The latest results of the 2023 Seattle City Council election indicate a new phase for NAIOPWA’s local advocacy. Through a substantial fundraising effort, we were able to support candidates in key races who offer a change in direction for many important issues our industry faces.
To view NAIOP's bill tracking report and the full legislative update, log in to your NAIOPWA member profile by clicking below.
For more information about becoming a member, contact Danielle Duvall, [email protected].
To view NAIOP's bill tracking report and the full legislative update, log in to your NAIOPWA member profile by clicking below.
For more information about becoming a member, contact Danielle Duvall, [email protected].
Log in to your NAIOPWA member profile to see the status of the bills we are following and committee hearings next week.
For more information about joining NAIOP and receiving exclusive legislative updates, contact Danielle Duvall, [email protected].
I will provide a more detailed update of which priority bills have moved out of committee after February 17.
For more information about joining NAIOP and gaining access to exclusive legislative reports, contact Danielle Duvall, [email protected].
The 2023 session of the Washington State Legislature convened on January 9 for a 105-day legislative session. This is the first since 2020 to completely return to Olympia for both committee hearings as well as floor action. One addition to the legislative process is the complete integration of hybrid legislative hearings allowing for both in person testimony as well as remote testimony allowing individuals who cannot make the trip to Olympia to participate in hearings from around the state.
Per tradition, the first few days were dedicated to the organization of the legislature, the swearing in of public officials, as well as a state of the state address from Governor Inslee in which he presented his priorities for the legislative session. Governor Inslee outlined several policies including significant increases in spending on housing, homelessness, behavioral health, and education. He also advanced policies on gun control and abortion rights.
NAIOPWA Member McKenzie Darr of The Wolff Company has compiled a concise update of our chapter advocacy updates, including news and bills we're keeping our eye on. For more information about getting involved with NAIOPWA's government affairs efforts, click here.
The 2021 legislative session is underway. NAIOPWA is publishing exclusive weekly legislative updates online for chapter members. Select key pieces of legislation proposed this session are outlined below.
We're beginning the fifth week of the session, and bills must be passed out of policy committees in one week's time--Monday, Feb. 15, is the deadline.
The early action COVID relief package is expected to pass the Senate this week (HB 1368). Both chambers now have transportation packages in play and a capital gains bill has been introduced in the House.
NAIOPWA's state lobbyist, Greg Hanon, sends weekly reports for NAIOPWA members during the legislative session. These include a brief overview of session activity and highlights of the most pertinent issues for our industry. Additionally, Greg includes a complete list of bills and hearings that inform how we do business in Washington State. You'll see a link to download that list at the end of each short weekly update.
After three complete weeks in session, two weeks of policy hearings are next. Bills need to be passed out of policy committee by February 15.
NAIOPWA is a member of the Partnership for Affordable Housing. We are committed to policies that increase housing creation, access, and affordability. Legislators are considering a rent control bill that would have grave consequences for housing creation and long-term access to affordable housing. SB 5139 would impose the strictest rent control in the nation.
What's ahead for commercial real estate in 2021? Seattle will have another wide-open mayoral election, Olympia will battle huge shifts in revenues related to COVID-19, NAIOPWA's seeing movement on initiatives on the Eastside, and much more is on the table. Click here to continue reading this post (login required).
Update & Summary for August 3, 2020:
The WA Dept. of Ecology's new Expedited VCP, launched on July 1, 2020, is a self-sustaining process with dedicated staff to respond quickly to the needs of developers working under compressed schedules. The time to get through the expedited VCP could be as short as 4 months compared to 18 months (or more) under the regular VCP. The new program also allows moving sites in the regular VCP to the Expedited VCP as long as certain requirements are met.
NAIOP, along with AGC, requested clarification on Governor Inslee's recent “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order as it relates to construction activities. The newly released Construction Guidance Memo is online.
In support of our 1,000+ association members, the commercial real estate business industry and the community at large, NAIOP Washington State has submitted an official request to Governor Jay Inslee and to the State Building Code Council requesting a 6-month delay in implementation of new building codes, to January 1, 2021.
Congratulations to the NAIOPWA Government Affairs and Membership Committees, as well as our own Executive Director Peggi Lewis Fu for top honors at NAIOP's 2018 Chapter Legislative and Leadership Retreat! Our volunteer and staff leadership were honored with 2018 Chapter Merit Awards for above-and-beyond efforts, including the most new members in 2017.
Special thanks to our Government Affairs chairs, Nancy Rogers and Donnie Belk, and board liaison Ann Bishop; and our 2017 Membership chairs, Danny Jackson and Steve Cory, and board liaison Monty Kilcup; as well as 2017 Chapter President Kristin Jensen. You make NAIOPWA the leading organization for CRE professionals in Washington State.
The 2017 session of the Washington State Legislature is now in its second 30-day special session in order to find agreement on the level and sources of funding for the McCleary decision to fully fund K-12 education. The legislature is expected to reach agreement by the end of the special session on June 21, or by June 30, the final day of the current biennium.
The Washington Supreme Court ruled in McCleary that school districts’ reliance on local levies, and the ability of local communities to pay for those levies, varied dramatically around the state and resulted in inequitable funding of K-12 education. The legislature’s challenge has been to equitably fund education statewide.
This is why NAIOP works.
