Committee advances Housing Accountability Act requiring housing-element review by Commerce

The House Housing Committee on March 26 voted to report out Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5148, also called the Housing Accountability Act, directing cities and counties that are fully planning jurisdictions under the Growth Management Act to submit housing elements and related development regulations to the Department of Commerce for voluntary review and requiring submission as part of a targeted review no later than three years after enacting or updating a comprehensive plan.

The bill’s staff presenter, Audrey Vazic, staff to the committee, told members the measure requires jurisdictions to submit their housing element and any housing development regulations to the Department of Commerce for voluntary review “at any time” but requires submission as part of a targeted review no later than three years after a comprehensive plan update. Vazic said there were no amendments to the bill.

Committee members who spoke in favor framed the bill as a compliance and implementation measure for previously enacted housing laws. Vice Chair Hill, who moved the bill out of committee, described it as “really about compliance for laws that we've already enacted in this space” and said the measure balances giving cities time to adopt required work while ensuring implementation of prior legislation.

Some members noted local fiscal or implementation concerns. Representative Barkas said cities had raised questions about how the bill would be implemented and the potential fiscal burden on local governments, but said she would vote yes. No specific changes or amendments to the bill were offered during committee debate.

On the roll call, the clerk recorded 12 ayes, 5 nays and 0 excused. By that vote, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5148 was reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.

The bill will proceed from committee to the next stage in the House process for floor consideration and any further amendment.