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Task force members press for clarity on what authority a new housing agency would have
Summary
Members including local government representatives and legislators asked how a lead Department of Housing would exercise authority over local land use, funding conditions, and compliance; some said authority is necessary to overcome the status quo, while others cautioned that few structures can 'compel' housing production without careful statutory design.
Several task force members pushed staff to detail what statutory authorities a Department of Housing would need to hold partners accountable. Carl Schrader of the Association of Washington Cities noted that "I'm not aware of anything that compels housing" and asked for concrete operational proposals before endorsing a model. Curtis Steinhardt (Washington State Association of Counties) and others emphasized that many low-income and homeless-services programs do not directly increase supply but are essential to keep people housed.
Lieutenant Governor Heck and others countered that without new authority the status quo will persist. "Local governments often prevent homes from being built by the way that they regulate land use and development," he said, and argued the task force must grapple with hard statutory decisions. Staff and members agreed the O&M subcommittee should work through where authority would sit and how to phase changes to avoid unnecessary disruption.
