Ruling in favor of two groups trying to reopen environmental review of Seattle's Comprehensive Plan, a state Court of Appeals has affirmed a major loophole in recent state laws intended to reduce barriers to urban housing development. The decision could have big impacts statewide.
A proposal from Land Use Committee Chair Eddie Lin would bring Seattle's land use code in line with state law, following several changes in recent years that have limited the ability of legal appeals to slow down moves to densify Washington's cities. The move is already attracting opposition.
Community organizer Jaelynn Scott is the leading candidate for an open state House seat in the 37th LD. In her Urbanist interview, Scott stressed the need to stand up against federal overreach and fight for residents struggling with rising costs and displacement.
Governor Bob Ferguson signed a historic “millionaires’ tax” on Monday. Democratic leaders see it as a huge step forward in balancing the state’s tax code, but the tax will need to survive a court battle and Republican-backed repeal campaigns.
In this podcast episode, The Urbanist’s newsroom dives into recent headlines including Katie Wilson’s State of the City speech, which bills are moving and which are dying at the Washington State Legislation, and the Seattle Social Housing Developer’s latest moves.
Economic justice advocate John Burbank lays out the case for Washington state lawmakers to keep the estate tax, rather than capitulating to pressure to reduce Washington’s rate to avoid a feared exodus of billionaires and multimillionaires.
Amazon and Microsoft benefit handsomely from a tax loophole in the Workforce Education Investment Act. State lawmakers can end this tax giveaway to boost higher education funding. These tech giants donate millions to curry favor with the Trump administration and garner contracts in the hundreds of m
Elected officials in Washington state are being forced to prepare for the possibility of a similar ICE invasion as Minneapolis has endured. Immigrant and civil rights advocates are worried steps to prepare have been insufficient. Officials say they are prepping further actions.
Washington state lawmakers are moving to regulate the encroachment of artificial intelligence (AI) in daily life, proposing at least 14 bills. But tech leaders are pushing back, and could call on the feds to try to strike down state regulations.
In this podcast, The Urbanist newsroom previews Washington’s state legislative session and breaks down the huge setback dealt to the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement project, a highway boondoggle with a ballooning budget. Plus, Amy and Doug recounted their first interview with Seattle Mayor Katie W
The Washington State Legislature is considering a bill regulating the use of automatic license plate readers, responding to the revelation that ICE and other federal agents have accessed data for mass deportation purposes. Out-of-state law enforcement have also accessed data to hunt women pursuing a
With middle housing, transit-oriented development, and parking reform all checked off the list, the Washington legislature’s 2026 session looks to be more sedate when it comes to housing. But there are still some impactful reforms on deck tackling some of the smaller issues inhibiting housing produc
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is again focused on cuts to close a state budget shortfall, estimated at $2.3 billion for 2026. While he did signal support for an income tax on millionaires, his proposal would not begin collecting revenue until 2029. In the meantime, students at public schools and
84% of Washingtonians offered a $1,200 instant rebate on a new e-bike this spring followed through and made a purchase, compared to just 24% of those who were offered a $300 rebate. The lessons learned during the first rollout of the program are likely to shape the next round of incentives.
The Trump administration is gutting health care, child care, and food stamps. John Burbank argues Governor Bob Ferguson should immediately call a special session of the Washington State Legislature to fund services that the federal government has cut by taxing the corporations and billionaires bankr
Governor Bob Ferguson blocked efforts to tax the rich, pushing Democrats to implement austerity cuts that included raising the cost of child care and cutting early learning. A weakened social safety net makes the state less prepared to weather further Trump chaos.
Following a productive legislative session on the issue of housing, with around a dozen bills signed into law, Washington state lawmakers are already looking ahead to the next set of challenges to tackle.
The final state budget approved by the legislature left many lawmakers disappointed, and eager to start to work on ways to restore painful cuts and reform the state’s broken tax code.
New legislation in Olympia could help us rethink and reclaim the street as a true public easement. If passed and its provisions delivered, we can look forward to streets that are not only more welcoming of public life, but a lot less deadly to all users.
Governor Bob Ferguson’s reticence to approve new taxes represents a major obstacle to closing a big budget hole without deep cuts to social services. In fact, Ferguson announced Tuesday he would veto any budget that included a wealth tax, which could tie state lawmakers’ hands.
