Senate committee advances bill to require cities to allow step housing after heated debate over transit and supervision rules

The state Senate Housing Committee on return from caucus voted to advance substitute House Bill 2266, a measure that would require cities and planning counties in urban growth areas to allow transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in certain zones and to apply streamlined administrative design review where applicable.

Committee staff described the bill as removing some zoning barriers and directing jurisdictions to adopt the act’s requirements within two years or at their next comprehensive-plan update.

The hearing focused on a set of proposed amendments. Senator Gildan proposed amendment A1 to require step-housing zones be within 1 mile of transit. "Let's get them in places where, they will be near to transit and they can get to the places they need to be at to complete their recovery," Senator Gildan said, arguing residents often lack private transportation.

Chair member…