The Housing Accountability Act passed the Senate on a 46-2 vote on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 5148, sponsored by Sen. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia), helps ensure cities and local governments comply with state laws that expand housing affordability options and require the reform and modernization of local land use regulations.
“We’ve passed major, transformative affordable housing legislation in the past three years. We must ensure the promises we’ve made are kept, and the benefits of our legislation are realized for families across Washington,” Bateman said. “We know housing is too unaffordable today and the people our communities rely on — teachers, childcare providers, and service and retail workers — can’t find affordable homes in the places they serve. We don’t want to see Washington state turn into a checkerboard of affordability, where some people have affordable housing and other folks who live a mile or two across the border in another city or county do not. This bill will help ensure every community sees the benefit of more affordable housing.”
Under the bill, the Department of Commerce would review comprehensive land use plans drafted by cities and counties to ensure local governments comply with state laws like House Bill 1110, a major housing reform bill passed in 2023 to expand affordable housing options like duplexes and apartments statewide.
Local governments would have two pathways to report to Commerce — voluntary reporting or a mandatory review. The cities that voluntarily submit plans for state review would be prioritized for financial support for infrastructure projects funded by the state’s Public Works Board once plans are found to be compliant with state law.
Local governments that do not voluntarily report to Commerce would still be subject to mandatory review no later than three years after their comprehensive plan update. Local governments under mandatory review that remain out of compliance after multiple review cycles could face a ‘builder’s remedy,’ requiring them to approve affordable housing projects while work to get back on track is done.
“Our goal is to see affordable housing built across Washington,” Bateman said. “Under this bill, our state, cities and counties can work together collaboratively to ensure we fulfill the promises we’ve made and build the housing needed to give more people a chance to own their home, build wealth, and provide solid foundations of economic stability and opportunity for themselves and the next generation.”
The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