We need a Bob Ferguson like we had in 2017 who stands up to and confronts Trump, John Burbank opines. We need a Bob Ferguson who fights for all of us to thrive, setting an example of what is possible as the federal government descends into a kleptocracy.
The Washington State Legislature should pass HB 1217 to stabilize rents statewide. This is an important moment for housing supply advocates to show up in support of more stability for tenants.
Rep. Julia Reed’s House Bill 1839 would bring in over $200 million a year for higher education in by closing a tax loophole benefiting Amazon and Microsoft. The money is sorely needed to curb tuition and raise enrollment.
Seattle is seeking a fix at the state legislature to grow its civilian crisis response program following resistance from the Seattle Police Officers Guild that has blocked expansion. To stay alive, Rep. Shaun Scott’s HB 1816 will need to pass out of committee before a February 21 deadline.
Despite Governor Ferguson’s hemming and hawing, state lawmakers are advancing a wealth tax that could raise $3 billion annually to fully fund public schools and avert a budget crisis. Passing it would ensure Washington State Democrats are living their values amidst Trump’s assault on public services
State lawmakers are signaling intent to improve Amtrak Cascades service with legislation setting a goal of cutting the trip time from Seattle to Portland to 2.5 hours and boosting service to 14 daily trips with 88% on-time performance by 2035. If lawmakers pass the bill, the goal for trip time servi
As other states start to reassess their prioritization of expanding highway capacity in the face of ambitious climate goals and other transportation needs, Washington is still in denial mode.
With the baton passing from Jay Inslee to Bob Ferguson, Washington’s governor has placed more emphasis on fiscal austerity to solve the state’s looming budget deficit. But some lawmakers are intent on raising new revenue to avoid deep cuts to social programs.
Democratic leaders are saying this is the year that the Washington State Legislature will finally pass rent stabilization, with momentum building behind Rep. Emily Alvarado’s bill.
A new bill introduced at the state legislature by longtime housing advocate Jessica Bateman would represent a sea change, limiting the ability of cities and counties to mandate high amounts of parking.
A popular bill from 2024 that would legalize neighborhood cafes in residential areas across Washington is back in 2025. It will likely continue to face headwinds from local governments.
With a state budget deficit looming, Democrats may consider a JumpStart-like corporate payroll tax or other new revenue, to lessen the need for deep cuts.
Washington State’s current estate tax contains a loophole that shields estate funds that are in family foundations, showcasing the privilege of the very wealthy. The state legislature should close this loophole to reduce the need for draconian budget cuts.
Declining state transportation revenue and increased project costs are on a collision course. Long-promised highway projects, court-ordered fish culvert removal, and badly needed investments in transit, active transportation, and traffic safety are all fighting for a shrinking pie.
Big changes are coming to the Washington State Senate in 2025, including the elevation of incoming Senator Jessica Bateman to a high profile post as head of the Housing Committee, a symbol of the continued salience of the issue.
The Urbanist sat down with State Rep. Jessica Bateman, who is running for the Washington State Senate pledging to bring the same urgency around housing issues that she has brought to the lower chamber.
Check out our top ten lawmakers who distinguished themselves for good and bad from the 2024 session of the Washington State Legislature.
The “Year of Housing 2.0” at the state legislature yielded less progress than expected. Our March 26 virtual event will conduct an autopsy.
The state’s 60-day legislative session wrapped on March 7 with only a few housing bills headed to Governor Inslee’s desk. Rent stabilization, transit-oriented development, lot-splitting, and a builder’s remedy all failed to pass.
A bill pushed by Bothell Rep. Davina Duerr and approved by the Washington legislature this week would prioritize trees when retention policies come into conflict with local parking mandates.
A popular neighborhood cafe bill that sailed through the Washington House has run into problems in the Senate, mostly dealing with the question of local control. The Association of Washington Cities and the City of Bellevue have lobbied against the bill.
Last week, the Washington House passed HB 2160, which has the potential to open up significant areas around transit for new homes. Hurdles remain to win passage in the Senate, including objections to the bill’s requirement that 10% of new units be affordable.
Time is running out to pass rent stabilization in the state house or miss a key bill cutoff, putting off rent relief for another year. Supporters are rallying support in a last ditch effort.
