HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/15/2025 - Work Study - Packet171. Meeting Location: Contact us:
Council Phone (360)
portor hard
4407
216 Prospect Street cityhall@portorchardwa.gov
Port Orchard, WA 98366 www.portorchardwa.gov
City Council
Work Study Session
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
6:30 PM
Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW, the City Council is conducting its public meeting
in a hybrid format with options for in -person attendance in the Council Chambers at City Hall or remote viewing
and participation via Zoom (link below). The meeting is streamed live on the City's YouTube channel, click here.
Remote Access
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84495413309
Zoom Meeting ID: 844 9541 3309
Zoom Call -In: 1 253 215 8782
Guiding Principles
Are we raising the bar in all of our actions?
Are we honoring the past, but not living in the past?
Are we building positive connections with our community and outside partners?
Is the decision -making process building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community?
1. Call to Order
A. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Discussion Items
A. Community Event Center Presentation (Bond)
Estimated Discussion Time: 45 minutes
B. Post Legislative Session Update (Shelly Helder, Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Governmental Affairs)
Approx. Discussion Time: 30 minutes
C. Multi Family Tax Exemption (Bond)
Estimated Discussion Time: 30 Minutes
D. Downtown Revitalization Grant Program (Mayor/Archer)
Estimated Discussion Time: 10 minutes
E. Public Comment Interactions (Mayor)
Estimated Discussion Time: 10 minutes
3. Good of the Order
4. Adjournment
July 15, 2025 Meeting Agenda
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July 15, 2025 Meeting Agenda
2
Ong City of Port Orchard
ORCHARD 216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
1.. (360) 876-4407 • FAX (360) 895-9029
Agenda Staff Report
Discussion Items: Community Event Center Presentation (Bond)
Estimated Discussion Time: 45 minutes
Meeting Date: July 15, 2025
Prepared By: Nick Bond, AICP, Community Development Director
Presenter: Nick Bond, AICP, Community Development Director
Summary and Background: The City's Community Event Center project team has prepared a
presentation to the City Council to provide an update on the project design and schedule.
Relationship to Comprenhensive Plan: The Community Event Center project is identified as a capital
project in the City's Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Subarea Plan.
Recommendation: Staff Recommends that the City Council review the presentation materials and ask
any questions of our design consultants after their presentation.
Alternatives: N/A
Attachments:
250702 POCEC Master Schedule.pdf
240126 Orchard Plaza_SD.pdf
240909 Shoreline Habitat Improvement Plan.pdf
250715 POCEC Floor Plans.pdf
250715 POCEC Renderings.pdf
250702_POCEC _Feature Wall.pdf
3
PORT ORCHARD COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER
MASTER PLAN SCHEDULE
LEGEND •PERMITTING • DESIGN TASKS . DESIGN DELIVERABLES KRL .PO .KPFD
YEAR 2025 2026
MONTH APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
WEEK STARTING DATE
ILA
TASK
5
SHORELINE
Final State & Federal Approvals
Shoreline Restoration Design & Permit Documents
SDP, LDAP & Building/MEP Permitting
Submittal
City Permit Reviews
City Comments
SCHEDULE PENDING
SHORELINE STATE & FEDERAL APPROVALS
Resubmittal
City Permit Reviews
City Permit Approval
City 3rd Party Constructability Review
Shoreline Finalize Bid Set
100% Bid Ready Construction Documents
5
POCEC
POCEC Construction Documents
POCEC Construction Documents (Mech/Elec Refrigerants)
PO Design Meetings (Fridays, every 2 weeks starting 5/30)
KRL Design Updates Meetings & Revisions
SDP & LDAP Permitting
Submittal
City Permit Reviews
City Comments
Resubmittal
City Permit Reviews
City Permit Approval
CURRENT SCHEDULE
Building/MEP Permitting
Submittal
City Permit Reviews
City Comments
Resubmittal
City Permit Reviews
City Permit Approval
City 3rd Party Constructability Review
POCEC Finalize Bid Set
100% Bid Ready Construction Documents
ORCHARD PLAZA
Orchard Plaza Construction Design & Permit Documents
SDP, LDAP & Building/MEP Permitting
Submittal
City Permit Reviews
City Comments
Resubmittal
SCHEDULE PENDING
SHORELINE STATE & FEDERAL APPROVALS
City Permit Reviews
City Permit Approval
City 3rd Party Constructability Review
Orchard Plaza Finalize Bid Set
100% Bid Ready Construction Documents
7/2/2025
7-11
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ORCHARD
YACHT SALES
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BOAT LAUNCH
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PHOTO EXAMPLE OF THE PAVER MIX GRADIENT
Q
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF SPONSORSHIP PAVERS
DECORATIVE PAVER TYPE 1
1/8"
SCORE
JOINT
CEMENT
CONCRETE
a,a
° da
PAVEMENT,
° SIDEWALK OR
DRIVEWAY
NOTE CLEAN SCORE JOINT BY SAWCUT.
NO RADIUS ON EDGE. NO SMOOTH FLANGE
TOOLING ON EITHER SIDE OF JOINT.
SCORE JOINT DETAIL
NTS
I
M
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HRT-40 *'18
HRT-38 **13
HRT-60 "08
EXAMPLE OF
PAVER MIX 1
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HRT-30*'20
HRT-34*'33
HRT-20"36
EXAMPLE OF
PAVER MIX 2
o
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HCB-15''85
HRT-15 "75
-RT-27 "42
EXAMPLE OF
PAVER MIX 3
0
8'
MANUFACTURER: WAUSAUIILE
PRODUCT: H -SERIES ESTATE CEO HEX ARCHITECTURAL PAVER
(8"x4"THICK)
COLOR/FINISH: MIX 1 (HRT-40**18, HRT-38**13,
HRT-60**08), MIX 2 (HRT-30**20, HRT-34**33,
HRT-20**36), MIX 3 HCB-15**85, HRT-15**75, HRT-27**42)
CEMENT CONCRETE
PAVEMENT
) " TOOLED RADIUS
PLANTING AREA
PLANTER EDGE DETAIL
W
3/8"
EXPANSION
DECORATIVE PRECAST
PAVER OR 5'X5'
JOINT
SCORED CEMENT
CONCRETE PAVEMENT.
d.
SEE DETAIL THIS
7
daT
SHEET
CEMENT
CONCRETE
DECORATIVE
s
d PAVEMENT,
PRECAST PAVER,
SIDEWALK OR
TYP. SEE DETAIL
a 4
DRIVEWAY
THIS SHEET.
a
GROUT JOINT, TYP.
I'
PHOTO EXAMPLES OF DRIVEABLE CONCRETE PAVERS IN A
PARKING LOT; PAVER COLORS TO MATCH PLAZA DECORATIVE
PAVERS
DECORATIVE PAVER TYPE 2
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF A WOOD PATH THROUGH BIORETEN110N
PLANTER
WOOD BOARDWALK PATH
DECORATIVE PAVER,
TYP.
2' DIA. DRAIN HOLE,
LOCATE AT LOWEST
ELEVATIONS AT 4'-0" O.C.
SPACING FILL WITH PEA
GRAVEL
FILTER FABRIC
DECORATIVE PAVER DETAIL SECTION
GROUT JOINT DETAIL EXPANSION JOINT DETAIL
NTS
NTS NTS
OF WAgy
DATE BY APPR. REVISIONS 20040-PLAZ-URB-DETd.9
Approved By
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12/2023
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ENGINEERING MANAGER DATE DESIGNED BY
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DATE
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PROJECT MANAGER DATE DRAWN BY
DATE
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PROJECT ENGINEER DATE CHECKED BY
12/2023
DATE
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SCA PE Aµr
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT
WITH DECORATIVE SANDBLASTED BAND
INTEGRAL COLORED CONCRETE BAND
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF WOOD DECK PLATFORM
WOOD DECK PLATFORM
JOINT SAND BETWEEN
CONCRETE PAVERS, TYP.
BUILDING EDGE OR CIP
CONCRETE SEATWALL
EXPANSION JOINT, TYP.
SEE DETAIL, THIS SHEET
N4" SAND -ASPHALT SETTING BED
TACK COAT OF EMULSIFIED
OR CUT -BACK ASPHALT ON
CEMENT CONCRETE BASE
4' CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT
4" CSTC
COMPACTED SUBGRADE
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT WITH
DECORATIVE SANDBLASTED TREATMENT
CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT WITH
SANDBLASTED FINISH
NOTE: DETAIL TO BE PROVIDED
AT NEXT SUBMITTAL
2' X 2' SCORED CEMENT
CONCRETE SIDEWALK
NOTE: DETAIL TO BE PROVIDED
AT NEXT SUBMITTAL
2' X 4' SCORED CEMENT
CONCRETE WATERFRONT PATH
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF METAL WAYFINDING
INLAY IN CONCRETE
TRAIL WAYFINDING INLAY
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF DRIVABLE TURF PAVING
PRODUCT
REINFORCED TURF PAVING
6
EXAMPLE OF PRECAST SEAT
PRECAST SEAT WALL
MANUFACTURER: FORMS+SURFACES
PRODUCT: DISPATCH UTTER & RECYCLE
RECEPTACLE
MODEL: SLDIS-220 WITH "LITTER" LID
OPENING
COLOR/FINISH: POWDERCOATED, SILVER
TEXTURE
LITTER AND RECYCLE RECEPTACLE
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF WOOD BENCH TOP
WITH SEGMENTED ARM RESTS
MANUFACTURER: SPORTWORKS
PRODUCT: OAHU NO SCRATCH BIKE RACK
COLOR/FINISH: STAINLESS STEEL POWDERCOATED,
SILVER, SURFACE MOUNTED
BIKE RACK
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF WIRE MESH RAILING ALONG WATERFRONT EDGE
WIRE MESH GUARD RAIL
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF DRINKING
FOUNTAIN WITH BOTTLE REFILL
STA110N AND PET STA110N
DRINKING FOUNTAIN
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF DECORATIVE SCREEN
PANEL IN LANDSCAPE PLANTER
ARCHITECTURAL SCREEN PANEL
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF REMOVABLE PHOTO EXAMPLE OF SHADE STRUCTURE
SAFETY BOLLLARD TO SHOW SHAPE AND SCALE.
REMOVABLE BOLLARD SHADE STRUCTURE
NOTE: ART ELEMENTS TO BE
DETERMINED.
PUBLIC ART FEATURE
PHOTO EXAMPLES OF ELECTRICAL POWER BOLLARDS WITH LOCKING ELECTRICAL DOOR COVER
AND UGH11NG
ELECTRICAL POWER BOLLARD
Di
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF BENCH SWING.
BENCH SWING
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF MANUAL SWING GATE AND RECEIVER
LATCH POST
MANUAL SWING GATE AND LATCH POST
r
-'I:TJI :.1
Y -Ty
PHOTO EXAMPLE OF STANDARD BENCH
PzInirw
7
CONSTRUCTION NOTES
APPROXIMATE MEAN
/ HIGH WATER MARK
ORCHARD PLAZA /
SCOPE BOUNDARY
DECK/BUILDING .
OVERHANG, TYP.-
CEC SITE MODIFICATIONS;
PLANTER CONFIGURATION
REVISED SINCE 60% CEC
SUBMITTAL
PORT ORCHARD
COMMUNITY EVENT CEt
(CEC)
E
E
O
0
0
0
N
PARKING LOT PLANTER; INSTALL 24" TOPSOIL TYPE A AND 2" BARK
OR WOOD CHIP MULCH, TYP. PLANT WITH ROADWAY MIX; SEE
SCHEDULE, SHEET L1.02.
ORNAMENTAL PLANTER AREA; INSTALL 18" TOPSOIL TYPE A AND 2'
BARK OR WOOD CHIP MULCH, TYP. SEE PLANTING SCHEDULE, SHEET
L1.02.
0 BIORETENT10N PLANTER; INSTALL 18" BIORETENTION MEDIA AND
TOPDRESS WITH 3" COARSE COMPOST, TYP. PLANT WITH
BIORETENT10N MIX; SEE SCHEDULE, SHEET LS1.02.
ECO-TURF AREA; INSTALL 6" TOPSOIL TYPE A AND HYDROSEED WITH
FLOWERING ECO-TURF MIX, TYP.
50 DECORATIVE ROCK AREA; SEE DETAIL, SHEET L1.03.
06 LANDSCAPE LOG; SEE DETAIL, SHEET L1.03.
07 LANDSCAPE BOULDER; SEE DETAIL, SHEET [1.03.
09 PUBLIC ART FEATURE, TBD.
10 REINFORCED TURF PAVING. SEE URBAN DESIGN DETAILS.
11•RESTORATION AREA; AMEND NATIVE SOIL WITH 2' FINE COMPOST AND
TOPDRESS WITH 2" BARK OR WOOD CHIP MULCH, TYP. PLANT WITH
RESTORATION MIX; SEE SCHEDULE, SHEET LS1.02.
1Q ARCHITECTURAL SCREEN PANEL. SEE URBAN DESIGN DETAILS.
11 - Q
PLANT UNOL
----PLANT QUANTITY
SEE SHEETS L1.02 - L1.03 FOR
LANDSCAPE SCHEDULE, DETAILS
AND GENERAL NOTES.
PLANTING LEGEND
NATIVE/ADAPTED MIX FOR SUN
0 0
D D
NATIVE POLLINATOR MIX
NATIVE SHORELINE MIX
BIORETENTION MIX
FLOWERING ECO-1URF MIX
O
OQ
PRELIMINARY PLANT SCHEDULE
ro
0
T
E
E
0
0
O
N
SYMBOL
BOTANICAL NAME/ COMMON NAME QTY
SIZE
REMARKS
TREES
0
Ti
CORNUS KOUSA X NUTTALU 'KN4-43'/ STARLIGHT DOGWOOD
7
2" CAL
B&B; WELL -BRANCHED
4 1
tint
12
RHAMNUS PURSHIANA/ CASCARA
6
6-7' HT.
3-5 CANES MIN.
1" MIN. CAL PER CANE
13
ACER CIRCINATUM/ VINE MAPLE
5
6-7' HT.
3-5 CANES MIN.
1" MIN. CAL PER CANE
0
15
PINUS CONTORTA VAR. CONTORTA/ SHORE PINE
3
6'-7" HI.
B&B; HIGH -BRANCHED
T7
METASEQUOIA GLYPTOSTROBOIDES 'SOUL FIRE'/ SOUL FIRE DAWN REDWOOD
2
4'-5' HT.
B&B; HIGH -BRANCHED
NATIVE/ADAPTED MIX FOR SUN
Si
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS X 'PACIFIC MIST'/ PACIFIC MIST MANZANITA
2 GAL CONT.
42" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
S2
CISTUS X CRISPATUS 'WARLEY ROSE'/ WARLEY ROSE ROCKROSE
2 GAL CONT.
42" O.C. TRI. SP. Ti?.
