State & Local Issues
As we look ahead to the 2026 legislative session, the NAIOPWA Government Affairs leadership team is actively engaging with lawmakers and stakeholders to position the commercial real estate (CRE) industry for success. Our priorities address both state and local issues while tackling major challenges that disproportionately affect our stakeholders in industrial, office, residential, retail, and other development sectors. By confronting these issues simultaneously and coordinating our strategic efforts, NAIOPWA continues to have an outsized voice and is recognized as an authority on all matters impacting CRE.
2026 Priorities:
- Reduce Barriers to Build: Lower upfront costs, Modernize Fees, and Promote Zoning Flexibility. High upfront fees and inflexible zoning policy stall housing projects and limit development opportunities. Our Vision: Impact fee reform and deferral options that keep infrastructure funded while unlocking new housing starts. By modernizing fee structures and allowing residential in commercially-zoned areas, we can deliver more homes statewide and strengthen local economies without sacrificing public investment.
- Protect Industrial Capacity & Reliability. Industrial land is the backbone of Washington’s economy, supporting jobs, tax revenue, and supply chain resilience. Yet restrictive regulations and warehouse moratoria threaten this critical sector and push jobs and investment further away, increasing traffic and emissions and harming Washington’s competitiveness. Our Vision: Guardrails that preserve industrial development and proactive energy planning to ensure reliable power access. By keeping industrial capacity local and planning for reliable energy, we can protect economic growth, sustain jobs, and reduce harmful environmental impacts.
- Remove Regulatory Roadblocks: Standardize Codes, Streamline Reviews, and Advance Transit-Oriented Development. Housing projects are stalled by lengthy environmental reviews and unpredictable code changes. Transit-oriented development (TOD) projects often face unclear affordability requirements that make them financially unworkable. Our Vision: A system that accelerates housing delivery near transit, reduces unnecessary delays, and provides certainty for builders through clear, objective standards. This means more homes in communities that need them most, and better alignment between affordability goals and market feasibility.
- Ensure Tax Fairness for Commercial Real Estate. Structural tax issues discourage investment and make projects financially infeasible. Our Vision: A fair tax environment that keeps capital flowing into Washington, accelerates housing production, and supports economic opportunity for families, businesses and renters across the state.
- Strengthen Public Safety & Modernize Operations. Safe communities and predictable operations are essential for delivering quality rental housing. When crime disrupts properties or job sites, projects stall, costs rise, and housing supply suffers for communities who need it. Our Vision: Policies that deter property crime and modernize rental housing operations, such as allowing electronic notices and creating uniformity in the RLTA, so homes remain available and become more affordable for Washington families.
- Corporate Priorities: Advocacy | NAIOP | Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Adaptive Reuse and Housing Affordability
- Electrification and Energy Policy
- Transportation and Infrastructure
GA Stakeholder Groups (Open to current funders only):
As a valued supporter of NAIOPWA, funders gain exclusive access to specialized workgroups that focus on key Government Affairs Stakeholder Groups. These workgroups provide a platform to engage in focused discussions, share insights, and shape advocacy strategies on critical issues impacting various sectors of the commercial real estate industry. Open to current funders only, these groups include
- Industrial
- Office
- Residential
- Retail
- Seattle
- Eastside
By joining these workgroups, funders have the opportunity to stay informed and directly influence policies that affect their business and the broader CRE landscape.
2026 GA Issues Funding
The long-term success of CRE depends on establishing a well of financial resources to support continuity in advocacy. In an environment of tax-focused politicians, the CRE community cannot afford to be unprepared.
NAIOPWA fights tirelessly for laws, regulations and policies that increase predictability, fairness and timeliness for the industry. Support from our Government Affairs contributors helps fund advocacy efforts that save developers precious time and money.
PAC Contributions
NAIOP WA’s PAC is solely supported by direct contributions. PAC contributions enable NAIOPWA to fund political campaigns, impacting election outcomes and expanding NAIOPWA’s political influence. Issues funding cannot be utilized for campaign contributions.
|