The Washington State House passed a bill allowing cities to move their elections to even years, when turnout is much higher. The bill still needs to pass the state senate to become law.
Washington State could see more small neighborhood cafes opening up within short walking distances of homes, under a proposal advancing at the state legislature. If enacted, the change would represent a significant inroad in the rolling-back of strict zoning laws that have been in place for decades segregating commercial and
The Washington State Legislature is considering legalizing “co-living housing” in cities and towns across Washington, which could open the door to new micro-apartments offered at lower rents and help fill a niche that’s primarily being left to subsidized housing to solve. House Bill 1998, sponsored by Representative Mia Gregerson
The bill could result in a builder’s remedy to force resistant jurisdictions to allow apartment construction. Representative Jessica Bateman (D-22, Olympia) has filed a brand new bill that seeks to push local governments to increase housing production, especially those that have set up a regulatory gauntlet to restrict homebuilding.
In 2023 the stakes are the highest they have ever been. Wildfires and sea level rise have put the climate crisis in stark context. The Quinault Tribe is relocating their ancestral village away from rising tides. Entire towns are at risk of being wiped out from wildfires. Unequal access to
While 2023 was dubbed the ‘year of housing,’ 2024 could be a second act, with unfinished business left to tackle. In 2023, the Washington State Legislature focused its attention on increasing the state’s housing supply with a fervor not seen in decades. And that attention paid off. Laws were
After including a much-celebrated $50 million allocation for Seattle’s deadliest state highway, Aurora Avenue N, in the 2022 Move Ahead Washington transportation package, the state legislature adopted a budget this year that doesn’t anticipate actually allocating that funding anytime soon. If signed by Governor Jay Inslee as expected,
Single family zoning will soon be a thing of the past for most Washington cities thanks to passage of statewide “missing middle” housing reform this state legislative session. This monumental success was thanks in large part to lawmaker heroes named below and the far-ranging coalition that coalesced behind the bill.
With time ticking, a flurry of floor votes in Olympia advanced reforms of single-family zoning, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and design review, leaving concurrence or conference committee as final hurdle. * In This Digest: * Important Bills At A Glance * Weekly Focus: So You’ve Passed Your Second Chamber! Now what? Adjournment
Many urbanists had high hopes that Senate Bill 5466 guaranteeing denser transit-oriented development (TOD) near rapid transit would sail through the State Legislature after it cleared the State Senate and moved over to House. But amendments prompted by hesitant House Democrats gutted the bill, greatly pared back its scope and
WALeg Wednesday considers bill shrinkage and more legislative budget proposals fill in the state financial picture. * In This Digest: * Striker Amendments Threaten 75% to 94% of TOD * Important Bills At A Glance * Weekly Focus: Washington’s Operating Budget Starts to Take Shape Striker amendments threaten 75% to 94% of potential
Partnering with Republicans on housing supply may have helped doom tenant legislation. Last Wednesday marked a major deadline for bills in the Washington State Legislature, and rent stabilization didn’t make the cut. State Democratic leaders had talked about the need for a three-legged stool of housing supply, subsidy, and
WALeg Wednesday Prepares for Floor Vote Frenzies and Small Improvements to Regulations. * In This Digest: * Important Bills At A Glance * Weekly Focus: Lot Splitting and Statewide ADUs Another week in the Washington Legislature and another legislative calendar cutoff has passed. Bills that did not get out of their respective chamber’
Washington’s missing middle housing bill, HB 1110, continues to move through the state legislative process. On Friday, it passed out of the House Appropriations Committee and onto the House Rules Committee with a slate of substantive changes paring it back. It has until 5:00pm on March 8th to
A bill allowing single-stairway “point access block” buildings would enhance housing and neighborhoods. On February 2nd the Washington State Senate held its first hearing on SB 5491, a bill that adds a powerful tool to the state’s housing arsenal by permitting point access blocks — compact single stair buildings with
In this first week of the long Washington State legislative session, we’re going to look at: * Welcome Back! A reminder how to legislate. * Important Bills at a Glance * HB 1110 – Missing Middle * HB 1181 – GMA Climate Change provisions * HB 1045 – Evergreen Basic Income pilot * HB 1026 – Local Government Design