4,200 SF
S5
SPIREA BETUIJFOLIA VAR. LUCIDA/ SHINY -LEAVED SPIREA
2 GAL CONT.
36" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
S7
VACCINIUM OVATUM 'SCARLET OVATION'/ EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY
2 GAL CONT.
36" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
G2
DESCHAMPSIA CESPITOSA/ TUFTED HAIR GRASS
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
G3
FES1UCA IDAHOENSIS 'SISKIYOU BLUE'/ SISKIYOU BLUE IDAHO FESCUE
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GC1
ARMERIA MARITIMA/ SEA THRIFT
1 GAL CONT.
15" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GC2
ERIGERON GLAUCUS 'SEA BREEZE'/ SEA BREEZE FLEABANE
1 GAL CONT.
15" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GC3
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI 'MASSACHUSETTS'/ MASSACHUSETTS KINNIKINNICK
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GC4
PENSTEMON PINIFOIJUS 'MELON'/ MELON PINELEAF BEARDTONGUE
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P1
ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM 'WALTHER FUNCKE'/ WALTHER FUNCKE COMMON YARROW
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
NATIVE POLLINATOR MIX
G2
DESCHAMPSIA CESPITOSA/ TUFTED HAIR GRASS
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GC4
FRAGARIA CHILOENSIS/ BEACH STRAWBERRY
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
750 SF
P2
CAMASSIA QUAMASH/ COMMON CAMMAS
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P3
COREOPSIS LANCEOLATA/ LANCELEAF TICKSEED
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P4
LOMATIUM UTRICULATUM/ SPRING GOLD
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P5
LUPINUS IJTORALIS/ SEASHORE LUPINE
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P6
SIDALCEA CAMPESWRIS/ MEADOW CHECKERMALLOW
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P7
SYMPHYOTRICHUM SUBSPICATUM/ DOUGLAS ASTER
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GENERAL NOTES
1. ALL PLANT MATERIALS SHALL MEET THE AMERICAN STANDARD FOR
NURSERY STOCK, ANSI Z60.1 MOST CURRENT VERSION.
2. PLAN, MAINTAIN AND WARRANTY PER SECTION 8-02 OF THE SPECIAL
PROVISIONS.
3. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE SPECIES WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF ENGINEER.
4. INSTALL 2" BARK OR WOOD CHIP MULCH OVER ALL DISTURBED AREAS
NOT BEING PLANTED OR SEEDED, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
5. PROPERTY RESTORATION TO BE DONE AS DIRECTED BY THE ENGINEER.
6. ALL SINGLE -STEM DECIDUOUS TREES SHALL MEET WSDOT "STREET
TREE GRADE" STANDARD AND SHALL BRANCH AT MIN 6' HT. ABOVE
FINISH GRADE.
NATIVE SHORELINE MIX
.4 i 4
51
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS X 'PACIFIC MIST'/ PACIFIC MIST MANZANITA
2 GAL CONT.
42" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
S5
SPIREA BETULIFOIJA VAR. LUCIDA/ SHINY -LEAVED SPIREA
2 GAL CONT.
36" O.C. TRI. SP. Ti?.
2,930 SF
S6
MAHONIA AQUIFOIJUM 'COMPACTA'/ COMPACT OREGON GRAPE
2 GAL CONT.
48" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
S4
ROSA NUTKANA/ NOOTKA ROSE
2 GAL CONT.
48" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
S7
VACCINIUM OVATUM 'SCARLET OVATION'/ EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY
2 GAL CONT.
36" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
G2
DESCHAMPSIA CESPITOSA/ TUFTED HAIR GRASS
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
G2
LEYMUS MOWS/ AMERICAN DUNE GRASS
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GC4
FRAGARIA CHILOENSIS/ BEACH STRAWBERRY
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
GC3
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI 'MASSACHUSETTS'/ MASSACHUSETTS KINNIKINNICK
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P3
COREOPSIS LANCEOLATA/ LANCELEAF TICKSEED
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. Ti?.
P4
LOMATIUM UTRICULATUM/ SPRING GOLD
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P5
LUPINUS IJTORAIJS/ SEASHORE WPINE
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P6
SIDALCEA CAMPESTRIS/ MEADOW CHECKERMALLOW
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
P7 SYMPHYOTRICHUM SUBSPICATUM/ DOUGLAS ASTER 1 GAL CONT. 18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
BIORETENTION MIX
+ +
S8
CORNUS SANGUINEA 'MIDWINTER FIRE'/ MIDWINTER FIRE DOGWOOD
2 GAL CONT.
60" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
S9
SAIJX PURPUREA 'NANA'/ DWARF BLUE ARCTIC WILLOW
2 GAL CONT.
42" O.C. TRI. SP. Ti?.
1,930 SF
G4
CAREX DENSA/ DENSE SEDGE
1 GAL CONT.
24" O.C. TRI. SP. Ti?.
P8
IRIS DOUGLASIANA/ DOUGLAS IRIS
1 GAL CONT.
18" O.C. TRI. SP. TYP.
FLOWERING ECO-TURF MIX
100 SY
SEE SHEET L1.04 FOR PLANT
PALETTE EXAMPLE IMAGES
9
TREE PLANTING NOTES
LANDSCAPE BOULDER EXAMPLE IMAGE
NOTE: NA11VE STONE, SIZED APPROX. 15"-24"
TRUNK
WIND
PREVAILING
TREE STAKE) TREE STAKE
STAKING PLAN ROOT BALL
2' DIA. WOOD STAKE; STAKES SHOULD BE
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF ROOT BALL AND SHALL
NOT INTERFERE WITH PERMANENT BRANCHES
NON-ABRASIVE RUBBER TREE TIES
ROOT FLARE SHALL BE LOCATED ABOVEGROUND
LINE; TOP OF ROOT BALL SHALL
BE FLUSH WITH FINISH GRADE
I
NISH GRADE
BARK OR WOOD CHIP MULCH);
KEEP AWAY FROM TREE TRUNK
OPSOIL TYPE A
SCARIFY SUBGRADE PRIOR
TO TOPSOIL INSTALLATION
RECOMPACT SUBGRADE BELOW
ROOT BALL TO PREVENT SETTLING
TYPICAL EVERGREEN TREE PLANTING DETAIL
NTS
6' MIN. BRANCH HT ABOVE
FINISH GRADE
NON-ABRASIVE
RUBBER TREE TIES
2" DIA. WOOD STAKE; STAKES SHOULD
BE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF ROOT BALL
AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH
PERMANENT BRANCHES
-ROOT FLARE SHALL BE LOCATED
ABOVE GROUND LINE; TOP OF
ROOT BALL SHALL BE FLUSH
WITH FINISHED GRADE
2" BARK OR WOOD CHIP MULCH;
KEEP AWAY FROM TREE TRUNK
FINISHED GRADE
TOPSOIL TYPE A
SCARIFY SUBGRADE PRIOR
TO TOPSOIL INSTALLATION
RECOMPACT TOPSOIL BELOW
ROOT BALL TO PREVENT SETTLING
TYPICAL DECIDUOUS TREE PLANTING DETAIL
NTS
1. TREE PIT SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN (3) TIMES ROOTBALL DIAMETER.
2. CUT ALL TIES AND REMOVE BURLAP ROOTBALL.
3. REMOVE ALL PLASTIC AND TWINE.
4. BACKFILL TOPSOIL TYPE A AROUND ROOT BALL IN 6" LIFTS AND
LIGHTLY RECOMPACT RACH LIFT; FTER BACKFIWNG, WATER IN ROOT
BALL TO SETTLE THE SOIL.
5. PLANT TREES WITH ROOT FLARE ABOVE FINISHED GRADE; DO NOT
COVER TOP OF ROOTBALL WITH SOIL.
LARE SHALL BE LOCATED
GROUND LINE; TOP OF ROOT
HALL BE FLUSH WITH
GRADE
OR WOOD CHIP MULCH;
NAY FROM BASE OF PLANT
GRADE
TYPE A
ACT TOPSOIL BELOW
\LL TO PREVENT SETTLING
SUBGRADE PRIOR
;OIL INSTALLATION
DETAIL
CEMENT CONC SIDEWALK
3' LENGTH NON -TREATED
WOOD 2' X 10" WITH
EYEBOLTS EACH END
COMPAil
TYPICAL TREE GRATE PLANTING DETAIL
NTS
2'X10"X3'WITH
EYEBOLTS EACH END
10 GA. GALVANIZED WIRE
WITH ) " DIA. RUBBER HOSE,
TURNBUCKLE AND EYEBOLTS
)TER TREE IN PIT
.E GRATE & FRAME;
DETAILS THIS SHEET
PEA GRAVEL LAYER
GA. GALVANIZED WIRE WITH 1z" DIA.
3BER HOSE, TURNBUCKLE & EYEBOLTS,
HTEN TO HOLD TREE UPRIGHT
'ENT CONC
2B AND GUTTER
TOPSOIL TYPE A, BACKFILL
AROUND ROOTBALL
SCARIFY ALL SIDES OF PIT
LANDSCAPE
LANDSCAPE DETAILS 2
.H.
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` NATIVE SHORELINE MIX
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____ ______/ _____ _______________
NATIVE/ADAPTED MIX FOR SUN BIORETENTION MIX FLOWERING ECO-TURF MIX
0
NO. DATE BY APPR. REVISIONS W A S
Approved By 20000-PLAZ-LS-DET.dwg �E�ABET 61, KPG
L FILENAME � ���g b�° CITY OF PORT ORCHARD LANDSCAPE
ENGINEERING MANAGER DATE DESIGNED BY SCHEMATIC
Js 1212023 Seattle ORCHARD PLAZA LANDSCAPE DETAILS 3
PROJECT MANAGER DATE DRAWN BY DATE q�60,JT��,3131 Elliott Avenue, Suite 400 DESIGN SCHEMATIC DESIGN
HW 2/2023 ypSohpYPk �`1'4 4� Seattle,WA98121 206.286.1640
PROJECT ENGINEER DATE CHECKED BY DATE Cq PE µG Tacoma I Wenatchee I KPG.com LS1.04 KPG PROJ. No. 20040 SHT OF ___ 11
GENERAL NOTES
1. ALL WORK SHALL BE COMPLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY GUIDELINES, PSE
REQUIREMENTS, WSDOT/APWA STANDARD PLANS, STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS,
SPECIAL PROVISIONS, AND THESE PLANS.
2. UTILITY LOCATION (DIAL -A -DIG) PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION SHALL BE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR. CONFLICTS SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE ENGINEER FOR RESOLUTION.
3. ALL JUNCTION BOXES PLACED IN SIDEWALKS, WALKWAYS AND SHARED USE PATHS
SHALL HAVE LOCKING AND SKID RESISTANT LIDS AND FRAMES.
4. JUNCTION BOXES IN HARDSCAPE SHALL BE INSTALLED TO ALIGN WITH THE
JOINTING/SCORING. SEE SITE ELEMENTS PLAN.
CONSTRUCTION NOTES
CONSTRUCT PEDESTRIAN LUMINAIRE POLE FOUNDATION. FURNISH AND INSTALL PSE
KING LIGHTING PEDESTRIAN LUMINAIRE FIXTURE, POLE, AND ALL ASSOCIATED
EQUIPMENT PER ILLUMINAT10N DETAILS.
QQ FURNISH AND INSTALL CATENARY LIGHTING SYSTEM, INCLUDING NECESSARY POLES,
FOUNDATIONS, WIRING, AND CONTROLS PER MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS.
FURNISH AND INSTALL LINEAR BENCH LIGHTING. INSTALL WATERPROOF FITTINGS
FOR ALL EXPOSED CONDUITS. FOR LINEAR UNDERLIGHTING MOUNTING DETAILS, SEE
URBAN PLANS.
FURNISH AND INSTALL RECEPTACLES ON BENCHES. FOR LOCATIONS SEE URBAN
PLANS.
CONSTRUCT PLAZA LUMINAIRE POLE FOUNDATION. FURNISH AND INSTALL
LUMINAIRE POLE, PLAZA LIGHTING FIXTURES, AND ALL ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
PER ILLUMINAT10N DETAILS. LUMINAIRE SCHEDULE AND WIRING NOTES TO BE
PROVIDED AT LATER SUBMITTAL.
AFFIX CATENARY MESSENGER CABLE TO PLAZA LUMINAIRE POLE.
O7 FURNISH AND INSTALL ILLUMINATED/ELECTRICAL POWER BOLLARD. LUMINAIRE
SCHEDULE AND WIRING NOTES TO BE PROVIDED AT LATER SUBMITTAL.
LIGHTS TO BE INSTALLED AS PART OF CEC CONTRACT.
FOR PRELIMINARY LIGHTING PRODUCT
INFORMATION SEE SHEET IL02.
LEGEND
EXISTING NEW
DESCRIPTION
PEDESTRIAN LUMINAIRE & POLE
C8
PLAZA LUMINAIRES & POLE
-----
LINEAR BENCH LIGHTING
---
CATENARY LIGHTING
® m O] 9 v
JUNCTION BOX TYPE 1, 2
P
CONDUIT
CONSTRUCT10N NOTE
ILLUMINATION BOUNDARY
ILLUMINATION PLAN
ILLUMINATION PLAN
PSE King Lighting
Pedestrian Luminaire
Fixture:
King Luminaire
P4 Optical System
K723 Falconridge Jr.
(Pedestrian & Roadway
scale available)
Pole:
Structura Beam pole
I.A
Bench Lighting
Underbench, detail -integrated flexible, wet location rated
strip. Fixture to measure 0.71 " in width x 0.67" in height x
continuous length. Fixture to be constructed of UV resistant,
waterproof polyurethane.
LED Linear USA Venus TC 3D IP67
VarioLED Flex- VENUS TC-3D-W930-494-1P67
Nk
Illuminated Bollards
BEGA System Bollards with 180 or 360
degree light distribution and safety guard.
Luminaire can be adjusted independent of
anchor bolt orientation. Available in 5.5" to '
10.5" diameter. Receptacles optional.
i .Ii
Without components With adjustable With lockable door, With passive infrared With emergency With drive -through With 240V receptacle Wood bollard tube
LED floodlight and GFCl outlet motion sensor lighting battery protection for electric vehicle
charging
Catenary Messenger Cable System
Fixtures:
EXTON 4" Frosted LED
EXTON 6" HOTH Frosted Shade
4 1/8" "G" Envelope fixture and 6" dia.
Exton Kore with Hoth Shade to be
combined in catenary system to create a
layered appearance.
Plaza Lights
EXTON — KORE-EX5 LED "G" ENVELOPE DIRECT CABLE MOUNTI
78
(181mm)
(104mm)
Kore-EX5 LED Frosted "G" Envelope, Direct Cable Mount, Aluminum or
Black Finish
(EX5-K-C-GEF-AUBLK)
Kore-EX5 LED Frosted "G" Envelope Modules. Features a 27K, 5W LED source with
an integral current controller for 24V DC operation. Anodized Aluminum (AL) or
Black (BLK) finish. System and Remote Power Supply ordered separately to create a
complete System.
EXTON — KORE-EX5 LED DIRECT CABLE MOUNT MODULE
5 -7/16'
(138mm)
0 6"
(152mm)
Kore-EX5 LED 6" Hoth Frosted Shade Module, Direct Cable Mount, Aluminum or
Black Finish
(EX 5 -K -C -H OTH-6-FR-AL/BLK)
Fixtures: Poles:
Selux Olivio Structura - Bol
8'-24' Round
Plaza poles with adjustable accents. Pole to tapered and
measure 18' tall with 4 adjustable fixture heads straight wood
outputting 45001m per head. Fixture to have a poles
flood beam spread and measure 8" in diameter
x 17-3/4" in height. Fixture to be constructed of
die-cast aluminum.
Selux - Olivio
SX 960 1 1-9
11
IL
ILLUMINATION PLAN
ILLUMINATION PLAN
Ecolag ical
Land Services
HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Revised September 9, 2024, April 18, 2023
Port Orchard
Community Events Center
Port Orchard, Washington
Prepared for
Rice Fergus Miller, Inc.
275 5th Street,
Suite 100
Bremerton, WA 98337
Prepared by
Ecological Land Services, Inc.
