Committee hears testimony on HB 1212 to require cities to allow childcare centers in most zones

The Local Government Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1212, which would require cities and towns to allow childcare centers as an outright permitted use in all zones except industrial zones and to adopt related ordinance changes within specified timelines. The hearing included a staff bill briefing, a written statement read for the absent sponsor, and several supportive testimony from advocacy groups and providers.

Elizabeth Allison, staff to the committee, summarized the bill and the key implementation deadlines: cities must allow childcare centers as outright permitted uses in all zones except industrial zones; cities may impose reasonable permit restrictions; and jurisdictions must incorporate the requirement by ordinance no later than one year after their next comprehensive plan update or within one year of the act's effective date if a jurisdiction is not planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA).…