REALTORS® Aim for Continuing Pro-Housing Momentum in the 2024 Legislative Session

In the 2024 Legislative Session of Washington State, REALTORS® Hope to continue the momentum from the historic 2023 "Year of Housing" session marked by the passage of a record number of pro-housing, REALTOR®-backed bills.

Washington REALTORS®’ Government Affairs team said the focus of the upcoming session will be on furthering last-year’s pro-housing legislation with four priorities:

1. Lot Splitting. This measure would increase housing options by allowing homeowners to create an additional residential buildable lot through an administrative process similar to lot line adjustments. In 2023, HB 1245 passed the House by a 94-2 vote.
2. Rural ADUs. This measure aims to correct unfairness pertaining to Detached ADUs, which are allowed in King County, but not elsewhere. (Attached units can be built in rural areas, but detached units are illegal, which WR believes is an inequity in housing supply in the state’s rural areas.) Last year, HB 1133 was introduced to allow (but with limits) DADUs outside urban growth areas.
3. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Realtors support legislation that provides state financial support for local TOD planning and infrastructure needs that also ensures such areas have a mix of residential and commercial development while providing community services and amenities. Last session, SB 5466 and HB 1517 were introduced as measures to increase housing supply via locally-developed programs for transit-oriented development.
4. Do No Harm. Emphasizing the fragility of the real estate market for single- and multi-family housing, and commercial real estate, and current economic conditions resulting in declining investments in such construction, Realtors ask that state and local tax and regulations not harm the real estate market or disincentivize investment in future supply.

REALTORS® from across the state convened in Olympia for 2024 Legislative Days on January 17 and 18, which include committee meetings and visits to legislators at the state capitol.