1157 3rd Avenue, Suite 220A • Longview, WA 98632
(360) 578-1371 • Project Number 2521.07
(360) 377-8773
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LEGEND:
Site Boundary
Parcel Boundary
OHWM
- 75Shoreline Buffer
130' Shoreline Buffer
1' Contours
Existing Building
Existing Concrete
— — — — Existing Seawall
® Existing Ornamental Landscaping
o Historic Creosote Pilings (8 Total)
V) Mean Higher High Water (9.18')
Highest Astronomical Tide (11.53')
Historic Creosote Pilings -
24" Diameter
25' Long (Above and Below Ground)
2 /
F
/ /
/,
/
/
/
///,/////
•
.I___-_
___
////
1-
A& . / / -. /- -
Port Orchard Marina
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(Port of Bremerton)
x
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Parcel # v
do 262401-1-001-2004 -;:?yµ'�''•� G v"t _
ti 5
_ �.i�� —�! /� '' �.y4 9' q•F, fie`i.ra `Y. , O i' W
va�1ry ' 14 O
City of Port Orchard w o d
Waterfront Park and Downtown
o ntown Parking z
Sinclair Inlett e
Types
.ors-._�rB.yS•j�`
dais.
Highest Astronomical Tide 11.53' > :' � -- � v w v
Mean Higher High Water 9.18' --
,4\ a O w N
/ 6 O
— Existing Concrete / • , ..,,� �
/ s"' Kitsap Bank
tg Q Drive Through
•;r,. o0 jT"/ / j 'y:...,,,." �� 4650-011-001-0001
,r,x� xw �i F h
Existing Existing a A d
Buildin/ '3' Parking —_ _ �,•::h
H � a��.` g '/ Lot 11������� 1 'M ern
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NOTE(S):
1. Aerial from Google Earth TM (8/15/2020).
O N
2. Existing conditions survey provided by KPFF Engineering.
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3. Shoreline Jurisdiction encompasses entire site.
W
ti
It), +5' Mean Low Lower. �. 3
> �'oc^.r^ -O��OMm
^ .:?:.:.. Sinclair Inlet �
Type S USZ Zone 1
Deep Shore Zone
Highest Astronomical
Low Shore Zone TV2 '•:.� !Ib
10' MeanLowLower `�';":" _ °
USZ Zone 2 I
Mean Low Lower ,r� `.: •^ • %' ` aOr�w
Water -2.53' a a w F I-si�..
LEGEND:
Site Boundary
Parcel Boundary O F
OHWM
M
a U
r , I �y.:.: •.....v:. — — 75Shoreline Buffer r O
V w I- y;,',t:, , 1' Contours Qd a
% Existing Building w Z w
S �I � � .;.��•}`�..,,r; J"t.{` Existing Concrete
— —
/ — Existing Seawall
i ,I / -:'.:�':: ® Existing Ornamental Landscaping a A d
Historic Creosote Pilings (8 Total)
Existing Existing / ,.._Y.....;: r, o a M
i �` i•'t, CD N
Mean Higher High Water 9.18 N C°
�\ ♦ Concrete Building .: g g ( ) y 00
♦ .�� / Highest Astronomical Tide (11.53) U)
- Mean Low Lower Water (-2.53') v
n° ♦ (� +5' Mean Low Lower Water (2.47')
♦ -10' Mean Low Lower Water (-12.53) M
USZ Zone 1 - HAT (11.53) to MHHW (9.18)
z
Historic Creosote Pilings \ ♦
24" Diameter189 sq. ft, a
♦°:
' • .`YV y; .. 0 USZ Zone 2 - MHHW (9.18') to +5' MLLW (2.47') cn a
25' Long (Above and Below Ground) <<
_ / t 1 2,603 sq. ft.
p Mean Higher High 6 �! NOTE(S): 0 Low Shore Zone - +5' MLLW (2.47') to -10' MLLW -12.53' IL
TM 9,623 s . ft. n
Water 9.18' � 1. Aerial from Google Earth (8/15/2020). q o O'"
2. Existing conditions survey provided by KPFF Engineering. 0 Deep Shore Zone Below 10' MLLW (-12.53') V
3. Shoreline Jurisdiction encompasses entire site. 19,929 sq. ft. W
Co
V_
LEGEND: h /
Site Boundary /
Parcel Boundary / 'o F
;� /7/
OHWM � Mean Low Lower /
° 1' Contours ;� // i Mean Higher High Water 9.18'
Water -2.53'
— 75' Shoreline Buffer Sinclair Inlet / / i/zZ Z / i
Mean Higher High Water (9.18') o " O N
9 9 Type S / / / /// ii/ / A � o
n Highest Astronomical Tide (11.53) "� 3� �i 7/,,
/i. / , 7
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Mean Low Lower Water (-2.53') �� ,�� i -1/ y�// I / w w
Proposed 1' Contours
(5) Proposed16" DIA In -Water Piles � i/�i�� ,/ / a ~ z U A
Proposed Deck (2,944 sq. ft.) �/ ���
Proposed Building / / \ i
/ i // // /
Proposed Bench i -7-.-'-'\ i / _ w
O Proposed Piles 77/, / // i \ °J
Proposed Retaining Wall / Proposed Deck 2 / / hr' /
® Proposed Walking Trail / / /
A \ " m
ProposedAsphalt /7 / / / / / i / J i ��.o
Proposed Impervious Surface / / / / / / // / / i / i��� /
0 Proposed Concrete / / // /� %� / /ice 7/ / 7 ....;................ z z
Temporary Cofferdam and Win walls / / i i �� Hi Est Astronomical
�� p ry Wingwalls // / / / / g �.......... -�FzvF
Proposed Retaining Wall with (5) / / i / //_// Tide 11.53 /\- \ z z v
16" DIA Piles /
i// // / / / i i / /.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'... a W
Proposed Retaining Wall with (10) / / / :... i.:.:.....:......:... \ a a w N
ii' / :+:•. ; ¢ a a
Proposed Restoration j �/ �//ii // / / /� ���� t: :•:t ' :: ;�:'�:'::''`'' QO• t .1 ......... / I I Q z
Historic Creosote Pilin s to be / // / / / ' • •:�%:•'•'•'� • • • +••••�•�•�•� �•�
Removed (8 Total) / / / �� / / / +:'�. :•:•:•'•' I
0.20 tons (per PSNHCC) /� / —_� / / .•. : .;.•:.•.«+#`«........... / a
//'•'
// / / /1
N II Shoreline to be Exposed ,�i / / '/'/7 _ Jam/ *'� o Q a
/ Retaining Wall Supported : /
- 3,336 s . ft. /// / / /// _ _ by(5)16 DIA Piles / z
//// / / j //////ri�'i'�'i'�'i'�'i'�'�'�'�'+'�'+'+ �.�'� / a A
\ /f//////// / i`++ o r.:. // / I o M
/ Historic Creosote Rilings I I l / //// /�� / N
24" Diameter \\ 1 I I I I / / / /// , , , , , , .... / /
X / 25' Long (Above and Below Ground) \`1 1 II I I I I ii / /� 240 LF Temporary+Sheetpile / / /
to be RemovedI �l 11 1 1 1 1 1 11 H Cofferdam. Includes (2) / / / I w a �'
\/ �I111111 'if/(
Wingwalls / / / H MJ o
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p / /1/11/ / Community '0 L
NOTES : l I /� /i Events Center �� / // O a
1. Site plan provided by KPFF Engineering. j/\ / / / / E V .a
2. Shoreline Jurisdiction encompasses entire // / . / //
site. / C�/ •,S W
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16'0 PILE
20-
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10— MHHW: 9.18
5—
MLLW +5: 2.47
0—
MLLW: -2.531
-5—
HANDRAIL BY LANDSCAPE
EXISTING GRADE
(Seawall) TOP OF RETAINING WALL
16'
EVENTS CENTER PROMENADE
RETAINING WALL
TEMPORARY SHEET
PILE CAISSON
SHORE ARMOR SHALL COMPLY MATH WSDOT STANDARD
SPECIFICATION 9-03.11(2) (10' STREAMBED COBBLES) OR
9-13.5(1), QUARRY SPALLS, TIP
NOTES:
1. TEMPORARY SHEET PILE NOT AT SIMILAR.
2. FINAL GRADING SHOWN.
3. DEMOLISHED SEAWALL NOT SHOWN.
4. TOP FACE OF TIDE POOLS SHALL BE BETWEEN EL 4.0 AND EL 10.0.
TOP OF RE TM C WALL
18'
CONCRE-E DECK E4EVT5 CENTER PRC6ENAPE
E111S1NG
GRADE
(Seawall)
r
` RETAINING WALL
It SHORE ARMOR SIRALL COMPLY WITH WSDOT STANDARD
61T1 9-03.11(2) (10' SI PMBEO CEBLES) OR
9-13.5(1), MARRY SPAS
REAINING WALL AND DECK �1
NOTE(S):
1. Site plan provided by KPFF Engineering.
RETAINING WALL AND SHEET PILE
20-
15 —
HAT: 11.53
10— MHHW: 9.18
5—
MLLW +5: 2.47
0—
MLLW: -2.53 c7
-5
GRATED DECK
HANORAIL
LANDSCAPES 1� TOP OF Y
RETAINING WALL
\11 CONCRETE DECK
1111111111
EXISTING
GRADE / 5.
(Seawall)
16'0 PILE i / a
16'
EVENTS CENTER PROMENADE
RETAINING WALL
/ 12' SHORE ARMOR SHALL COMPLY WITH WSDOT STANDARD
SPECIFICATION 9-03.11(2) (10' STREAMBED COBBLES) OR
9-13.5(1), QUARRY SPALLS
RETAINING WALL AND DECK 3�
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Photo 1 was taken from along Bay Street
east of the project site. It looks
northwesterly along Bay Street with
the Kitsap Bank building visible in
the upper right just below the tree
branches.
Photo 2 was taken from the same location
and looks north across the proper-
ties along Bay Street. The Kitsap
Bank drive thru is in the upper left.
The Port Orchard Marina is beyond
the building, parking, and vegetation
in this photo.
Photo 3 was taken from the entrance to the
Port Orchard Marina northeast of
the project site. It looks southwest-
erly back toward the Kitsap Bank
Building. This view shows the ex-
tent of seawall below the bank and
wood handrail.
1157 3rd Ave., Suite 220A DATE: 2/13/23 Photoplate 1
Longview, WA 98632 DWN: JB Site Photos
Phone: (360) 578-1371 Port Orchard Community Events Center
ECo
Fax: (360) 414-9305 PRJ. MGR: JB Rice Fergus Miller ogicai PROJ.#: 2521.07 Port Orchard, Washington
Land Services
Photo 4 was taken along the path from the
Waterfront Park in downtown Port
Orchard east of the project site. It
looks westerly along the path to-
wards the bank and shows the rub-
ble consisting of concrete chunks
and rip rap, which was placed to
protect the seawall.
Photo 5 was taken from the path where the
handrail begins. It looks southwest-
erly along the path and handrail with
the bank building to the left. The
rubble in this area is largely rip rap
chunks covered with barnacles.
The proposed overwater deck will
be situated in this area.
Photo 6 was taken from the same location
as Photo 5 and looks northeasterly
to show the extent of the shoreline
rubble from a different angle. The
overwater deck will end at the hand-
rail angle on the right. Beyond the
handrail, the property is managed
by the City of Port Orchard as part
of the Waterfront Park.
a
1157 3rd Ave., Suite 220A DATE: 2/13/23 Photoplate 2
Longview, WA 98632 Site Photos
Phone: (360) 578-1371 DWN: JB Port Orchard Community Events Center
ECo
Fax: (360) 414-9305 PRJ. MGR: JB Rice Fergus Miller 0ga�Icai PROJ.#: 2521.07 Port Orchard, Washington
Land Services
Photo 7 shows the rubble along the shore-
line covered with barnacles. This
photo also shows the steep angle of
the shoreline in this area as it goes
beneath the waterline.
Photo 8 was taken from the northwest cor-
ner of the project site and the sea-
wall. It looks northeasterly along the
path and the west end of the bank
building. A large concrete patio is
formed in this area, which will be
removed as part of the project and
the shoreline restored through grad-
ing.
Photo 9 was taken from the same location
as Photo 8. It looks southerly along
the west edge of the project site
showing the west end of the bank, a
narrow parking area to the right, and
the building with the 7-11 mini mar-
ket in the upper left.
1 157 3rd Ave., Suite 220A DATE: 2/13/23 Photoplate 3
Longview, WA 98632 DWN: JB Site Photos
Phone: (360) 578-1371 Port Orchard Community Events Center
��� Fax: (360) 414-9305 PRJ. MGR: JB Rice Fergus Miller
Ecological PROJ.#: 2521.07 Port Orchard, Washington
Land Services
Photo 10 was from the same location as
Photos 8 and 9 on Photoplate 3. It
looks westerly along the shoreline
where the rubble continues.
Photo 11 was taken from the east end of the
bank building to show the existing
vegetation within the onsite land-
scaped areas. This vegetation com-
munity provides no function for the
shoreline buffer and do not provide
habitat for wildlife.
Photo 12 was taken from the parking area
between the bank and 7-11 building
(Photo 9). It looks back toward the
corner of the seawall to show its ex-
tent as well as the concrete pilings
that will be removed as part of the
shoreline restoration.
1157 3rd Ave., Suite 220A DATE: 2/13/23 Photoplate 4
Longview, WA 98632 Site Photos
Phone: (360) 578-1371 DWN: JB Port Orchard Community Events Center
ECo
Fax: (360) 414-9305 PRJ. MGR: JB Rice Fergus Miller 0ga�Icai PROJ.#: 2521.07 Port Orchard, Washington
Land Services
Photo 13 shows a closer view of the creo-
sote pilings and a portion of the old
sheet pile that will be removed as
part of the shoreline restoration.
Photo 14 shows the creosote pilings and
sheet pile that will be removed as
viewed from the corner of the sea-
wall. There are 8 creosote pilings
that appear to be about 25 feet long.
The sheet pile in this area extends
into the deeper water and is sur-
rounded by the barnacle covered
rocks.
Photo 15 was taken to show some pilings
that appear to be composed of con-
crete that occur below the water.
They are visible in the upper left cor-
ner and next to the large rocks.
These pilings were not accounted
for in the shoreline restoration calcu-
lations in the PSNHCC but their re-
moval will also improve the shore-
line on this property.
' 1157 3rd Ave., Suite 220A DATE: 2/13/23 Photoplate 5
Longview, WA 98632 DWN: JB Site Photos
Phone: (360) 578-1371 Port Orchard Community Events Center
Fax: (360) 414-9305 PRJ. MGR: JB Rice Fergus Miller
Ecological PROJ.#: 2521.07 Port Orchard, Washington
Land Services
3/17/2023 1:13 PM C:\Users\Emilio\Box\ELS\WA\Kitsap\Port Orchard\2521-Rice Fergus Miller\2521.07-POCEC Seawall Permitting\2521.07-Figures CAD Only\2521.07_SMP.dwg Emilio
UP III II H
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STAIR 4
96 SF
OFFICE OFFICE OFFICE OUTDOOR
61 SF 63 SF 64 SF KIDS AREA
OPERABLE PARTITION
OFFICE -
STAFF WORK ■ 165 SF I - - i i I
ROOM O BREAK ROOM
IIII
594 SF - - 183 SF ' •'i I I
Hflj Ill/
OFFICE -
165 SF
KIDS
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CITY OF PORT ORCHARD
rte`: Y
4 A
GISLATIVE UPDATE
July 15, 2025
Shelly Helder
45
OVERVIEW & OUTCOMES OF THE
2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
EXPECTATIONS & PREPARATION
FOR THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
NEXT STEPS
46
•
Funds all state agency
operations
Revenue growth has slowed
— 2022-24 revenues grew at
5.2% annually, starting in
2025 reduced to 3.5%
$77.8 billion budget for
2025-27, $2.3 billion in
reserves
$4.3 billion in new taxes
• Funds public and nonprofit
construction projects
_(excluding transportation)
• $7.5 billion budget
• Funded by the combination
of bond capacity, federal
funds, dedicated sources,
etc.
