House panel hears bill to make Commerce approve local housing plans before they take effect

House Bill 1235 would require cities and counties that plan under the Growth Management Act to submit housing elements and housing development regulations to the Washington State Department of Commerce for a determination of compliance before those rules take effect.

Representative Peterson, chair of the House Housing Committee and the bill’s prime sponsor, opened the hearing by saying the measure addresses the housing “supply” problem and is meant to help local governments comply with statewide housing policy. Audrey Vasek, staff to the committee, summarized the bill: jurisdictions must submit their housing elements and development regulations to Commerce within 10 days after final action to amend or replace them (and no later than six months after a comprehensive-plan update or five-year progress report is due). Commerce would have 90 days to issue a final compliance decision; until Commerce issues that decision, the submitted housing elements or…