APA Washington Chapter’s Legislative Committee: Review of 2024 Legislative Session

By the APA WA Legislate Committee

The 2024 Legislative Session was a short 60-day session that ended on March 7, 2024. As in prior years, your APA Washington Chapter Legislative Committee (LC) worked closely together throughout the fast-moving session. Session activities included weekly Zoom meetings, tracking bills, forming small groups to analyze bills, draft comment letters, and present information to the LC, and general LC discussion.

LC leadership and the Chapter’s contract lobbyist, Michael Shaw, provided weekly bill tracking lists setting forth upcoming hearings and meetings as well as the status of the bills of interest to the Chapter. Bills are chosen based on the Chapter’s current Legislative Priorities, National APA Policy Guides and other resources and positions provided on the APA Washington Chapter website.

This session, the Legislature passed several planning-related bills, such as bills that addressed co-living, amended residential parking requirements, made changes related to middle housing standards and the definition of a “transit stop”, and changed the way urban growth area boundaries can be moved. Based on the LC’s recommendations, the Chapter submitted comment letters regarding two of these bills, ESHB 2321 and SSB 5834. Regarding ESHB 2321, the Chapter submitted a letter supporting the bill, but proposed an amendment to the section related to lot splitting. As to SSB 5834, the Chapter submitted a letter requesting an amendment regarding integration with countywide planning polices and tribal participation. A full list of planning-related bills that passed the Legislature this session is below.

APA WA Chapter Bills of Interest that Passed Legislature

Bill No.	Title
SHB 1105	Requiring public agencies to provide notice for public comment that includes the last date by which such public comment must be submitted.
HB 1950	Concerning the public service loan forgiveness program.
ESHB 1998	Concerning co-living housing.
ESHB 2321	Modifying middle housing requirements and the definitions of transit stop.
SSB 5834	Concerning urban growth areas.
SSB 6015	Concerning residential parking configurations.

If you are interested in participating in these important ongoing discussions during the Interim and shaping legislative priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session, please send an email to: [email protected]. Joining the LC is a great way to meet other members and learn more about the wide range of work that planners are involved in across the state.

Thank you to all the members of the APA WA Legislative Committee for all your hard work this session!

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