• $201.3 million allocated for
local community projects
_($23 1.8 million in 2023)
_ • Average local community
project award: $604,000
y
Expected $ I billion shortfall
in 2025-27
• Some projects delayed due
to reduced revenues
• No new projects
_ Taxes, fees and transfer from
operating resulting in $3.2 "1
— billion over the next 6 years
• $15.5 billion budget for 25-
27
47
• Request: $3.55 million
to address funding gap
• Request made in both
capital and
transportation budgets
• $ I million included in
final capital budget
• Water resource
mitigation pilot project
• Goal: Educate the
Legislature on the
challenges and urgency
• Request: $8 million
• Limited funding
availability in
transportation budget
48
OTHER IMPORTANT TOPICS
Public Safety
• Passed: House Bill 2015, public safety funding
• Basic Law Enforcement Academy Classes
7\ Housing & Homelessness Mandates
;V" ) • Amended Senate Bill 5184, parking minimums
;.,/ • Defeated: House Bill 1380, use of public property
Infrastructure Funding
• Strong advocacy to defeat large diversion of Public
Works Assistance Account funding
• Likely to see reductions to operating expenditures, no new revenue
• The 2025-27 Capital budget left $349 million in bond capacity for
2026
• The 2025-27 Transportation budget focused on completing what was
started, maintenance & preservation, state obligation to address fish
culverts
• Any bill introduced, but did not pass, in the 2025 session will be
eligible for reconsideration + any new proposals
• HB 1380 (public spaces), HB 1 195 (STEP housing), HB 1622 (Al
collective bargaining), HB 1443/SB 5332 (mobile dwellings)
50
AWC LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES DEVELOPMENT
Legislative Priorities
Committee Meeting
Membership Survey
Input from Large
City Advisory
Committee
Legislative Priorities
Committee Meeting
2
Legislative Priorities
Committee Meeting
3
Priorities
Recommended to
the AWC Board
Input from Small AWC Staff Research AWC Board Adopts
Cities Advisory Potential Priorities Legislative Priorities
Committee
Supplemental "short" sessions are best for continuing priorities or emergent items
Funding requests:
Legislature likes to be "last dollar in"
Most successful budget requests have buy -in from the delegation
Require detailed information like pictures, maps and project budget
Policy items:
Does the City have a unique story to tell? Ex: Foster Pilot
Are we adding to or differentiating from the efforts of other partners?
Coordinate with delegation well in advance of session
52
• Identify 2026 needs
• Draft 2026 Legislative Agenda
• Meet with delegation members to discuss possible priorities and
ensure alignment
• Develop final proposed priorities
• City Council adopts Legislative Agenda
53
QUESTIONS?
t
1H!
GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
2025 Bills Likely to Return in 2026
Below is a list of bills that did not make it through this legislative session. Although all bills that
did not pass will automatically be reintroduced and reconsidered during the 2026 session, the
list below highlights legislation that is expected to receive significant discussion during the 2026
session. We encourage you to review and prepare for the continuation of these policy
discussions.
Misdemeanor Charge Dismissal Framework: House Bill 1113, sponsored by Rep. Darya Farivar
(D -46th LD), establishes a framework for courts of limited jurisdiction to dismiss certain
misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges if defendants comply with court -ordered
conditions aimed at rehabilitation. Courts may dismiss charges upon a defendant's substantial
compliance with conditions over a continuance period of 6 to 12 months, which must be
tailored to support rehabilitation and address factors such as behavioral health disorders,
housing instability, or employment challenges. Exclusions include serious offenses such as DUI -
related crimes, domestic violence, firearm -related charges, animal cruelty, and offenses
involving sexual motivation or minors.
Neighborhood Cafes: House Bill 1175, sponsored by Rep. Mark Klicker (R -16th LD), mandates
that cities and towns allow neighborhood cafes and stores in residential areas, with provisions
regulating parking, hours of operation, and additional local controls such as maximum square
footage. Neighborhood cafes serving alcohol must also offer food, and stores in residential
zones are prohibited from selling nicotine products. The bill exempts certain actions related to
its implementation from environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
and requires cities planning under the Growth Management Act to incorporate these
requirements into their comprehensive plan updates in 2027, while other cities must
implement the requirements within two years of the bill's effective date.
Commerce Oversight of Shelter Permitting: House Bill 1195, sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson
(D -21st LD), facilitates the siting, permitting, and operation of permanent supportive housing,
transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters. Counties and
cities must approve permit applications for these facilities through administrative processes,
prohibiting local comprehensive plans or regulations from precluding such developments in
residential or commercial zones within urban growth areas contiguous with cities. The
Department of Commerce is empowered to resolve disputes, enforce compliance, and withhold
certain revenues from noncompliant local governments, while exemptions apply to critical
areas, natural hazard zones, and lands of long-term commercial significance.
GTH-GOV
55
Competency Evaluations: House Bill 1218, sponsored by Rep. Darya Farivar (D -46th LD),
introduces significant changes to Washington State's forensic mental health system, focusing
on competency evaluation and restoration services. The bill aims to reduce demand for forensic
services, improve diversion options, and enhance community -based behavioral health services.
Key provisions include expanding the role of forensic navigators to assist individuals referred for
competency evaluation for class B and C felonies and misdemeanors, streamlining outpatient
competency restoration eligibility, and requiring courts to dismiss charges if restoration is
deemed unlikely. Additionally, it establishes a Behavioral Health Diversion Incentive Program to
reduce inpatient competency referrals, creates a Behavioral Health Diversion Fund, and
mandates counties to develop diversion plans to reduce jail time for individuals with behavioral
health needs.
Wildfire Building Codes: House Bill 1254, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr (D -1st LD), mandates
phased statewide adoption of the International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) to
address wildfire risks. The bill requires the State Building Code Council to adopt the IWUIC by
November 1, 2029, following the creation of statewide wildfire hazard maps, and allows local
governments to use optional IWUIC codes until the statewide maps are finalized. The bill also
mandates IWUIC application in high -risk areas identified through mapping, permits local
governments to adopt amendments with fire marshal approval, and establishes a grant
program to support mapping efforts.
Even -Year Local Elections: House Bill 1339, sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson (D -33rd LD),
allows local governments to move their elections from odd -numbered to even -numbered years
to boost voter turnout. The bill introduces a new option for cities, towns, and special purpose
districts to transition their elections to even -numbered years through mechanisms such as
legislative adoption of an ordinance, voter approval of a referred ordinance or charter
amendment, or voter -initiated initiatives or charter amendments. Key provisions include
requirements for two public hearings held at least 30 days apart, adjustments to elected
officials' term lengths to align with the new schedule, and a funding contingency clause making
implementation dependent on specific appropriations by June 30, 2025.
Homelessness Regulation Framework: House Bill 1380, sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson (D -
33rd LD), establishes a framework for regulating the use of public property by individuals
experiencing homelessness, requiring such regulations to be "objectively reasonable" in terms
of time, place, and manner. The bill applies to laws enacted by cities, towns, counties, and the
state, including those governing capitol building lands. It allows individuals to challenge
unreasonable laws in court and assert an affirmative defense, prohibits monetary damages, and
includes an emergency clause for immediate enactment.
Public Defense Funding Reform: House Bill 1592, sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson (D -21st
LD), revises Washington State's public defense funding structure by shifting significant financial
responsibility to the state and establishing new requirements for counties and cities. Beginning
in fiscal year 2026, the state will cover 50 percent of public defense costs and assume
responsibility for costs exceeding a five-year average of county and city expenditures, while
GTH-GOV
56
counties must redirect supplanted funds to programs such as diversion, behavioral health
services, and affordable housing. The bill also mandates robust data collection and reporting
requirements, establishes eligibility standards for state funding, and allows rural counties to
request the Office of Public Defense (OPD) to take over public defense services.
Al and Collective Bargaining: House Bill 1622, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Parshley (D -22nd LD),
requires employers to bargain over the adoption or modification of artificial intelligence (Al)
technologies that impact wages or performance evaluations. Bargaining is not required for
updates to existing Al technologies made by third parties that do not meaningfully affect wages
or evaluations. The bill also ensures existing contracts are not subject to the new requirements
until they expire, are renewed, or reopened.
Independent Jail Oversight: Senate Bill 5005, sponsored by Senator Rebecca Saldana (D -37th
LD), establishes the Washington Jail Council within the Office of the Governor to oversee and
improve the state's jail system. The council's purpose is to promote transparency, ensure safe
and humane conditions for jail employees and incarcerated individuals, encourage
rehabilitative reforms, and reduce litigation risks. The council is tasked with monitoring jail
operations, conducting annual surveys, publishing reports, investigating systemic issues, and
participating in unexpected fatality review teams to issue recommendations to the legislature
and governing jail authorities.
Juvenile Interrogations: Senate Bill 5052, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D -32nd LD),
clarifies law enforcement authority to contact juvenile witnesses and victims not suspected of
criminal activity. It specifies that attorney consultation requirements apply only to juveniles
detained based on probable cause of criminal involvement, ensuring law enforcement can
interact with juvenile witnesses and victims without triggering these requirements. The bill also
adds provisions to ensure the admissibility of lawfully obtained evidence and includes
legislative intent to provide consistent statewide interpretation of juvenile law enforcement
interactions.
Prevailing Wage Adjustments: Senate Bill 5061, sponsored by Sen. Steve Conway (D -29th LD),
requires annual adjustments to prevailing wage rates for most public works contracts to ensure
wages reflect current rates during the duration of a project. The bill exempts small works roster
projects and residential construction from the adjustment requirement and requires residential
construction projects to include a designation in the contract, with provisions for
reclassification to commercial rates if necessary.
Expanded Weapon -Free Zones: Senate Bill 5098, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D -46th LD),
expands weapon -free zones to include neighborhood, community, or regional park facilities
where children are likely to be present, state or local public buildings, and county fairs during
public operating hours. Exceptions are provided for gun shows, color guards, and honor guards
during permitted events, museum staff handling firearms as part of collections or exhibitions,
and concealed pistol license holders in specific circumstances. Municipalities are required to
post signage at common access points, and violations are classified as gross misdemeanors. The
GTH-GOV 3
57
definition of "weapon" is updated to include additional instruments capable of causing death or
bodily injury.
Short -Term Rental Tax: Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5576, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett
(D -40th LD), authorizes counties, cities, and towns in Washington State to impose a new local
excise tax on short-term rental lodging transactions facilitated through short-term rental
platforms. The bill establishes the framework for the tax, its rate, collection, and use of
proceeds, as well as administrative requirements. Local governments may impose the tax at a
rate not exceeding 4%, with proceeds deposited into the "essential affordable housing local
assistance account" to fund affordable housing -related purposes, including construction,
operations, rental assistance, and social services. Local governments may retain up to 15
percent of revenue for administrative costs and are required to publish annual reports on
expenditures.
Clear and Objective Development Regulations and Design Standards: Senate Bill 5613,
sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D -32nd LD), amends Washington's Growth Management Act
to require cities and counties to adopt clear and objective development regulations and design
standards for residential development. The Department of Commerce must form a stakeholder
work group to analyze barriers to housing and develop model codes, which cities and counties
must adopt or submit alternatives for approval by the Department by January 1, 2029. The bill
expands the jurisdiction of the Growth Management Hearings Board to address noncompliance
and allows alternative approval processes for aesthetic considerations if they do not reduce
density below comprehensive plan levels.
Mandatory Hearing Examiners: Senate Bill 5719, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D -32nd LD),
mandates changes to Washington State law regarding the use of hearing examiners for land use
and development decisions by counties and cities. Counties fully planning under the Growth
Management Act (GMA) and cities with populations over 2,000 must adopt hearing examiner
systems for quasi-judicial land use decisions, such as plat approvals, planned unit
developments, variances, and conditional uses. Hearing examiner decisions are designated as
final and appealable only through the courts, with jurisdictions allowed to specify whether
substantial weight must be given to administrative decision -makers in appeals. Counties not
fully planning under the GMA and cities with populations of 2,000 or less may adopt hearing
examiner systems, but are not required to do so, with optional legislative review processes also
permitted.
Permit Streamlining: Senate Bill 5729, sponsored by Sen. Chris Gildon (R -25th LD), streamlines
the permitting process for affordable housing construction by deeming professionally prepared
applications complete upon submission and limiting local governments' ability to impose
substantial modifications. Applications consistent with development regulations and
infrastructure capacity are deemed approved after six reviews unless violations are
demonstrated, and certain types of projects are excluded from site plan review. The bill also
imposes professional liability insurance requirements for engineers and architects and
GTH-GOV
4
58
compliance restrictions to ensure adherence to development regulations and housing
affordability standards.
GTH-GOV
59
Washington final budgets FY 2025-27: Selected impacts on cities
For more information, please visit the fiscal. wa.gov website for legislative budget proposals and
A !tSHI TION the Office of Financial Management website at ofm. wa.gov for the Governor's proposed budget.
OF WASHINGTON
CiiiES
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
Operating budget - Shared
revenues
Liquor profits (Liquor
$98.9 million
$98.9 million
Revolving Account)
Liquor taxes (Liquor Excise
$89.4 million
$88 million
Tax Account)
Cannabis Excise Tax
$47.2 million (due to reduced forecast)
$44.2 million
Municipal Criminal Justice
$51.7 million
• $60.3 million
Assistance Account
• $266,000 for reimbursement for mandatory arrest for
repeat offenders.
City -County Assistance
$34.6 million (due to reduced REET revenues)
$43.8 million
Account (6050)
Fire Insurance Premium Tax
$14.6 million
$16.9 million
Operating budget - Programs
General Government
Pensions
• Final Rates adjusted to account for UAAL reduction
• Select Committee on Pension Policy to study
under SB 5294:
implications of possible Plans 1 merger (as suggested
• PERS employer rate: 8.86%
by SB 5085) or LEOFF 1 restatement (as suggested
• PSERS employer rate: 9.1%
by HB 2034). Report by January 9, 2026.
• LEOFF 2 employer rate: 5.12%
• Pension rates adjusted to take into account SB 5357.
• $143,000 for implementing changes to military service
New employer rates:
credits. 0.01% increase to state contributions to pay
■ PERS 5.38%
for additional benefits (HB 1007).
■ PSERS 6.91%
• $1.06 million for implementing retire/rehire expansion
- LEOFF 2 employer rate: 5.32%
(HB 1056).
• $199,000 to implement moving 911 operators to
PSERS (HB 1055).
• $12 million increase for 2024-25 state appropriations
to LEOFF 2 system.
• 0.13% increase in state employer contributions to
PSERS to fund movin 911 o erators to PSERS.
PERS 1 COLA
• 0.12% increase in employer contributions provided for
No PERS 1 COLA included.
PERS 1 COLA in SB 5350.
