Panel hears bill to let social‑housing public development authorities use housing cooperation tools
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Summary
EHB 1687 would add 'social housing public development authorities' to the housing cooperation law so cities and counties can assist social housing PDAs with land, infrastructure and zoning flexibilities; the committee heard staff and local proponents who said it primarily applies to one large city today.
The Senate Housing Committee received briefings and testimony on Engrossed House Bill 1687, which would permit state and local governments to assist "social housing public development authorities" (PDAs) under the housing cooperation law.
Committee staff explained that PDAs are public corporations formed by local governments and that assistance under the housing cooperation law can include lending or donating money, providing infrastructure, leasing or selling property, and granting zoning exceptions. EHB 1687 would explicitly add social housing PDAs — public corporations created to develop, maintain and operate permanently publicly owned, subsidized or cross‑subsidized rental housing — to that statute.
"This really only applies to one city greater than 800,000 people west of the Cascade Mountains currently," Representative Julia Reed said, adding that the change does not authorize a PDA to act independently of the creating city and that both the executive and legislative branches of a municipality must approve actions under the law.
Remote and in‑person proponents, including Mike Eliasson (Seattle Social Housing), Jeff Paul (House Our Neighbors) and Benjamin Maritz (Great Expectations), testified the authority will help create and preserve deeper affordability and allow cities to partner more flexibly with social housing developers. Jeff Paul said the change "doesn't cost us any money, but enables the government to work better" and noted Seattle voters previously approved a social housing developer initiative.
The committee received proponent testimony and closed the hearing; staff indicated a fiscal note was available and estimated no state or local fiscal impacts in the briefing. The committee later considered other bills in executive session and closed the record for EHB 1687.
