WA state anti-private housing legislation

 Sorry for the messy format and general disorder, but we have until Monday to object to this one.

Testify in the House Housing Committee in OPPOSITION of HB 1915

Sign in Opposition to Major Changes to RLTA & MHLTA

House Bill 1915 aims to strengthen tenant protections under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act and the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act in Washington State. The bill introduces major changes that limit housing providers’ ability to manage tenancies, increase eviction restrictions, and impose new financial burdens on rental property owners.

We need you to attend the Hearing and join us for this fight.  Your presence is critical. Lawmakers need to see that housing providers, builders, and advocates across Washington are united in opposition to this harmful legislation.

 

If you haven't already signed up in opposition to stating CON, please do so now! (see below) | HB 1915 Hearing – Monday, February 17 at 1:30 p.m.

 

House Housing Committee Hearing on Monday, February 17 at 1:30 pm

John L. O’Brien Building Room C

 

§  Testify in-person, click here

§  Testify virtually, click here

§  To Submit written testimony, click here

§  To Provide opposition to be noted for the legislative record, click here

 

Sponsors: Representatives Richards, Thomas, Simmons, Scott, Parshley, Pollet, Hill

HB 1915 Tenant Protection Legislation Key Provisions

 

1.      Severe Restrictions on Ending Tenancies

      Housing providers cannot terminate a periodic or month-to-month tenancy without “just cause.”

       For fixed-term leases, housing providers must provide 60 days’ written notice before the end of the lease to terminate tenancy, and they may only do so if specific conditions are met.

       After a lease ends, the tenancy automatically converts to a month-to-month agreement, further restricting the housing provider’s ability to regain possession of the property.

 

2.      Prolonged Eviction Process with Expanded Tenant Defenses

       Nonpayment of Rent Evictions:

o   Extends the required notice for eviction from 14 days to 30 days for properties with federally backed mortgages or subsidies.

o   Allows tenants to raise habitability complaints as a defense in nonpayment eviction cases, even if unrelated to rent owed.

     

Lease Violations:

• Housing providers must issue a detailed 10-day notice to cure violations before eviction, including the exact date and time of the alleged violation and identities of involved parties.

Owner Move-In or Property Sale:

• Requires a 90-day notice if the owner or immediate family intends to move in.
• The housing provider must occupy the unit for at least 60 consecutive days, or face legal challenges.
• If selling a single-family home, the property must be listed within 30 days of tenant vacating and remain on the market for at least 90 days, or the housing provider is presumed to have acted in bad faith.

 

3.      Expanded Rights for Tenants Even After a Lease Ends

       If a tenant permanently vacates, remaining occupants must be allowed to apply for tenancy rather than vacate.

       Housing providers must screen remaining occupants like new applicants, but if they fail to apply or are denied, eviction is required to reclaim the unit

 

4.      Mandatory Mediation & Tenant Protections in Court

       Tenants can request mediation to delay eviction proceedings.

       Courts can stay a writ of restitution for up to six months if the tenant claims financial hardship, regardless of unpaid rent or prior lease violations.

 

5.      Severe Financial Penalties for Housing Providers

       Wrongful Eviction Penalties:

• Housing providers who attempt to remove a tenant without legal justification face penalties of up to three times the monthly rent, plus legal fees.
• Predatory Rent Increase Definition:
  • Courts can consider a rent increase as an illegal eviction tactic if deemed “predatory” or excessive.
• Financial Liability in Mobile Home Park Closures:
  • If a housing provider closes or repurposes a mobile home park, they must provide: 
    • $15,000 in relocation assistance for a multi-section home or $10,000 for a single-section home.
  • Compensation of at least 50% of the assessed value of the home or $5,000 (whichever is greater).
  • Housing providers remain financially responsible for removing abandoned mobile homes after tenant vacates.

Talking Points in Strong Opposition to HB 1915

1.      Severe Restrictions on Property Rights

• HB 1915 strips housing providers of control over their own properties by limiting when and how they can terminate leases—even after the contractual term ends.
• Converting all leases to month-to-month agreements unless specific conditions are met forces housing providers into indefinite tenancies against their will.