Page 1 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 60
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
• 0.08% increase for state and local government
employer contributions for PERS 1 COLA in HB 1985.
Paid Family & Medical Leave
• $30,000 to implement changes to paid leave
• $10.8 million for additional staff to process PFML
Program
premiums calculations (SB 5286).
customer and employer inquiries.
• $2.9 million to implement changes of employer access
• $8.9 million completing statutorily required PFML
to paid leave data (SB 5586).
implementation.
• $250,000 for an ESD study on impacts of PFML job
• $5 million to implement changes to PFML job
protection standards on utilization of PFML benefits.
protections.
• $5.6 million to increase PFML program staffing for
processing claims and customer service.
• $7.3 million for staffing to complete PFML technology
upgrades for statutorily required components of
PFML.
• $100,000 for ESD report on how to collect
demographic information of PFML and UI program
participants.
Miscellaneous HR & labor
• $15.4 million to LTSS program to implement IT
• $851,000 to implement restriction on including
provisions of interest
project.
unnecessary driver requirements in job applications (SB
• $3.54 million for PFML and LTSS programs for
5501).
outreach to underserved communities, perform
• $852,000 to implement UI benefits for striking workers
program evaluation, data management, and enhance
(SB 5041).
customer experience.
• $102,000 to implement changes to public employee
• $21.2 million to cover anticipated shortfall in federal
bargaining (SB 5503).
funding for unemployment insurance program.
• $1.73 million to L&I to implement repeal of ban on
musculoskeletal injuries rules (SB 5217).
• $572,000 to implement "good faith" standard for self -
insured employers (HB 1521)
• $15.4 million to LTSS program to implement IT
project.
• $64.2 million transfer from LTSS account to GE to
repay 2024 startup costs.
• $4.2 million to implement benefits portability for the
WA Cares Fund (HB 2467).
• $400,000 to fund a third party contracted PTSD study
for public safety workers and nurses. Report to
legislature required June 30, 2025.
• $844,000 to incorporate all protected classes into
Page 2 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 61
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
Equal Pay & Opportunity Act (HB 1905).
• $404,000 to implement changes to temporary total
disability benefits (HB 1927).
• $2.23 million to implement increased safety for
construction cranes (HB 2022).
• $611,000 to implement new definition of family
member for paid sick leave SB 5793 .
Municipal Research and
$6.8 million
$6.8 million
Services Center
$2.2 million for procurement technical assistance.
Municipal Revolving
-
Sweep of $5 million from State Auditor municipal revolving
Account
account balance of local audit fees.
Elections
-
$500,000 to UW to study local government compliance with
voting and elections laws and recommend best practices.
Public safety & Criminal Justice
Training for law
• $3.4 million for six additional classes. Funds 23 Basic
• Funds 23 BLEA classes per year in 2026 and 2027,
enforcement
Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) classes in 2024
with two per year in each of four regional academies in
and 2025, with at least three classes in Spokane each
Arlington, Pasco, Spokane, and Vancouver. Remaining
year and the remainder at the Burien campus.
classes in Burien.
• $12 million for six additional BLEA classes, starting in
• Reinstates 25% local match for BLEA and basic
2024, at three new regional training academies:
corrections officer training programs.
Pasco, Snohomish, and Clark County.
• $4.4 million to eliminate 25% local government match
for BLEA.
• $50,000 to study establishing a regional BLEA and/or
corrections officer academ on the Kitsa Peninsula.
Crisis intervention training
$1.8 million for Trueblood phase one regions.
$1.8 million for Trueblood phase one, two, and three
regions.
Co -responder team funding
$5.3 million to cities and counties to assist with alternative
$5.2 million to cities and counties to assist with alternative
response, including:
response, including:
• $4 million to AWC to provide funds to cities to create
• $4 million to AWC to provide funds to cities to create
alternative response team programs around the state.
alternative response team programs around the state.
• $2 million to support behavioral health co -responder
• $1.2 million to support Whatcom County alternative
services on non law enforcement emergency medical
response team.
response teams.
Law enforcement behavioral
$5 million to the CJTC for law enforcement wellness
$5 million to the CJTC for officer wellness programs,
health & suicide prevention
programs, including:
including:
program
Page 3 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 62
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
• $3 million for grants to local law enforcement
• $3 million for grants to local law enforcement agencies
agencies for wellness programs.
for wellness programs.
• $2 million for a wellness app.
• $2 million for a wellness app.
$1.3 million for first responder wellness HB 2311).
Multijurisdictional drug task
$2.7 million, replacing the funds redirected from the Byrne
Funding not included.
forces
grant program, including $50,000 for three roundtables to
review policies, regulations, and fiscal investments in
multijurisdictional drug task forces and report to
legislature.
Public safety funding
Funding not included.
• $100 million for public safety funding grants to support
recruiting, hiring, retaining, and training officers and co -
responders (HB 2015).
• $635,000 to CJTC to administer grants.
Retail crime task force
$2.2 million
Funding not included.
$1 million for a statewide organization to conduct a retail
crime pilot program focused on diversion -oriented
programs.
Drug & gang prevention
$1 million grant program.
$1 million grant program.
Impaired driver safety
$1.1 million
$1.2 million
account
Small & rural court facilities
$2 million for grant matching funds to small rural
$1 million for grant matching funds to increase small rural
grants for increased
municipal county courts for increasing court security,
court security.
security
Public defense and
• $611,000 to OPD for a rural public defense program
Funding not included.
prosecution recruitment and
(SB 5780).
training
• $442,000 to OPD for public defense recruitment and
internship program.
• $694,000 to CTJC for a rural prosecution program.
Public defense grants
$900,000 to cities.
• $900,000 for grants to cities.
• Additional $2.7 million for public defense grants to
cities.
Vacating & resentencing
$115.8 million in continued response to the State v. Blake
• $7.7 million to AOC to refund legal financial obligations
under State v. Blake
decision, including:
vacated under Blake and an additional $1.7 million for
decision & refunding LFOs
• $11.5 million to assist cities with costs of complying
the activities of the AOC including contracting with
with the State v. Blake decision. AOC must
cities and counties to disburse legal financial
collaborate with cities to adopt a standardized
obligations.
Page 4 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 63
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
process, including coding for application to Blake
• $7.6 million to AOC to assist cities and counties with
convictions,
costs to comply with Blake.
• $51.4 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts
• $8.6 million to the Office of Public Defense to assist
to establish a direct refund process to individuals and
cities and counties with public defense services related
an additional $1.6 million for the activities of the office
to Blake, including SPAR grants.
relating to resentencing and refunding legal financial
obligations and costs.
• $5.2 million to the Office of Civil Legal Aid to continue
legal information, advice, assistance, and
representation for individuals eligible for civil relief
under State v. Blake.
• $3.4 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts
for resentencing or vacating convictions.
• $963,000 to the Office of Public Defense to provide
statewide attorney training, technical assistance, and
data.
Therapeutic courts
_reporting.
$29.6 million for therapeutic courts:
Funding not included.
• $9 million to the Health Care Authority to maintain
funding for new therapeutic courts created or
expanded during 2021.
• $20.6 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts
for therapeutic court pro rams.
Medicated assisted opioid
$17.3 million to expand opioid disorder medication in city,
Funding not included.
treatment in jails
county, regional, and tribal jails.
Human Services
Community Behavioral
Significant investments in the community behavioral
Continued investments in the community behavioral health
Health
health system, including:
system, including:
• $55 million for community treatment (PACT) teams.
• $78.5 million for assertive community treatment (PACT)
• $4.5 million for mental health services for mentally ill
teams.
offenders in county or city jails and connection to
• $4.1 million for mental health services for mentally ill
services after release from confinement,
offenders in county or city jails and connection to
• $21.5 million for crisis triage, relief, or stabilization
services after release from confinement.
centers.
• $38.1 million for clubhouse programs.
• $11.6 million for clubhouse programs.
• $17 million for substance use disorder peer support
• $17 million for substance use disorder peer support
services.
services.
• $61.2 million to support the housing needs of
• $46.5 million for the recovery navigator program,
individuals with behavioral health disorders. Includes
including funding for recovery navigator teams to
funds for crisis response teams, housing programs,
Page 5 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 64
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024 I Final 2025-27
suaalemental) budaet
Forensic mental health
provide outreach and case management services for
law enforcement assisted diversion.
• $44.4 million for behavioral health mobile crisis
response teams.
• $2.6 million for a substance use or drug overdose
prevention campaign (HB 1956 or SB 5906).
• $3 million for health engagement hubs.
• $3.7 million for street medicine teams.
• $1.3 million for a public health nurse pilot
• $5.2 million to expand distribution of naloxone and
$1.2 million to purchase supply of naloxone for first
responders.
• $900,000 for public health vending machines
• $3 million to increase access to buprenorphine and
$1.5 million to establish high -intensity community -
based teams to provide buprenorphine to people with
opioid use disorder.
• $1.4 million for young adult post inpatient housing
(HB 1929).
• $2.2 million for behavioral health crisis system
coordination (SB 6251)
• $4 million for opioid and fentanyl data dashboards.
$108.7 million for forensic mental health and to continue
implementation of the Trueblood Settlement, including:
• $18.2 million to phase -in Trueblood settlement
competency evaluations, competency restoration,
forensic navigators, crisis diversion and supports,
education and training, and workforce development.
• $14.3 million to improve the timeliness of competency
evaluation services for individuals in local jails.
• $10.3 million to provide behavioral health and
stabilization services in King County.
• $7.6 million to DSHS to hire additional forensic
evaluators to provide in -jail competency and
community -based evaluations.
• $8 million, including $7 million for Trueblood phase
one and phase two regions.
$8 million to continue diversion grant programs.
recovery navigators, stabilization teams, and more.
• $14 million for a substance use or drug overdose
prevention campaign.
• $9.5 million for health engagement hub pilot program
sites (SB 5536).
• $5.3 million to continue existing street medicine
contracts with Tacoma, Everett, and Spokane, as well
as King and Kitsap County.
• $6.9 million to expand distribution of naloxone to
community health programs, other community settings,
and first responders.
• $2 million to increase access to buprenorphine.
• $2.7 million to launch a tele-buprenorphine hotline to
increase access to medications for opioid use disorder.
• $4.5 million for young adult post inpatient housing.
$18.2 million to phase -in Trueblood settlement
competency evaluations, competency restoration,
forensic navigators, crisis diversion and supports,
education and training, and workforce development.
$14.3 million to improve the timeliness of competency
evaluation services for individuals who are in local jails.
$8 million, including $7 million for Trueblood phase one
and phase two regions.
Page 6 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 65
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024 I Final 2025-27
suoolemental) budaet
Foundational public health I $301.2 million I $300.2 million
Housing & Homelessness
Housing and homelessness
• $150 million for covenant homeownership program
(HB 1474).
• $150 million to transition those living in encampments
to safer housing, requiring $120 million to be used for
those living on state -rights -of -way.
• $130 million for HEN program.
• $136 million for emergency housing and rental
assistance.
• $62 million for grants to support O&M costs of
permanent supportive housing.
• $45.6 million for homeless services contracts.
• $43 million for grants to local government to maintain
programs impacted by loss of document recording
fees.
• $34 million for grants for local governments for
homeless housing programs and services.
• $29 million for homeless families, youth prevention
and diversion.
• $14 million for Consolidated Homeless Grant
Program.
• $4.2 million for foreclosure prevention assistance.
Land Use & Environment
Stormwater nonpoint • $5.2 million to study the tire chemical 6PPD's impact
pollution on stormwater runoff and determine best
management practices to filter out/treat.
• $2.7 million to develop a strategy and
recommendations to eliminate 6PPD in tires.
• $200 million for covenant homeownership program.
• $137 million for HEN program.
• $117.6 million for grants to local governments to
maintain programs impacted by loss of document
recording fees.
• $111 million for grants for local governments and
NGOs for homeless housing programs and services.
• $90 million to transition those living in encampments to
safer housing.
• $30.4 million for homeless families, youth prevention
and diversion.
• $25 million for grants to support building operations,
maintenance and service costs of permanent
supportive housing projects.
• $22.5 million for housing assistance, including rental
subsidies, permanent supportive housing, and low- and
no -barrier housing beds for unhoused individuals.
• $6.5 million for the Consolidated Homeless Grant
Program.
• $1.2 million for foreclosure prevention assistance.
• $1 million for diversions services for those at risk of
losing stable housing or are homeless that are
determined to have a high probability of returning to
stable housing.
$8.5 million for Ecology to address and mitigate 6PPD (tire
chemical lethal to salmonids), including to identify effective
management practices for stormwater treatment. Including:
• $4.4 million to identify effective best management
practices to treat 6PPD in stormwater.
• $2.7 million to develop a strategy and
recommendations to eliminate 6PPD in consumer
products.
Page 7 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 66
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
PFAS and water quality
$100,000 for Dept. of Health to convene a nonregulatory
• $4 million to investigate and monitor sources and
stakeholder forum to discuss solutions to PFAS
impacts of PFAS, including a study of how to manage
contamination of surface and groundwater.
discharges at municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
• $196,000 to implement SB 5033, required PFAS
testing of biosolids.
Growth Management Act
• $20 million for updating comprehensive plans, with
• $22.5 million for local government climate planning
Planning Grants
funding also provided to incorporate HB 1220 (2021)
implementation.
and SB 5412 (SEPA exemption for housing).
• $18 million for updating comprehensive plans and
• $41 million for integrating new climate planning
development regulations to comply with the Growth
requirements into comprehensive plans (HB 1181).
Management Act.
• $10 million for greenhouse gas reduction sub element
• $3.8 million to support implementation of various land
of comprehensive plans (HB 1181).
use bills (HB 1096 (lot splitting), HB 1183
• $6 million for grants and technical assistance for
(development regulations), HB 1491 (transit density),
planning for housing supply.
SB 5148 (housing element audits), SB 5509 (childcare
• $2 million to implement HB 1110 (middle housing).
zoning), SB 5559 (subdivision reform), & SB 5587
• $3 million for grants to local governments to
(housing gaps report & infill housing).
implement SB 5290 (local permit review).
• $1.7 million to increase middle housing.
• Proviso stating that smaller cities and counties will
receive proportionally more Growth Management Act
grant funding and technical assistance than larger
jurisdictions.
Clean energy technologies
• $50 million to implement programs and incentives that
• $5 million to support local governments in siting and
promote alternative fuel vehicles,
permitting clean energy projects.
• $138 million ($69 million/year) for development of
• $13 million to assist owners of public buildings conduct
community electric vehicle charging infrastructure,
energy audits.
• $39 million ($19.5 million/year) for grants to provide
• $10 million to assist local governments, local
solar and battery storage community solar projects for
organizations, and tribes to access federal tax
public assistance organizations serving low-income
incentives and grants.
communities.
• $10 million to support municipalities in siting and
permitting of clean energy projects.
• $20.5 million for grants to assist owners of public
buildings conduct energy audits.
Transfer to capital budget:
• $138 million for community electric vehicle charging
infrastructure.
• $39 million for grants to community solar projects.
Adds from Climate Commitment Act revenue):
Page 8 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 67
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
• $800,000 to establish a Washington State green
bank.
• $2.5 million to create a web portal for state and
federal grant opportunities and to conduct marketing
and outreach.
• $5 million to assist local governments, local
organizations, and tribes to access federal tax
incentives and grants.
• $4.5 million to support local governments and
organizations, and tribes in applying for and reporting
on federal grant awards.
