and Homelessness Partners 2026 work plan and budget and approved a series of finance committee recommendations, including capital contracts, grant agreements and a property purchase; most actions were voice votes recorded as passed.","actionData","errors"]

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Renton staff outline gains and losses from 2025 Washington legislative session

Renton council adopts SKHHP 2026 budget, approves multiple contracts and grants