2.      Creates Uncertainty & Financial Risk for Housing Providers

• Housing providers cannot plan for future use of their property when tenancies become indefinite.
• Unnecessary legal risks—such as penalties for failing to meet vague “good faith” move-in rules—make renting a high-risk, low-reward endeavor.

3.      Incentivizes Nonpayment of Rent & Lease Violations

• Expanding habitability complaints as a defense to nonpayment of rent encourages abuse and allows tenants to delay rent indefinitely.
• The longer notice requirements (30-90 days) give delinquent tenants more time to remain in a unit without paying.

4.      Unfair Burden on Small-Scale Housing Providers

• Small housing providers rely on timely rent payments to cover property expenses. Prolonged eviction processes force them into financial distress.
• Mandatory mediation, extended court delays, and required tenant screening of remaining occupants make operations burdensome.

5.      Harms Rental Housing Market & Drives Up Costs

• By making it more difficult to remove problem tenants, housing providers will:
  • Raise rents preemptively to offset legal risks.
  • Increase security deposit requirements, pricing out low-income renters.
  • Tighten tenant screening, making it harder for renters with lower credit or rental history to qualify.

6.      Severe Financial Penalties Make Rental Housing Risky

• HB 1915 makes housing providers financially liable for tenant complaints, wrongful eviction claims, and potential “predatory” rent increases.
• Housing providers are forced to provide large payouts when closing or repurposing mobile home parks—even when complying with existing laws.

 

7.      Will Reduce Rental Housing Supply

• Stricter tenant protections discourage new rental investment. Housing providers may opt to sell their properties or convert them into non-rental uses, further worsening the housing shortage.

 

HB 1915 is a one-sided, anti-housing provider bill that severely limits property rights, increases legal risks, and discourages investment in rental housing. While intended to protect tenants, it ultimately drives up housing costs, reduces availability, and creates unfair burdens on responsible housing providers.

 

Please note that you must sign in 1 hour before the hearing to testify or provide a position to be placed on the legislative record.

After the hearing, you have 24 hours to submit written testimony.

WA Property Tax Increase

The left in the Washington state legislature is always greedy, looking for more ways to take our money.

HB1334  is their latest scheme to raise the annual property tax rate increase to 1% per year to 3%.  That doesn't sound like much until you realize that will allow property tax increases of 9.3% in 3 years.

The present annual property tax increase rate was established with the passage of Initiative 747 in 2001.

Do you want to live with this tax increase?  Make your voice heard.  HB1334 page is https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=1334&Year=2025.  Links are on that page for comments and information.

Gun Owners Financial Discrimination and Insurance Mandate Introduced in Olympia

Washington State legislature introduced legislation that requires gun owners show they have "financial responsibility" and liability insurance.

Washington anti-gun legislators continue their attack on law-abiding gun owners by introducing legislation to move the goal posts on lawful gun ownership. Last week, House Bill 1504 was introduced, requiring gun owners prove they are "financially responsible" to own firearms by maintaining liability insurance or face civil penalties. This misguided legislation amounts to an ongoing tax to exercise your inherent right to self-defense. 

Please contact your legislators NOW by using the TAKE ACTION button below, and urge them to OPPOSE this discriminatory bill!

 

HB 1504 requires individuals to prove they are "financially responsible" by obtaining and maintaining liability insurance or a bond before purchasing or possessing a firearm. The legislation lays out the coverage amounts, requiring at least $25,000 in coverage per incident of “accidental discharge causing death, injury or property damage,” and gun ranges to carry $1 million of general liability insurance. Individuals can "self-insure" but must carry $25,000 in coverage for each firearm. Excluding ordinary citizens and limiting this basic constitutional right to only the wealthiest Washingtonians. Failure to comply with this mandate amounts to a Class 1 civil infraction and monetary fines. 

The glaring gap of this legislation is the fact that criminals will not comply with the mandate, nor could their illegal acts ever be covered under any insurance policy.

Olympia's gun control plans

Today, January 13^th, the Washington Legislature convened for the 2025 session. Multiple gun control bills were pre-filed for the session, including Senate Bill 5098, a "gun-free zone" bill, which has a committee hearing tomorrow morning.