• $600,000 for cities and counties to establish
permitting processes using the National Renewable
Energy Lab's online software
Climate mitigation and
• $10 million in Fire Wise grants to local governments
$1.9 million for coastal hazard monitoring and resilience,
resiliency
and landowners to reduce forest fuels wildfire risk,
including grant technical assistance to local governments
• $4 million in BIL funding for coastal climate hazards
and tribes.
for assessing vulnerabilities with communities,
provide technical assistance, and increase local
capacity to implement effective projects.
• $1.7 million for wildfire reconstruction grants.
See Growth Management Planning Grants for climate
planning.
Urban and Community
$6 million in assistance to local communities to increase
$3 million for investment in urban forestry.
Forest Grant Program
their capacity for urban forestry activities and programs.
Public Works & Infrastructure
Public Works Assistance
-
$288 million transfer from PWAA to state general fund in
Account (PWAA)
FY 2026.
See also PWAA under Capital Budget.
Local Solid Waste Financial
• $24 million for Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance
$24 million for Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance
Assistance
grants.
grants.
• $500,000 for Ecology to inform the development of
legislative proposals for design and implementation of
a producer responsibility program for consumer
packaging.
Page 9 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 68
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
Utility assistance
$35 million for grant funding through existing network of
$25 million for grant funding through existing network of
federal low-income home energy assistance.
federal low-income home energy assistance.
$300,000 for Commerce to develop recommendations for
a statewide energy assistance program for low-income
households
$150 million for public and private utilities to provide one-
time bill rebates for low- and moderate -income residential
electricity customers.
$300,000 for a feasibility study of a statewide low-income
assistance program for water utility customers.
Capital budget
Public Works & Infrastructure
Public Works Assistance
$400 million
$365 million*:
Account (PWAA)
• Continues $114 million ($57 million/year) transfer for
• $265 million from PWAA.
Move Ahead WA Account.
• $100 million in state construction bonds.
• $35 million for Water Pollution Control Revolving
Account.
New and historic diversions from PWAA total resources
• $3.5 million for Drinking Water Assistance Account.
(estimated at $754 million in 2025-27):
• $5 million for CARE revolving loans.
• $288 million to the general fund (new)
• $300,000 for study on public utilities relocation costs.
• $114 million ($57 million/year) transfer to general fund
(temporary redirection of existing transfers to the Move
Ahead WA Account).
• $41 million to Water Pollution Control Revolving
Account.
• $25 million to Drinking Water Assistance Account.
*Enough to protect existing commitments and allow PWB
to potentially offer a new loan round in 2025-27.
See also PWAA under Operating Budget.
Stormwater Financial
$68 million
$60 million
Assistance Program
Puget Sound Nutrient
$9 million
$10 million
Reduction WWTP Grant
Program
Page 10 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 69
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
Drinking Water State
• $131 million for DWSRF Construction Loan Program.
• $120 million for water system infrastructure construction
Revolving Fund Loan
• $3.5 million for DWSRF State Match dollars for
projects through DWSRF.
Program (DWSRF)
federal funds.
• $25 million for DWSRF state match dollars from PWAA.
Water Pollution Control
$670 million, including:
$614 million including:
Revolving Loan Program
• $200 million federal
• $214 million federal
• $435 million state
• $400 million state
• $35 million from PWAA
$41 million PWAA
Centennial Clean Water
$40 million
$40 million
Grant Program
Community Economic
$25 million for CERB Capital Construction funds.
$81.3 million for CERB Capital Construction.
Revitalization Board (CERB)
Broadband grants and loans
$200 million, including:
$1.3 billion, including:
• $50 million for State Broadband Office as match for
• $114 million as match for Broadband Equity, Access,
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment state
and Deployment state grants program from IIJA.
grants program from IIJA.
• $1.2 billion federal.
• $150 million federal.
• $75,000 for a State Broadband Office feasibility study
for increasing broadband access in unserved areas
through satellite networks.
• $95.6 million federal as match for Broadband Equity,
Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program state
rants.
Regional Approaches Grant
-
$2 million
Program
Land Use & Environment
Puget Sound Restoration
• $120 million for Salmon Recovery Funding Board
• $105 million for Salmon Recovery Funding Board
and Salmon Recovery
(SRF) grants, plus an additional $25 million for
(SRF) grants, plus an additional $20 million for riparian
Grants
riparian area grants.
area grants.
• $70 million for Puget Sound acquisition and
• $60.5 million for Puget Sound acquisition and
restoration, including estuary/salmon restoration.
restorations.
• $8 million for Washington Coastal Restoration &
• $9.6 million for Washington Coastal Restoration &
Recovery.
Recovery.
$11.3 million to address PFAS at three water treatment
$14.5 million to address PFAS cleanup.
PFAS & Water Quality
facilities.
Remedial Action Grants
$115 million
$84.4 million
Page 11 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 70
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
Urban and Community
$13.5 million
$6.2 million
Forest Grant Program
Floodplains by Design Grant
$67 million
$75.7 million
Program
Aquatic Lands
$5.8 million
$4.3 million
Enhancement Account
Washington Wildlife &
$120 million
$120 million
Recreation Program
Youth recreational facilities
$10.4 million for specific projects.
$7.6 million for specific projects.
Youth and community
$12.5 million
$19.8 million for specific projects.
outdoor athletic facilities
Fish Barrier Removal Board
$70.4 million to fund identified projects and agency
$32.5 million to fund identified projects and agency
administration.
administration.
Air quality & greenhouse
$36.4 million to Ecology:
• $10.1 million for landfill methane capture grants.
gas reduction
• $21.4 million for Improving Air Quality in
• $4.1 million for community participatory budgeting
Overburdened Communities Initiative,
program for mitigating climate change impacts on
• $15 million for landfill methane capture grants.
overburdened communities.
• Directs $5 million to a specific landfill methane
project.
Clean energy & climate
$150 million to Commerce:
. $10 million for Clean Energy Community grants.
resilience and mitigation
• $50 million for Clean Energy Fund program.
• $23 million for Community EV charging grants
• $50 million for energy retrofits and solar power for
. $26 million for Clean Energy Fund program.
public buildings.
• $30 million for Weatherization Plus Health grants.
• $40 million for Weatherization Plus Health program.
. $20 million for Solar and Energy Storage grants.
• $11 million for Energy Retrofits for Public Buildings
Adds (from Climate Commitment Act revenue):
grants.
• $4 million of clean energy retrofit dollars for grants
• $5 million for Clean Buildings Performance grants.
(administered by AWC) for energy audits to city -
owned tier 1 & 2 covered buildings.
• $25 million for green jobs and infrastructure grants.
Extended 2023-25 appropriation of clean energy retrofit
• $50 million for Clean Energy Community non-
dollars for grants (administered byAWC) for energy audits of
competitive grants.
city -owned tier 1 & 2 buildings into FY2026.
• $38 million for Community Solar Resilience Hubs*
• $105 million for Community EV Charging grants*
• $45 million for Clean Building Performance grants.
• $45 million for hard -to -decarbonize sector and
economic develo ment rants.
Page 12 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 71
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024 I Final 2025-27
suoolemental) budaet
*Transfer from operating budget
Housing & Homelessness
Housing Trust Fund
Additional investments in
housing and shelters
$527 million, including:
• $180.6 million for housing to benefit low-income and
special needs populations, including permanent
supportive housing.
• $100 million for Apple Health & Homes.
• $81.3 million for identified projects.
• $69 million for housing for those with developmental
disabilities.
• $60 million for affordable homeownership (80-100%
AMI).
• $30 million for affordable housing preservation.
• $21 million for acquisition and preservation of mobile
homes.
• $20 million for rapid conversion or acquisition of
housing to address extremely low-income and
unhoused populations.
• $83.2 million for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) HOMES
Program.
• $60 million for Connecting Housing to Infrastructure
(CHIP) grants to local governments (80% AMI or less).
• $50 million to match private investment for grants and
loans to support high -capacity transit -oriented
development of at least 80 units (TOD). Dedicates $4
million to a local project
• $40 million for weatherization.
• $12.2 million for contaminated property redevelopment
grants for affordable housing.
$605 million, including:
• $536 million for housing to benefit low-income and
special needs populations, including permanent
supportive housing, including:
• $215 million multifamily rental housing.
• $100 million for Apple Health & Homes.
• $75 million for first-time low-income
homeownership.
• $62 million for identified projects.
• $50 million for housing for those with
developmental disabilities.
• $50 million for affordable housing preservation.
• $30 million for mobile home park preservation.
• $10 million for rapid conversion or acquisition of
housing to address extremely low-income and
unhoused populations.
• $5 million for farmworker housing.
• $5 million for urgent repair grants.
• $90 million for Connecting Housing to Infrastructure
(CHIP) grants to local governments.
• $22 million for identified projects.
• $14.7 million for recovery residences grants.
• $9 million for youth shelters and housing.
• $8 million for identified transit -oriented housing projects.
• $5 million for low-income home rehabilitation grants.
Page 13 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 72
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
• $6 million for rural home rehabilitation.
• $5 million for Landlord Mitigation.
Human Services
Behavioral Health
$287.5 million for behavioral health capacity grants,
$119.8 million, including:
Community Capacity
including:
• $70 million for competitive community behavioral health
• $29.4 million for competitive community behavioral
grants to address regional needs, including: preventing
health grants to address regional needs.
closure of existing facilities, youth and adult bed
• $24 million for intensive behavioral health treatment
capacity, facilities that serve specialized populations,
facilities for long term placement of patients with
crisis relief centers, and more.
complex needs.
• $49.8 million for 11 specific local crisis stabilization
• $18 million for grants to community providers to
projects.
increase capacity to serve children and minor youth.
• $7.5 million for grants to community providers to
prevent closure of existing behavioral health facilities.
• $181.5 million for 33 projects for regional behavioral
health and substance use services.
• $1 million for competitive community behavioral
health grants.
• $4.2 million for opioid recovery and care access.
• $48.4 million for regional behavioral health and
substance use rojects.
Crisis Stabilization Facility —
$5 million
$15 million, including:
Trueblood
• $5 million for Phase 3 Trueblood facility.
• $10 million for one crisis stabilization facility in south King
County.
Transportation budget
Statutory transfers to local
• $512.1 million
• $494 million
governments
• Additional $36.2 million over next 3 biennia for city
distribution of 6 -cent increase to motor vehicle fuel tax.
Transportation Improvement
• $287 million, including:$3.9 million to Small City
$310.8 million, including:
Board (TIB)
Pavement and Sidewalk Program.
• $3.9 million to Small City Pavement and Sidewalk
• $14.6 million for Complete Streets grants.
Program.
• $9 million in preservation funding for cities.
• $24.6 million for Complete Streets grants.
Page 14 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 73
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
• $9.3 in preservation funding for cities.
Legislature intends to provide an additional $21 million in
2027-29 for the Complete Streets Program.
Safe Routes to Schools
$98 million
$83.3 million
Grants
Pedestrian and Bicycle
$90.7 million
$81.7 million
Safety Programs & Grants
$5 million to assist local jurisdictions in addressing
emergent issues related to safety for pedestrians and
bicyclists.
Safety and Active
-
• $33.2 million for the Sandy Williams Connecting
Transportation
Communities Pilot Program for projects to reconnect
communities bifurcated by state highways.
• $500,000 for grants to local jurisdictions to implement
network -wide traffic conflict screening programs.
Freight Mobility Strategic
$50.9 million, including:
$44.2 million, including:
Investment Board
• $731,000 for duties and best practices study for
• $35.5 million for recommended project list.
preventing or mitigating the impacts of freight projects
on overburdened communities (HB 1084).
• $400,000 to develop a truck parking solutions
implementation plan.
• $43.8 million for recommended project list.
• $5.2 million for projects identified in consultation with
the Board and other stakeholders.
Fish passage
• Retains proviso language to coordinate with Fish
• Retains proviso language to coordinate with Fish Barrier
Barrier Removal Board on watershed approach to
Removal Board on watershed approach to include local
include local culverts.
culverts.
• Adds language to explore innovative funding
• Includes language allowing partnerships to leverage
partnerships to leverage state and local funds to
state and local funds to match opportunity for federal
match opportunity for federal funding under BIL.
funding under BIL.
Homeless encampments
$13.5 million to address homeless encampments on
$9.2 million to address homeless encampments on
WSDOT-owned rights -of -way in coordination with local
WSDOT-owned rights -of -way in coordination with local
governments, including:
governments and social service organizations to direct
• $1 million for safety improvements and debris cleanup
people to housing and prevent future encampments.
in Seattle.
• A minimum of $2 million dedicated to litter removal.
• $1 million in coordination with the City of Tacoma.
• $1 million in coordination with the City of Spokane.
• $1 million in coordination with the City of Spokane.
• $1 million for safety improvements and debris cleanup
• $1.5 million to contract with the City of Fife.
in Seattle.
Page 15 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 74
Final 2023-25 (as amended by 2024
Final 2025-27
supplemental)
budget
• $1 million in coordination with the City of Tacoma.
See also Housing and Homelessness in Operating
• $1.2 million to contract with the City of Fife.
budget
See also Housing and Homelessness in Operating budget
Rural mobility grant
$32.7 million
$32.2 million
Alternative fuel and electric
• $33.7 million for clean alternative fuel vehicle
• $25 million for clean alternative fuel vehicle charging
vehicle infrastructure
charging and refueling infrastructure program.
and refueling infrastructure program.
• $2 million for an e -bike lending library and ownership
• $3.5 million for an e -bike lending library and ownership
program offering competitive grants.
program offering competitive grants.
• $15 million (from Climate Commitment Act revenue).
Federal fund exchange pilot
• $7.1 million for a federal fund exchange pilot program
$17.5 million for a federal fund exchange pilot program of
program
of Transportation Block Grant population funding and
Transportation Block Grant population funding and state
state funds at an exchange rate of 95 cents in state
funds at an exchange rate of 95 cents in state funds per $1
funds per $1 in federal funds.
in federal funds.
Studies
-
• $250,000 to update the 2013 memorandum of
understanding between AWC and WSDOT for the
construction, operations and maintenance
responsibilities for city streets as part of state highways.
• $140,000 for the JTC to update the 2019 assessment
of city transportation funding needs.
• $200,000 for the JTC to study alternative new methods
for local governments to fund sidewalk improvements.
FHA bridge load rating
-
$5 million for the County Road Administration Board to
provide grant dollars to counties and cities for the costs
associated with obtaining a new federal highway
administration load rating.
Page 16 of 16 Final 2025-27 budgets: City impacts 1 4/26/2025 75
GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Bills Impacting Cities
2025 Legislative Session
Below is a list of bills that passed this session and impact city operations and interests, or will
likely require a change in city code. We encourage you to review and prepare for the
requirements outlined in the following bills.
Criminal Justice
Managing Sexually Violent Predators: House Bill 1133, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D -28th
LD), introduces procedures for obtaining records relevant to civil commitment determinations
for sexually violent predators, clarifies legal processes, and imposes restrictions on offenders'
eligibility for supervision compliance credits. The bill formalizes a civil investigative demand
process for prosecuting agencies to access records from public agencies, prohibits compliance
credits for offenders concurrently serving less restrictive alternatives, and updates cross-
references to align with the new procedures. It also includes a severability clause to preserve
the act's validity if any provision is deemed invalid. The Governor signed the bill on April 16 and
the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Comprehensive Firearm Regulation: House Bill 1163, sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry (D -36th LD),
establishes a permit -to -purchase system and new training requirements for firearm purchases
and concealed pistol licenses (CPLs). Key provisions include mandatory permits for firearm
purchases requiring fingerprints, certified safety training, and eligibility checks, as well as
enhanced CPL requirements such as live -fire training. Firearm dealers must verify permits and
maintain transaction records, while the Washington State Patrol oversees permit issuance,
background checks, and annual reporting on permit and CPL data. The Governor signed the bill
into law on May 20 and the bill goes into effect on May 1, 2027.
