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BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION E2SSB 6026

SB 6026: Residential dev./zones

Concerning residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones.

Summary

  • Prohibits certain local governments from excluding residential development from commercial and mixed-use zones and from imposing ground floor commercial and mixed-use requirements in more than 40 percent of the acreage in such zones, with certain exceptions and exclusions.
  • Requires local governments to have a process for applicants to request waivers or reductions from ground floor commercial or mixed use requirements.
  • Prohibits local governments from imposing any ground floor commercial or mixed-use requirements on publicly subsidized affordable housing projects.
  • Preempts and invalidates local government regulations that are contrary to the prohibition on excluding residential development from commercial and mixed-use zones as of December 10, 2027.
  • Provides that a local government that is not in compliance with the limitations on ground floor commercial and mixed-use requirements in a commercial or mixed-use zone as of December 10, 2027, may not impose ground floor commercial and mixed-use requirements in the zone until it is in compliance with the requirements, with certain exceptions.

From the Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill Report (E2SSB 6026), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 236, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 12, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 9, 2026
  3. Passed SenateFeb 13, 2026
  4. Passed HouseMar 5, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 27, 2026
  6. LawMar 27, 2026
Prime sponsor
Emily Alvarado (D-34)
Introduced
January 12, 2026 in the Senate
Last action
March 27, 2026
Session law
Chapter 236, Laws of 2026
Requested by
Governor
Companion bill
HB 2480
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 6026, SSB 6026, 2SSB 6026, E2SSB 6026

AN ACT Relating to residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Emily Alvarado (D-34)

6 co-sponsors (6 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Jessica Bateman D-22Steve Conway D-29Noel Frame D-36Marko Liias D-21T'wina Nobles D-28Sharon Shewmake D-42

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 13, 2026
Version voted on: E2SSB 6026
36 Yea 12 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat24600
Republican12601
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 5, 2026
Version voted on: E2SSB 6026
69 Yea 27 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat54401
Republican152301
How each member voted

Yea (69)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 10, 2026
Version voted on: E2SSB 6026
35 Yea 14 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat28200
Republican71200
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026. (E2SSB 6026)
  2. Chapter 236, 2026 Laws. (E2SSB 6026)
  3. Governor signed. (E2SSB 6026)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (E2SSB 6026)
  5. Speaker signed. (E2SSB 6026)
  6. President signed. (E2SSB 6026)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 35; nays, 14; absent, 0; excused, 0. (E2SSB 6026)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (E2SSB 6026)
  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (E2SSB 6026)
  10. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (E2SSB 6026)
  11. Third reading, passed; yeas, 69; nays, 27; absent, 0; excused, 2. (E2SSB 6026)
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (E2SSB 6026)
  13. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (E2SSB 6026)
  14. Minority; without recommendation. (E2SSB 6026)
  15. Minority; do not pass. (E2SSB 6026)
  16. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Local Government. (E2SSB 6026)
  17. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (E2SSB 6026)
  18. Minority; without recommendation. (E2SSB 6026)
  19. LG - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (E2SSB 6026)
  20. Referred to Appropriations. (E2SSB 6026)
  21. LG - Executive action taken by committee. (E2SSB 6026)
  22. First reading, referred to Local Government. (E2SSB 6026)
  23. Third reading, passed; yeas, 36; nays, 12; absent, 0; excused, 1. (E2SSB 6026)
  24. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (E2SSB 6026)
  25. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (E2SSB 6026)
  26. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (E2SSB 6026)
  27. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (SSB 6026)
  28. 2nd substitute bill substituted.
  29. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (E2SSB 6026)
  30. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 6026)
  31. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  32. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (E2SSB 6026)
  33. Minority; without recommendation. (E2SSB 6026)
  34. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (E2SSB 6026)
  35. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 6026)
  36. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 6026)
  37. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SSB 6026)
  38. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  39. Minority; without recommendation.
  40. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  41. Referred to Ways & Means. (SSB 6026)
  42. Referred to Ways & Means.
  43. HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 6026)
  44. And refer to Ways & Means. (SSB 6026)
  45. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 6026)
  46. Minority; without recommendation.
  47. And refer to Ways & Means.
  48. HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  49. First reading, referred to Housing.
  50. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 6026 in other sessions

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

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