BILL · 2023–24 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SSB 5609

SB 5609: Housing approval

Establishing housing approval requirements that will eliminate Washington's housing shortage.

Summary

Requires counties, cities, and towns to approve the construction of enough new homes to eliminate each local government’s proportional share of the state’s total housing shortage through 2033, and review their requirements to determine whether they impede these efforts.
Requires the Department of Commerce to calculate each local government’s share of the state’s total housing shortage and forward reports from local governments of state laws that are preventing the local government from eliminating its share of the housing shortage.
Prohibits distribution of the earnings of investments of balances in the Local Real Estate Excise Tax Account to any county, city, or town that does not comply with the conditions and requirements.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 5609), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee

AN ACT Relating to establishing housing approval requirements that will eliminate Washington's housing shortage;

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

Jan 8, 2024By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SSB 5609)
Jan 8, 2024By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
Feb 14, 2023Referred to Ways & Means. (SSB 5609)
Feb 14, 2023Referred to Ways & Means.
Feb 10, 2023HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5609)
Feb 10, 2023And refer to Ways & Means. (SSB 5609)
Feb 10, 2023And refer to Ways & Means.
Feb 10, 2023HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Jan 27, 2023First reading, referred to Housing.

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

SB 5609 (2025–26) Cultural resources/land use · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor
SB 5609 (2021–22) Juvenile fingerprinting · Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
SB 5609 (2019–20) State spending limit · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5609 (2017–18) Public assistance/resources · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5609 (2015–16) Synthetic plastic microbeads · Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
SB 5609 (2013–14) Plat approvals · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5609 (2011–12) Health care financing · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5609 (2009–10) Child dependency proceedings · Did not pass · died in committee