Court Interpreter Standards: House Bill 1174, sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson (D -21st LD),
seeks to enhance language access in the legal system by updating interpreter standards and
procedures. The bill replaces outdated terminology, establishes criteria for appointing
credentialed interpreters, and requires courts to develop language access plans that include
procedures for identifying needs, appointing interpreters, and translating materials. Interpreter
costs are not borne by individuals with limited English proficiency in government -initiated
proceedings, and the Administrative Office of the Courts must reimburse participating state
courts for half of interpreter costs, subject to funding. The bill was signed by the Governor on
April 16 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Fingerprint Background Checks: House Bill 1385, sponsored by Rep. Jamila Taylor (D -30th LD),
expands fingerprint -based background checks for individuals working with vulnerable
populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. The bill broadens
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the definitions of "applicant" and "qualified entity" to include volunteers and contractors,
updates terminology to reflect a broader population, and authorizes the Washington State
Patrol to facilitate state and national fingerprint -based criminal history checks for noncriminal
justice purposes. It also ratifies the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact, authorizes
federally recognized tribes to conduct background checks, and grants rulemaking authority to
the Washington State Patrol to implement the new provisions. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 16 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform: House Bill 1440, sponsored by Rep. Roger Goodman (D -45th LD),
establishes a new framework to standardize civil asset forfeiture procedures, replacing existing
processes in various statutes. Key provisions include extended deadlines for contesting
forfeitures, shifting the burden of proof to seizing agencies to establish forfeiture by "clear,
cogent, and convincing evidence," protections for innocent owners and community property
interests, and revenue allocation prioritizing victim restitution and behavioral health programs.
The act applies to seizures occurring on or after January 1, 2026. The Governor signed the bill
on May 17.
Hope Card Modernization: House Bill 1460, sponsored by Rep. Dan Griffey (R -35th LD), expands
and streamlines the hope card program to improve accessibility, content, and trauma -informed
support for protection order petitioners. The bill removes the requirement to include physical
characteristics of the restrained person, adds firearm -related restrictions to the card's content,
and ensures petitioners can obtain cards without waiting periods or fees. It also mandates the
Administrative Office of the Courts to oversee implementation, collaborate with expanded
stakeholder groups, and ensure consistent court practices. The Governor signed the bill on May
12 and the bill goes into effect July 27, 2025.
Rape Pregnancy Sentencing: House Bill 1484, sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D -48th
LD), expands the list of aggravating circumstances that courts may consider when imposing
exceptional sentences for rape. The bill broadens existing law to include cases where rape
results in pregnancy, removing the limitation to child victims, thereby allowing courts to impose
sentences above the standard range for adult victims as well. Additionally, it corrects a
statutory reference related to sexually explicit conduct to align with the appropriate subsection.
The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Speeding Prevention Technology: House Bill 1596, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D -28th LD),
titled the BEAM Act, mandates the use of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) devices for certain
drivers with excessive speeding violations. The bill defines excessive speeding as driving 10 mph
or more above the limit in areas with speed limits of 40 mph or less, or 20 mph or more above
the limit in areas with higher speed limits. ISA devices monitor and limit vehicle speed based on
GPS data, with protections for data privacy and penalties for tampering. Drivers must pay
associated costs, including a $21 monthly fee, which funds program administration and
financial assistance for indigent participants. The Governor signed the bill into law on May 12
bill takes effect on January 1, 2029.
Protection Order Reforms: Senate Bill 5202, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D -32nd LD),
enhances the protection order process to better support survivors of abuse and address firearm
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restrictions. The bill requires ongoing acceptance of electronic protection order petitions,
allows previously protected minors to renew orders as adults, and provides mechanisms to
modify or terminate ex parte orders in specific circumstances. It also expands the definition of
unlawful firearm possession to include untraceable or undetectable firearms when an individual
is under certain protection orders, elevating such possession to a class B felony. Courts of
limited jurisdiction must allow electronic and mail submissions for protection order petitions by
January 1, 2026, and provide electronic notifications about case progress, including firearm
surrender updates and reminders about court appearances. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Law Enforcement Classification: Senate Bill 5209, sponsored by Sen. John Lovick (D -44th LD),
formally recognizes the Department of Labor and Industries as a limited authority Washington
law enforcement agency. This designation aligns L&I with other state agencies that enforce laws
within specific subject areas, such as the Department of Natural Resources and the Liquor and
Cannabis Board. The bill does not grant new enforcement powers to L&I but acknowledges its
existing role within its specialized jurisdiction. The Governor signed the bill on April 8 and the
bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Officer Certification Process: Senate Bill 5224, sponsored by Sen. John Lovick (D -44th LD),
enhances the certification and commissioning processes for law enforcement and corrections
officers. The bill updates definitions, mandates background checks for officers transferring
between agencies, and establishes procedures for certification lapse and reinstatement. It also
revises the process for commissioning railroad police officers, requires all law enforcement
personnel to complete basic training within specified timeframes, and mandates public access
to hearing transcripts and decisions. The Governor signed the bill on May 19 and the bill goes
into effect on July 27, 2025.
Law Enforcement Training: Senate Bill 5356, sponsored by Sen. Tina Orwall (D -33rd LD),
expands training requirements for law enforcement, prosecutors, and Title IX investigators to
improve responses to sexual and gender -based violence. The bill mandates the Washington
Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to develop trauma -informed curricula for patrol
officers and peace officers, with separate training programs for responding to sexual violence
and gender -based violence. It adds the Washington Student Achievement Council as an advisor,
updates child testimony provisions to allow testimony outside the defendant's presence for
minors under 18, and requires periodic retraining for officers. The Governor signed the bill on
April 22 and the bill goes into effect on July 1, 2026.
Ferry Conduct Rules: Senate Bill 5716, sponsored by Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan (D -26th LD),
expands transit conduct rules to include the Washington State Ferries. The bill modifies the
definition of "transit authority" to explicitly add the Washington State Ferries, ensuring that
existing prohibitions on behaviors such as smoking, littering, playing loud music, spitting,
carrying hazardous materials, consuming alcohol without authorization, obstructing operations,
and damaging property apply to ferry passengers and facilities. Violations remain classified as
misdemeanors, and no other changes to the law are made. The Governor signed the bill on May
12 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Public Safety Funding: House Bill 2015, sponsored by Rep. Debra Entenman (D -47th LD),
establishes mechanisms to enhance funding for local law enforcement recruitment, retention,
training, and public safety initiatives. The bill creates a supplemental criminal justice account, a
local law enforcement grant program, and authorizes a local option sales tax for criminal justice
purposes. Grant funds may be used to support hiring, training, and retaining law enforcement
officers, peer counselors, and behavioral health personnel, with a focus on co -response teams
and community policing efforts. Recruiting lateral hires is not an eligible use of these funds.
Revenue generated from the optional sales tax can be used for criminal justice purposes,
including domestic violence services, public defense, diversion programs, and behavioral health
improvement. Cities and counties can impose a sales and use tax for criminal justice purposes
at a rate of 0.1% by June 30, 2028. After that, the tax may be imposed, but by voter approval.
The bill sunsets the local law enforcement grant program and supplemental criminal justice
account on June 30, 2028, and terminates reporting requirements on December 31, 2029. The
Governor signed the bill on May 19 and it goes into effect on July 27, 2027.
Economic Development
Tourism Promotion Assessment: Senate Bill 5492, sponsored by Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D -3rd
LD), establishes an advisory group to evaluate the feasibility of an industry -funded self -
supported assessment for statewide tourism promotion. The bill highlights the economic
importance of the tourism industry, which generates $23.9 billion annually and supports over
230,000 jobs, while noting that state funding for tourism marketing lags behind competing
states. It removes outdated provisions related to the initial appointments of the Tourism
Marketing Authority board, reorganizes subsections for clarity, specifies the composition and
responsibilities of the advisory group, and authorizes the Tourism Marketing Authority to incur
expenditures for this purpose until June 30, 2026. The Governor signed the bill on April 30 and
the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Associate Development Organization Funding Adjustments: Senate Bill 5677, sponsored by
Sen. Adrian Cortes (D -18th LD), standardizes performance reporting requirements and clarifies
funding allocations for associate development organizations (ADOs). The bill removes additional
reporting obligations for ADOs in counties with populations over 1.5 million, ensuring uniform
performance measures statewide. It specifies that the Department of Commerce must submit
biennial performance results of ADO contracts to legislative committees by December 31 of
each even -numbered year and prohibits the use of state general funds for local matching
requirements. The bill maintains the locally matched allocation of up to $0.90 per capita for
urban counties with a funding cap of $300,000 per organization, and retains the base allocation
of $40,000 for rural counties. The Governor signed the bill on May 20 and the bill goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Environment
Hydrofluorocarbon Emissions Reduction: House Bill 1462, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr (D -
1st LD), aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by
transitioning to low and ultra -low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, promoting the
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use of reclaimed refrigerants, and establishing a regulatory framework to support these goals.
The bill sets phased prohibitions on high-GWP HFCs starting in 2030, with increasingly stringent
thresholds by 2033, while providing exemptions for reclaimed refrigerants and certain federally
allowed uses. It also establishes a Refrigerant Transition Task Force to study barriers and
opportunities for the transition and directs the Department of Ecology to adopt rules requiring
low-GWP refrigerants in specific sectors by 2035. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and
the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Clean Buildings Compliance: House Bill 1543, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D -22nd LD),
expands compliance options for building owners under Washington's clean buildings
performance standards. The bill allows the Department of Commerce to develop alternative
metrics for energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, alongside existing energy use intensity
(EUI) targets, and provides conditional compliance pathways for building owners who meet
these alternative metrics. It broadens exemptions for compliance, including historic
preservation and financial hardship, and introduces requirements for Tier 2 buildings, such as
benchmarking and operations planning, while prohibiting penalties from being passed on to
tenants. The Governor signed the bill on May 13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Cap -and -Trade Adjustments: House Bill 1975, sponsored by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D -34th LD),
amends Washington's Climate Commitment Act to refine auction price containment
mechanisms, ceiling prices, and the Department of Ecology's authority to amend rules for
linkage with other jurisdictions. The bill requires the Department to conduct market dynamic
analysis, perform economic modeling, and adjust compliance obligations and reporting
deadlines to ensure program implementability. It establishes a fixed price ceiling for 2026-
2027, introduces flexibility in emissions reporting deadlines, and includes funding and
severability provisions. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill goes into effect on
July 27, 2025.
Fire Service
Wildfire Mitigation Standards: House Bill 1539, sponsored by Rep. Kristine Reeves (D -30th LD),
establishes a work group to study and recommend wildfire mitigation and resiliency standards.
Co-chaired by the Insurance Commissioner and the Commissioner of Public Lands, the group
includes representatives from state agencies, the insurance industry, local emergency
management, fire chiefs, small forest and rural landowners, utilities, and legislative members.
Key tasks include aligning wildfire property mitigation standards with national benchmarks,
enhancing community -level efforts, improving data sharing, increasing consumer transparency,
and proposing a homeowner grant program to support retrofitting homes for wildfire
resistance. The bill creates a new section of law, which will expire on December 31, 2025. The
Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Prescribed Fire Liability: House Bill 1563, sponsored by Rep. Adam Bernbaum (D -24th LD),
establishes the Prescribed Fire Claims Fund Pilot Program to address liability concerns and
encourage the use of prescribed and cultural burns for forest health and wildfire prevention.
The program, administered by the Office of Risk Management in consultation with the
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Department of Natural Resources, provides reimbursement for eligible losses caused by burns
conducted under approved plans and permits. Reimbursement is capped at $2,000,000 per
claim, with funding drawn from the newly created Prescribed Fire Claims Account. The bill
creates a time -limited pilot program, with an expiration date of June 30, 2033, and includes an
emergency clause to ensure immediate implementation upon passage. The bill was signed by
the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Emergency Services Theft: Senate Bill 5323, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R -13th LD),
enhances penalties for theft and possession of firefighter and EMS equipment critical to
emergency response. The bill classifies theft or possession of such property as first -degree
offenses if the loss significantly hinders emergency response or exceeds $1,000 in value, and
expands coverage to property taken from fire department vehicles, stations, and EMS facilities.
It aims to address theft of equipment essential to emergency services with heightened
penalties. The Governor signed the bill on May 15 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Fire Loss Reporting: Senate Bill 5419, sponsored by Sen. John Lovick (D -44th LD), centralizes fire
loss reporting with the Insurance Commissioner and strengthens confidentiality protections for
insurers. The bill requires insurers to report fire losses within 90 days of closing a claim or
conducting significant adjustments, including details such as property address, date of loss, and
cause of loss. Confidentiality protections exempt fire loss reports from public disclosure and
civil subpoenas, while allowing limited information sharing with law enforcement and
regulatory agencies. The Governor signed the bill on May 12 and the bill goes into effect on July
27, 2025.
Homelessness and Human Services
Pet -Friendly Emergency Shelters: House Bill 1201, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D -28th LD),
requires local governments to incorporate companion animal cosheltering into their emergency
management plans and operations. Political subdivisions must identify emergency shelters that
can accommodate persons with companion animals, provide companion animal emergency
preparedness information on their websites, and ensure compliance with FEMA disaster
assistance policies. The bill emphasizes the importance of addressing gaps in public
preparedness and cosheltering opportunities during disasters or extreme weather events. The
bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Homeless Housing Funding: House Bill 1260, sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Schmidt (R -4th LD),
modifies the distribution of document recording surcharge funds to ensure cities operating
their own homeless housing programs receive proportional shares without county
administrative deductions. The bill limits county administrative costs to 10 percent of retained
funds and allows cities to use up to 10 percent of their share for administrative costs. It
prohibits counties from deducting administrative costs from funds distributed to cities
operating their own homeless housing programs. The bill was signed by the Governor on April
21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Homelessness Data Collection: House Bill 1899, sponsored by Rep. Janice Zahn (D -41st LD),
revises the state homeless census by removing the annual mandate and allowing the
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Department of Commerce to set the schedule. The bill eliminates requirements for
coordination with federal HUD standards, as well as provisions for an online housing referral
system, continuous case management, and an organizational quality management system.
Confidentiality protections for personal information remain intact, and the Department must
continue to publish annual summary data by county. The bill was signed by the Governor on
April 24 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Mobile Market Program: Senate Bill 5214, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D -42nd LD),
establishes a mobile market program within the Department of Health to expand access to
fresh, healthy foods for participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Senior
Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. The program, contingent on funding from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, aims to support local farmers while addressing nutritional needs in
underserved communities through nonprofit -operated mobile markets. The Department is
authorized to define the program through rulemaking and may seek federal approval to allow
mobile markets to accept program benefits. The act will take effect on March 1, 2026. The
Governor signed the bill on April 22.
