2025 Legislative Session Review – The Year of Housing 2.0
In 2023, the Washington State Legislature made a record investment into affordable housing. This unprecedented level of support led many to label 2023 “The Year of Housing” and underscored that our state’s lawmakers were taking the critical need for more housing, in more places, seriously.
We are so pleased that lightning struck twice.
In late April the 2025 legislative session came to a whirlwind close, bringing with it a staggering level of success for over one dozen critical housing-related bills. This legislation, which has since been signed by the Governor, is essential to stabilizing, supporting, and expanding affordable housing in Washington. From requiring density near transit, to limiting rent increases, to working to address historic discrimination in homeownership, these bills represent progress worthy of the moniker “The Year of Housing 2.0.”
These bills wouldn’t have survived without overwhelming public support. Thank you so much to everyone who took action—writing letters, signing in PRO, testifying, and so much more.
We hope you’re feeling as energized as we are. Make sure to sign up for our advocacy emails and alerts for the next opportunities to engage. Thank you for your support of a more equitable and affordable Washington!
Legislative Victories!
- $600 Million for the Housing Trust Fund and $100 Million for Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) – funds affordable housing development through the capital budget (HB 1216/SB 5195).
- Condominium Reform (HB 1403) – reforms the state condo liability code to make it easier to build condos as a lower-cost homeownership option.
- Affordable Homeownership Insurance Study (HB 1516) – studies insurance coverage options for permanently affordable homeownership units.
- Covenant Homeownership Account Trailer Bill (HB 1696) – enacts recommendations from the Covenant Homeownership Program Study.
- Expanding Funding for Homelessness Services and the Covenant Homeownership Program (HB 1858) – removes exemptions from the document recording fee for previously-recorded deeds of trust.
- Transit-Oriented Development (HB 1491) – requires cities to allow for more residential density near transit.
- Parking Reform (SB 5184) – reforms minimum parking requirements to make it easier to build affordable housing.
- Rent Stabilization (HB 1217) – enacts statewide limits on rent increases
- Housing Accountability Act (SB 5148) – creates a builders remedy for affordable housing, prohibiting a city or county from denying an affordable housing development unless they have a compliant housing element.
- Lot Splitting (HB 1096) – helps homeowners stay in their homes and communities while creating lower-cost home options for others.
- Historic Landmarks (HB 1576) – restricts the designation of properties as historic landmarks.
- Foreclosure Mediation (SB 5686) – expands foreclosure mediation funding, with an $80 fee on mortgage originations.
- Housing Court Commissioners (HB 1621) – addresses court capacity for unlawful detainer actions by authorizing superior courts to appoint housing court commissioners.
