City attorney flags state bills on RVs-as-housing and meter opt-out as council watches

Port Orchard’s city attorney briefed the council on Jan. 28 about state bills the city is tracking during the 2025 legislative session, highlighting land-use and operational measures that could affect municipal regulation and service delivery.

Attorney Archer told council members the city is monitoring Senate Bill 5332 (among many land-use bills) that would allow motor homes or recreational vehicles to be used as dwelling units on residential lots provided utility hookups exist. Archer said the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) is opposed and that the bill remains before housing/land-use committees. She also described a proposed public records-related bill that would create a new cause of action for current and former employees seeking personnel files and a separate bill that would let customers opt out of radio-read utility meters — a change she said could invalidate agencies’ use of that technology.

Why it matters: SB 5332 would limit local land-use discretion by permitting RVs as dwelling units where hookups are available, which city staff said the AWC and local regulators view as presenting operational and regulatory challenges. The meter opt-out bill, if enacted, could require utilities to maintain alternative meter-reading systems and create administrative and cost burdens.

What city staff said: Archer said more than 180 land-use bills are pending and singled out the RV-as-dwelling proposal and the meter opt-out as “concerning” for local regulators. She said the public records proposal would impose penalties ($500 automatically, rising to $1,000 after 38 days) if personnel file requests are not satisfied in a new statutory timeframe.

Next steps: City staff and the mayor’s lobbyist are monitoring bills and relaying positions to the city’s lobbyist and the AWC. Archer offered to report back when committee action changes; Council member Chang asked staff to follow up on committee scheduling for the RV measure.