Other anti-gun bills to keep an eye on this session are:

1. HB 1163 & SB 5140 are companion bills for a permit to purchase scheme, enhancing requirements relating to purchase, transfer, and possession of firearms.
2. HB 1132 creates arbitrary waiting periods for firearms and ammunition.
3. HB 1152 implements storage requirements in vehicles and residences.
   
4. SB 5099 implements additional FFL requirements – a piggy-back on last year's "FFL killer" bill, that includes requirements for steel bars, lighting, insurance requirements and tests for employees (that has yet to be developed), and insurance mandates for businesses.

Washigton Governor candidates & abortion rights

Would Dave Reichert going to force Washington to abandon abortion?

Reichert says that, as governor, he will enforce the law, even if he personally disagrees with it. "You have the [legal] right to make that decision" Reichert said. (NW News Network).

Bob Ferguson satirized Reichert because of his voting record. Ferguson claimed Reichert voted against abortion (and so cannot be trusted as governor).

~~~~~~~~

Deocrats have been claiming women die because of abortion laws.  Recently the claim includes the sad story of a woman in Georgia Democrats claim died because of Georgian abortion laws.

But the claim ia apparently false.

PNW is underpowered in electricity.

The Seattle Times reports a "Surge in electricity demand spells trouble for PNW. &  forecasts show  the challenges facing the Northwest all are exacerbated by the region’s new energy hog: data centers." 

Washington state will follow California and prohibit the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, Jay Inslee, the state governor, said.

This is not the time to enact the new internal combustion engine ban.  Only those wed to climate control think it is.  Besides, they realize their data is faked.  And they don't care.

WA initiatives we get to vote on in November

Washington Initiative 2109, Repeal Capital Gains Tax Initiative - click here to download the text in pdf

We need to limit government overreach. Support good tax reform. And give working people a break.
Initiative 2109 repeals the state’s capital gains income tax to help small business owners and entrepreneurs build more and hire more.

Washington Initiative 2117, Repeal Carbon Cap and Invest Program Measure - click here to download the text in pdf

Stop the Hidden Gas Tax - Carbon Tax = Higher Gas Prices
Policies from Olympia have pushed the cost of living up. Groceries. Utilities. Insurance. Gas and diesel. The cost of living in Washington state has become too expensive. You can do something about this. Initiative 21-17 cuts gas and diesel prices by repealing the state’s hidden gas tax that is adding 60 cents to each gallon of gas you buy. Reducing the cost of gas and diesel will help reduce the costs of groceries and home utilities in our state.

Washington Initiative 2124, Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative - click here to download the text in pdf 

This allows workers to opt out of the state’s long-term care insurance program that is currently taking money out of each working person’s paycheck – forcing people to pay for a program with minimal benefits - that they most likely won’t ever use
 

Then vote to reduce pointless taxes and regularization & the cost of living by voting!

✔ YES to I- 2109
✔ YES on I-2117
✔ YES on I 2124

Washington Legislature Anti-Gun legislation to Inslee

This year, anti-gun Washington Legislators continued their crusade of undermining the Second Amendment and defying the precedent established in the Bruen decision. While this session saw the passage of numerous anti-gun measures, it was not without its victories as well.  Thanks to the calls and emails from NRA Members and Second Amendment supporters, a number of equally bad measures were thankfully defeated. 

Please contact Governor Jay Inslee and respectfully ask him to veto the below anti-gun measures.

Bills Passed and Awaiting Governor Jay Inslee’s Consideration:

House Bill 1903 further victimizes otherwise law-abiding gun owners and places the liability on crime victims for theft of their own property by penalizing failing to report missing or stolen firearms within 24 hours.

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.

House Bill 2118, the "FFL-Killer" bill, places onerous requirements on Washington-based FFLs and will put many out of business because of the financial burden to comply. Any FFL that does more than $1,000 of sales per year must run annual background checks on their employees, carry $1 million liability insurance, install steel doors or bars at the business, and meet onerous requirements for storage and security systems with 24-hour audio and video surveillance.

Senate Bill 5444 expands “sensitive places” where law-abiding citizens may no longer open carry in these publicly accessible areas - public transportation areas, libraries, zoos and aquariums. Nothing in the bill requires these “sensitive places” have any measures to protect citizens and prevent armed criminals from ignoring this arbitrary boundary and entering, such as metal detectors, security guards, or a police presence. Concealed Pistol License holders may still lawfully conceal carry their firearms in these locations.

