Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Washington state is the country’s eighth-fastest growing state. Unfortunately, our housing has not kept pace. Too few homes and too many renters and prospective buyers have led to an affordable housing crisis. The housing supply shortage is driving up costs, straining Washingtonians financially, and forcing some from their homes.
I am always working on new ways to help create more housing options, make our housing laws more efficient, and ensure Washingtonians are treated fairly. This often means re-imagining what the process of building housing looks like. Exploring new housing models — like my co-living bill last year and the push to legalize single-stair housing — can help break down the barriers fueling this crisis.
SB 5613 would continue this effort, directing the Department of Commerce to form a workgroup to analyze development regulations creating barriers to housing types and suggest model codes with clearer, more objective standards. Without clear, predictable regulations, housing development takes longer, slowing all the urgent work we’ve done to get more housing to market.
SB 5156 would follow up on our single-stair effort by allowing smaller elevators to be built in these new, smaller buildings which are standard in much of Europe. For many smaller buildings a standard size elevator isn’t feasible. It’s too large and too expensive. For that reason, most smaller buildings simply do not have an elevator or else must eliminate apartments to build one. I am hopeful we can break out of this self-imposed dichotomy and make buildings more accessible while ensuring safety for fire and rescue workers.
While we are working to build more housing, we must ensure renters aren’t taken advantage of. Recently, we have seen worrying cases of landlords using algorithmic rent-setting software, which collects data from different landlords and databases. This is, in essence, price-fixing and it should be plainly illegal.
SB 5469 would ban the use of any software that stifles competition and allows landlords to collude and unjustly raise Washingtonians’ rent. The Department of Justice and 10 other states, including ours, are suing Real Page, this software’s largest provider. I am hopeful that we can soon pass this bill to end algorithmic rent-fixing in Washington for good.
Stay in Touch
Remember, your voice is integral to the lawmaking process. As we continue through the 2025 session, I hope you will continue to reach out and share your thoughts.
I look forward to continuing to learn more about your priorities — you can send me an email at Jesse.Salomon@leg.wa.gov or call 360-786-7662.
Sincerely,
