Essential information on each bill is below. For more details, click on the bill number – e.g., “SB 5000.” The new page will show the progress of the bill, videos of debate, and the link to send a comment to your legislator about the bill.
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Housing
Prohibiting algorithmic rent fixing and noncompete agreements in the rental housing market.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5469 aims to prohibit algorithmic rent fixing and noncompete agreements in the rental housing market by establishing new legal restrictions on how rental property information can be collected, processed, and shared. The bill defines “coordinating” as a service provider collecting and analyzing rental data (such as prices, occupancy rates, and lease terms) from multiple landlords using systems, software, or algorithms to provide recommendations, while excluding publicly available rental price estimates. It makes it illegal for landlords to contract with or pay for services that coordinate rental pricing across multiple properties, and it prohibits service providers from coordinating rental information between two or more landlords. The legislation treats violations as unfair trade practices under the consumer protection act, allowing only the attorney general to bring enforcement actions on behalf of the state or residents, reducing landlords’ ability to challenge claims through independent arbitration.
Many landlords currently rely on third-party analytics and algorithmic pricing tools to help set rents based on supply, demand and market trends. This type of pricing can help optimize rental pricing and maintain competitive rates, which benefits both landlords and tenants in dynamic markets. Without pricing software, landlords – especially those managing multiple properties – will have to manually set rent prices, which can be time-consuming, ineffective and less efficient, potentially discouraging investment in rental housing. Furthermore, without data-driven pricing, landlords might overestimate or underestimate rent levels, leading to unpredictable price swings. If you support free-market principles, rental technology, and landlord autonomy, please oppose this legislation.
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Housing
Establishing limitations on detached accessory dwelling units outside urban growth areas.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5470 proposes regulations for detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) outside urban growth areas. The bill outlines specific limitations on ADU size, location, water and sewage systems, and short-term rentals. Counties are required to track ADU permits, update their comprehensive land use plans, and consider the impact of ADUs on overall density. The bill also defines key terms like “accessory dwelling unit,” “principal unit,” and “short-term rental,” clarifying their usage within the context of the proposed regulations. Finally, the bill notes that it does not invalidate prior county ordinances or exclude alternative methods of ADU authorization.
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Housing
Authorizing middle housing in unincorporated growth areas and unincorporated urban growth areas, certain limited areas of more intensive rural development, and fully contained communities.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5471 represents a significant shift in Washington’s approach to rural housing development. The bill legalizes duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes on rural residential lots, in addition to one middle housing project on a parcel zoned for single-family housing. The bill aims to give homebuilders the freedom to build smaller and less expensive homes, thereby expanding housing options, increasing affordability, and providing property owners with greater flexibility. The legislation has strong bipartisan support and the backing of influential housing and county organizations, including the WA State Association of Counties and the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.
This legislation will be beneficial to people priced out of urban areas like Seattle and Bellevue. A greater supply of housing will help to stabilize or lower current housing costs. If you own land in a rural area, this bill gives you more freedom to develop the property. Owners could build rental units, multi-family housing or homes for extended family. The increased construction would also create more jobs and economic activity in rural areas that often struggle with growth and an increase in residents can help support local businesses, schools and other services. There are legitimate issues to address such as water supply and infrastructure; however, these issues can be managed through proper planning and investment. If you believe Washington should expand housing options, reduce costs, and give landowners more say over their property, then please support this bill. It’s a pragmatic step toward fixing the housing crisis without forcing dense urban development everywhere.
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Health Care
Improving access to appropriate mental health and substance use disorder services.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5477 bill seeks to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services in Washington by updating the state’s mental health parity law. It requires health carriers to make medical necessity determinations based on objective patient needs and align these with accepted standards of care. The bill introduces new definitions and standards for mental health services, mandates coverage for these services, and prohibits different treatment limitations for mental health compared to medical services. It also establishes that utilization review processes must adhere to these standards and prevents health carriers from denying coverage based on assumptions about public entitlement programs. Key amendments include prohibiting utilization management for initial evaluations and a set number of treatment visits, ensuring clinical review criteria are evidence-based, and imposing penalties for non-compliance.
Additionally, the bill enhances grievance and appeal processes for mental health services, requiring health carriers to approve coverage if they do not respond to grievances within specified timeframes. It mandates that carriers assist enrollees in the appeal process and ensures accessibility for individuals with language or literacy barriers. The legislation also eliminates prior authorization requirements for certain behavioral health services starting January 1, 2027, and establishes new standards for prior authorization processes, including specific timelines for decisions. The bill empowers the insurance commissioner to adopt necessary rules for implementation, including data testing for compliance with treatment limitations, and sets a timeline for implementation with certain existing laws being repealed on the same date.
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Freedom
Concerning payments to tow truck operators for the release of vehicles to indigent persons.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5484 establishes a new program to compensate registered tow truck operators for releasing vehicles to indigent individuals, outlining specific eligibility criteria such as legal ownership, proof of indigence, and certification of inability to pay for towing services. Vehicles impounded due to the owner’s arrest are excluded from this program. Registered tow truck operators can apply for payment for eligible impounds, and the Department of Transportation is responsible for creating a certification form for both vehicle owners and tow truck operators. The bill also amends existing laws to allow vehicle release without payment of towing and storage fees, provided the necessary forms are completed, and it mandates annual reporting on the program’s effectiveness.
Additionally, the bill clarifies the jurisdiction of district and municipal courts over vehicle impoundments, requiring a written request for a hearing within 10 days and a filing fee. If the impoundment is found improper, the vehicle owners will not incur fees, and the authorizing agency will be liable for costs. The bill also includes provisions for awarding attorneys’ fees if a judgment is not paid within 15 days and establishes that abandoned vehicles not redeemed within 15 days will be sold at public auction, with conditions for redemption prior to the auction. The act is set to take effect on February 1, 2026.