Senate Bill 5985 codifies the unconstitutional provisions of Washington’s recent ban on commonly owned firearms into the section of state code on background checks. 

Bills Defeated During Session:

House Bill 1902 would have required individuals obtain a permit with live-fire training to be able to exercise the right to purchase firearms.

House Bill 2054 would have rationed Second Amendment rights by limiting firearm dealers from transferring or selling more than one firearm per 30-day period to an individual.

House Bill 2238 would have created an additional 11% excise tax on the sale or transfer of ammunition.

Senate Bill 5963 would have required an individual who owns a firearm to obtain residential insurance as a homeowner or a renter.

Legislature enacts another tax on workers

They call SB 6069 an improvement for retirement security.  It has no opt-out provision, so you must pay a percentage of your paycheck into the state's coffers.  Its a tax.  And it has passed both houses of the legislature and awaits the governor's signature.

Here is lie they told themselves to pass this thing.

"SB 6069 = Improving private Washington workforce retirement security standards by establishing Washington saves, an automatic enrollment individual retirement savings account program, and updating the Washington retirement marketplace statute."

In general, Democrats voted for this bill, and Republicans opposed it.  To look up your own representative or senator's vote, the vote record is posted at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/bulletins/38f5ffe 

Initiative sucesses and the comng balllot battle on others

The legislature saw fit to repeal some of their own laws.  The People submitted initiative to the legislature.  The Democrats looked at the polls and realized that to keep their jobs, they better go along with the People's will.  (Who would mind if the Democrats were turned out of state government anyway?)

So the legislature enacted the following initiatives.

Initiative 2111 prohibits the state and local jurisdictions from imposing taxes on any individual person on any form of personal income.  The initiative specifies that "income" has the same meaning as "gross income" as under the federal tax code.

Initiative 2113 expanded authorization for vehicular pursuits by allowing an officer to conduct a vehicular pursuit where there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law.

Initiative 2081 declared 15 rights that parents and guardians of public school children have, including rights to receive or be notified of academic, medical, safety, and law enforcement matters; rights to examine and inspect certain materials and records; and rights to opt their children out of certain activities.

The initiatives will become law, taking effect about three months after the session ends, unless a referendum is filed. The last day of the session is Thursday.

Source - Seattle Times

The legislature has declined to act on certain Initiatives of the People.  These are

I-2109 The Initiative to repeal capital gains tax   The capital gains tax was passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2021.  It took effect on January 1, 2022.  Revenue from the tax was set to be deposited in the education legacy trust account and the common school construction account.  This initiative would repeal the 7% capital gains excise tax imposed on sales and exchanges of long-term capital assets by individuals with capital gains over $250,000.

Capital gains taxes suppress the willingness of investors to make large investments.  The rental housing industry is one example. 

I-2117 - Which will repeal carbon cap-and-invest program  & prohibit carbon tax credit trading.  Under this all state agencies are prohibited from implementing any type of carbon tax credit trading, also known as "cap and trade" or "cap and tax" scheme.  It includes the climate commitment act previously codified as chapter 70A.65 RCW.  This prohibition applies whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. 

This has implications to this year’s supplemental spending.

I-2124, the initiative to opt-out of long-term Services Insurance Program. Instead, the law would change to requires employees and self-employed individuals to opt-in to coverage under the state's long-term services and supports trust health care program.  It would allows anyone to opt out of coverage at any time.  The Employee Security Department (ESD) would be responsible for developing rules to implement the opt-out process.  

The existing Long-Term services and supports trust program was created in 2019.  The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Act (LTSS) created the first state-operated long-term care insurance program, known as the WA Cares Fund and is funded through a mandatory payroll tax on employees' wages.

Source - Washington Policy Center