WMFHA Legislative Session Update
WMFHA Legislative Session Update: Weeks 1–2
The 2026 Washington State legislative session is now underway, and the opening weeks have made clear just how quickly policy debates move in a 60-day short session. From early budget framing to a steady drumbeat of committee hearings on housing-related bills, WMFHA has been fully engaged from day one to ensure the voices and operational realities of housing providers are front and center in Olympia.
The Legislature convened to begin the second half of the 2025–27 biennium with a compressed timeline and limited runway for major policy shifts. Lawmakers began budget work using Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental operating budget, a roughly $79 billion plan prioritizing housing, disaster response, and core state services. While the Governor continues to support a proposed “millionaire tax,” the supplemental budget does not rely on that revenue, signaling that broader tax debates may unfold separately from immediate budget balancing.
Early leadership messaging underscored both urgency and contrast. Governor Ferguson emphasized stability, affordability, and continuity, while Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck urged bipartisan cooperation and respect for institutional norms. In the House, Speaker Laurie Jinkins framed the session within a broader national context, while House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary challenged lawmakers to reflect on how state policy choices may be contributing to rising costs for housing and everyday living. Polling reported by The Seattle Times showing strong public support for a proposed millionaire tax quickly became part of these early conversations, reinforcing affordability as a defining theme of the session.
Against this backdrop, WMFHA has been aggressively advocating for policies that are workable, balanced, and grounded in real-world housing operations. During early committee hearings, WMFHA testified with concerns on SB 5937, the Smart Access Buildings bill, crediting improvements made through stakeholder engagement while continuing to press for changes needed to make the policy operationally feasible. WMFHA clearly articulated the importance of access to data for day-to-day building operations and pushed for simple, commonsense disclosure requirements so housing providers are not forced to become data policy experts to remain compliant. Engagement with the prime sponsor remains active and constructive.
WMFHA has also taken a leading role in advancing HB 2452, the technical “HB 1003 fix,” a bipartisan bill designed to clarify rental increase notice requirements. WMFHA testified in strong support of the bill, emphasizing that clear and flexible notice delivery options—personal service, first-class mail, or posting in a conspicuous location—are essential to compliance, transparency, and effective communication with residents. This bill reflects exactly the type of pragmatic policy improvement WMFHA continues to champion on behalf of its members.
At the same time, WMFHA has not hesitated to raise serious concerns when proposals threaten to impose unworkable mandates on housing providers. The association testified with concerns on HB 2265, which would establish new cooling-related duties and restrict physical evictions during periods of extreme heat. WMFHA detailed the significant safety, cost, and feasibility challenges posed by the bill, including electrical capacity limitations in existing buildings, the expense of retrofitting properties, and the compounding delays added to an already lengthy eviction process. WMFHA followed up in stakeholder meetings with the bill’s sponsor to ensure these issues were clearly understood and fully on the record.
WMFHA has also been deeply engaged in the Senate, meeting directly with leadership to shape legislation before it advances. As a result of WMFHA’s advocacy, the prime sponsor of SB 6237 agreed to incorporate key feedback into a substitute bill, including clarifications related to standing water and modifying requirements so housing providers are not required to recommend flood insurance to tenants. WMFHA additionally testified with concerns on SB 6200, focusing on mandates related to window units and the disproportionate challenges such requirements would create for high-rise buildings.
As the session moves rapidly toward early policy committee cutoff deadlines in February, WMFHA will continue to be a strong and consistent presence in Olympia. The association remains focused on fighting for policies that protect housing providers from unworkable mandates while supporting stable, affordable housing across Washington. Members can expect WMFHA to stay engaged at every stage of the process and to continue delivering clear, forceful advocacy on the issues that matter most.