FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2025 OLMYPIA – Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver) issued the following statement Thursday detailing her opposition to House Bill 1217: “Today, on the Senate floor, I spoke against the rent control and rent stabilization bill. While well-intentioned, this bill won’t stop runaway housing costs for families in southwest Washington — it will make them worse. “We must protect renters, especially our most vulnerable neighbors. But how we do that matters — and blanket rent control isn’t the answer. “Rent caps limit how much rent can rise each year. While they may sound like safeguards, they’re short-term ceilings that prevent rents from adjusting to real costs like insurance, property taxes, and maintenance.  Preventing rent from accurately reflecting costs causes serious, ...