Essential Needs Program Expansion: Senate Bill 5232, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson (D -30th
LD), expands eligibility and funding flexibility for the Essential Needs and Housing Support
(ENHS) program. It clarifies that ENHS is not an entitlement program, allows low or extremely
low-income elderly or disabled adults to receive support without requiring a referral from the
Department of Social and Health Services, and permits the use of funds for direct cash
assistance tied to housing stability plans. The bill also aligns administrative expense rates with
other Home Security Fund programs and removes certain eligibility requirements, such as
citizenship or Social Security number status. The Governor signed the bill on May 20 with a
partial veto removing section five of the bill regarding the expansion of eligibility for the
program. The bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Nonprofit Property Tax Exemption: House Bill 1094, sponsored by Rep. Amy Walen (D -48th
LD), expands property tax exemptions for nonprofit -owned properties loaned, leased, or rented
to government entities or other nonprofits to provide character -building, benevolent,
protective, or rehabilitative social services. It clarifies that the sale of donated merchandise by
nonprofits is an exempt use if proceeds further the organization's mission. The bill specifies that
these changes apply to taxes levied for collection starting in 2026. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 7 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Housing
Condominium Warranty Reform: House Bill 1403, sponsored by Rep. Jamila Taylor (D -30th LD),
simplifies condominium construction and warranty requirements to promote homeownership
and streamline development of smaller buildings and accessory dwelling units. The bill
introduces changes to implied warranties, express warranties, and the applicability of
construction standards for condominiums and multiunit residential buildings. It provides an
express warranty alternative for certain condominiums, exempts accessory dwelling units from
specific construction standards, and includes transitional provisions phasing in new definitions
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and standards by 2028. The Governor signed the bill on May 7 and the bill goes into effect on
July 27, 2025.
Eviction Court Commissioners: House Bill 1621, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Macri (D -43rd LD),
authorizes superior courts to appoint housing court commissioners to expedite unlawful
detainer proceedings and address delays caused by increased eviction filings. The bill allows
courts, with county legislative approval, to appoint attorneys as commissioners to handle
eviction cases, requiring appointees to undergo training in landlord -tenant law and eviction
procedures. Commissioners may perform duties such as holding hearings, issuing orders, and
supervising cases under the oversight of superior court judges, with the bill effective
immediately upon passage. The Governor signed the bill on May 13 and the bill goes into effect
immediately.
Homeownership Assistance Expansion: House Bill 1696, sponsored by Rep. Jamila Taylor (D -
30th LD), expands the Covenant Homeownership Program to address racial disparities in
homeownership. The bill raises the eligibility threshold from 100 percent to 120 percent of the
area median income (AMI) and allows county -specific adjustments based on housing needs. It
introduces loan forgiveness for down payment and closing cost assistance loans after five years
of repayment for participants with incomes at or below 80 percent of AMI, replacing the prior
requirement of repayment upon sale of the home. Additionally, the bill modifies the oversight
committee's membership, replacing a representative of community -based affordable housing
developers with one from nonprofit housing counseling organizations to focus more on
addressing historical inequities in homeownership. The bill was signed by the Governor on April
22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Affordable Housing Development: Senate Bill 5587, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland (D -
49th LD), titled the "Affordable Housing Action Act," seeks to address affordable housing
shortages by requiring counties to report biennially on housing gaps and progress in meeting
housing needs at various income levels. The bill prioritizes state funding for public works
projects that encourage infill development or increase affordable housing in counties with
identified housing gaps and prohibits local governments from imposing conditions that
undermine affordability. It also mandates collaboration between the Washington Center for
Real Estate Research, the Washington Housing Finance Commission, and the Office of Financial
Management to develop metrics for assessing housing needs and progress. The Governor
signed the bill on May 20 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Property Tax Exemptions for ADUs: Senate Bill 5529, sponsored by Sen. Chris Gildon (R -25th
LD), expands property tax exemptions for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) rented to low-income
households to include counties with populations between 900,000 and 1,500,000, in addition to
counties with populations of 1,500,000 or more. For counties with populations between
900,000 and 1,500,000, the exemption applies only to detached ADUs, and a resolution must be
passed by the city or county legislative authority to authorize the exemption. The bill
strengthens compliance requirements, including annual verification of tenant income,
restrictions on rent charged, and prohibitions on exemptions for ADUs occupied by immediate
family members, while requiring tenant support policies and administrative oversight
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mechanisms. The Governor signed the bill on May 7 and the bill goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
Eviction Notice Procedures: House Bill 1003, sponsored by Rep. Peter Abbarno (R -20th LD),
standardizes eviction notice requirements by mandating certified mail sent from within the
state to the recipient's last known address. The bill extends the waiting period for tenants to
respond to eviction notices sent by mail from one day to five days and requires termination
notices to specify the date by which the recipient must vacate the premises or comply with
specified terms. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 11 and goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
Rent Stabilization: House Bill 1217, sponsored by Rep. Emily Alvarado (D -34th LD), caps annual
rent increases at seven percent, prohibits increases during the first 12 months of tenancy, and
establishes stricter notice requirements for rent increases. The bill includes exemptions for
newly constructed units, public housing authorities, and certain nonprofit -owned properties,
while also capping security deposits and move -in fees at one month's rent. Tenants may
terminate leases without penalty for unauthorized rent increases, and the bill mandates a social
vulnerability assessment on the impacts of rent stabilization by 2028. The bill takes effect
immediately.
Common Interest Community Governance: Senate Bill 5129, sponsored by Sen. Jamie
Pedersen (D -43rd LD), modernizes and consolidates laws governing common interest
communities (CICs), including condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners' associations. The
bill streamlines governance, clarifies rights and responsibilities, and addresses emerging issues
such as electric vehicle charging stations and heat pumps. Key updates include revised rules for
meetings, voting, and reserve accounts, as well as protections against unreasonable restrictions
on heat pump and EV charging station installations. Most provisions take effect on July 27,
2025, with some delayed until January 1, 2026, or January 1, 2028. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 17.
Manufactured Home Sales: Senate Bill 5298, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame (D -36th LD),
expands notification and procedural requirements for the sale of manufactured/mobile home
communities to enhance tenant and eligible organization purchase opportunities. It requires
owners to notify tenants, tenant organizations, and various state and local entities of an intent
to sell, and introduces specific content, timing, and delivery requirements for such notices. The
bill emphasizes good faith during negotiations, allows eligible organizations to compete to
purchase, mandates updates to the Department of Commerce on the sale status, and provides
remedies for noncompliance, such as injunctive relief and damages. The Governor signed the
bill on May 7 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Tenant Protections: Senate Bill 5313, sponsored by Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D -43rd LD), expands
tenant protections by prohibiting rental agreements from including provisions such as
nondisclosure agreements about lease terms, class action waivers, mandatory arbitration
agreements unless specific conditions are met, or late fees for rent paid within five days of the
due date. It also prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to pay rent exclusively through
electronic means and clarifies existing restrictions on attorney fees and arbitration agreements.
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Tenants may recover damages, including up to two times the monthly rent, court costs, and
attorney fees for violations, with the bill applying prospectively to leases entered into or
renewed after its effective date. The Governor signed the bill on May 7 and the bill goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Human Resources
Minor Work Hours: House Bill 1121, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie McClintock (R -18th LD),
revises restrictions on the working hours of 16- and 17 -year -old minors enrolled in career and
technical education (CTE) programs. The bill directs the Department of Labor and Industries to
update its rules to allow these minors to work the same number of hours and days during
school weeks as they are permitted to work during nonschool weeks, provided the work is
performed for an employer approved by their program. The effective date for these changes is
July 1, 2026, and "career and technical education program" is defined to include Core Plus
programs approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the minor's
school district. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July 1,
2025.
Paid Family Leave Expansion: House Bill 1213, sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry (D -36th LD),
expands worker protections and modifies employer responsibilities under the Paid Family and
Medical Leave program. Key provisions include reducing the minimum claim duration from
eight to four hours, expanding employment restoration rights to employees regardless of
employer size, and requiring health benefits to be maintained during leave. The bill also
establishes a grant program for small employers with fewer than 50 employees to offset costs
associated with employee leave, including temporary worker wages and health care benefits.
The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
Local Government Retirement Enrollment: House Bill 1270, sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske
(D -28th LD), expands automatic enrollment in deferred compensation plans to include
employees of counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions offering their own plans.
The bill allows these entities to automatically enroll newly hired employees in their respective
plans while maintaining the option for employees to opt out. It excludes local plans from the
automatic enrollment requirements of the state plan and requires enrollment to align with the
terms of their plan documents. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 24 and goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Self -Insured Employer Decertification: House Bill 1275, sponsored by Rep. Shaun Scott (D -43rd
LD), establishes reimbursement requirements for decertified self -insured employers to cover
worker compensation payments made by the Department of Labor & Industries. The bill
authorizes the department to pay compensation owed to claimants on behalf of decertified
employers and mandates that these employers reimburse the department through periodic
charges, paid at least quarterly. Additionally, the bill grants the department rulemaking
authority to implement these provisions. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 16 and
goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Employee Personnel Records: House Bill 1308, sponsored by Rep. Julia Reed (D -36th LD),
enhances employee rights to access and correct their personnel records. Employers must
provide personnel files at no cost within 21 calendar days of a request and furnish discharge
statements upon request. Employees may annually petition for the removal of irrelevant or
erroneous information, with the right to include a rebuttal, and are granted a private right of
action to enforce these provisions. Statutory damages escalate based on delays in compliance,
and public employers must adhere to existing public records laws. The Governor signed the bill
on May 13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Criminal Record Protections: House Bill 1747, sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz -Self (D -21st LD),
strengthens protections for job applicants and employees with criminal records under the
Washington Fair Chance Act. The bill prohibits employers from inquiring about criminal records
until after a conditional job offer, bars adverse actions based on arrest records or juvenile
convictions, and requires employers to document specific factors when making decisions based
on adult conviction records. It increases penalties for violations, expands exemptions for
positions under federal contracts prohibiting hiring individuals with criminal records, and
revises enforcement provisions to allow the attorney general to waive penalties for minor
violations. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Paid Sick Leave Expansion: House Bill 1875, sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D -48th LD),
amends paid sick leave laws to allow employees and transportation network company (TNC)
drivers to use accrued paid sick leave for immigration -related proceedings involving themselves
or their family members. It specifies acceptable verification documentation, such as a written
statement or documentation from an advocate, attorney, or clergy member, and prohibits
verification requirements that disclose personally identifiable information about immigration
status or protections. The bill retains all other aspects of paid sick leave policies, including
accrual rates and carryover limits, while adding privacy protections for immigration -related
information. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 25 and goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
Expanded Bargaining Rights for Law Enforcement: Senate Bill 5040, sponsored by Senator
Derek Stanford (D -1st LD), expands the definition of "uniformed personnel" for collective
bargaining to include more law enforcement officers and other public safety employees. The
bill removes population thresholds that limited applicability to certain cities, towns, and
counties, and includes law enforcement officers employed by municipal airports. It broadens
the scope of collective bargaining rights and employment -related provisions, potentially
impacting negotiations on wages, working conditions, and benefits for covered personnel. The
bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Unemployment Benefits for Strikes: Senate Bill 5041, sponsored by Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D -3rd
LD), allows workers unemployed due to strikes to qualify for temporary unemployment benefits
under specific conditions. Disqualification for benefits ends either two weeks after the strike
begins or upon its termination, and benefits are subject to a one -week waiting period.
Employers involved in strikes bear the financial responsibility for benefits paid, and the
Department of Employment Security must submit annual reports on the impact of strikes
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through 2035. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, with key provisions expiring on
December 31, 2035.
Hate Crime Victim Protections: Senate Bill 5101, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D -46th LD),
expands workplace protections and rights for victims of hate crimes, aligning them with those
afforded to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The bill ensures victims
can take leave for legal, medical, or safety -related purposes, request reasonable safety
accommodations, and are protected from workplace discrimination. It incorporates hate crimes
committed through online or internet-based communication and establishes confidentiality
requirements for related information, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.
Workplace Immigration Coercion Protections: Senate Bill 5104, sponsored by Sen. Bob
Hasegawa (D -11th LD), prohibits workplace coercion based on immigration status and
establishes penalties for violations. The bill defines coercion as threats related to an employee's
or their family member's immigration status to deter them from exercising rights under labor
laws and treats each act of coercion against each employee as a separate violation. Civil
penalties range from $1,000 for a first violation to $10,000 for subsequent violations, adjusted
for inflation every three years starting in 2028, and are deposited into the supplemental
pension fund. It ensures confidentiality for employees during investigations, sets a clear process
for complaints and appeals, and prohibits employers from using withheld records to challenge
penalties. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Islamic Holidays Recognition: Senate Bill 5106, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D -27th LD),
recognizes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as days of significance. Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of
Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, commemorating the Islamic tradition of sacrifice, are defined based
on the lunar Islamic calendar, causing their dates to shift annually. The bill specifies these
recognitions are symbolic and do not create entitlements to time off or other benefits. The bill
was signed by the Governor on April 8 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Pregnancy Accommodations Expansion: Senate Bill 5217, sponsored by Sen. T'wina Nobles (D -
28th LD), strengthens workplace accommodations for pregnancy and related health conditions.
The bill broadens the definition of "employer" to include those with one or more employees
and religious or sectarian organizations not organized for private profit, ensures paid breaks for
expressing milk without requiring the use of paid leave, and mandates that the Department of
Labor and Industries provide online educational materials outlining employer and employee
rights. Additionally, it allows breastfeeding individuals to request a delay or exemption from
jury service by submitting an attestation form, without requiring a doctor's note, and extends
eligibility for jury duty excusal or delay to individuals breastfeeding or expressing milk for
infants under 24 months, rather than the previous 12 -month threshold. The Governor signed
the bill on May 20 and the bill goes into effect on January 1, 2027.
Pension Service Credit Expansion: Senate Bill 5306, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Holy (R -6th LD),
allows retired LEOFF Plan 2 members to purchase service credit for unpaid leave without
returning to work. Members can purchase up to two years of service credit based on their
salary at the time the leave was granted, adjusted for cost -of -living and other pay increases
during the leave period. The bill does not alter the existing maximum service credit limit for
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unpaid leaves of absence or the requirement to pay employer, member, and state
contributions plus interest. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect
on July 27, 2025.
Public Bargaining Reorganization: Senate Bill 5435, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ramos (D -5th LD),
reorganizes public employee collective bargaining laws into subchapters for improved clarity
and usability. The bill does not introduce substantive changes but restructures the chapter to
enhance navigability and repeals two outdated or redundant sections. It also directs the code
reviser to update cross-references throughout the law to reflect the new structure. The
Governor signed the bill on May 16 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Law Enforcement Arbitration: Senate Bill 5473, sponsored by Sen. Steve Conway (D -29th LD),
makes minor adjustments to grievance arbitration procedures for law enforcement personnel.
The bill clarifies that arbitration requests must align with procedures established in collective
bargaining agreements and removes the requirement for staggered term expirations for
arbitrators on the roster, simplifying roster management. No recent actions, hearings, or
amendments have been reported. The Governor signed the bill on April 30 and the bill goes
into effect on July 27, 2025.
Driver's License Requirements: Senate Bill 5501, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D -1st LD),
prohibits employers from requiring a valid driver's license as a condition of employment unless
driving is an essential job function or related to a legitimate business purpose. Employers are
also restricted from including such requirements in job postings unless driving is reasonably
expected to be essential. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, allowing investigations,
penalties, and damages for violations, and expands the department's rulemaking authority to
cover the entirety of relevant employment law. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22
and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Public Employee Bargaining: Senate Bill 5503, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D -46th LD),
revises public employee collective bargaining processes to strengthen worker protections and
streamline procedures. The bill requires the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC)
to mandate proof submissions during organizing petitions, allows PERC to set hearing dates
without party consent, and updates processes for consolidating bargaining units and selecting
interest arbitrators. It also prohibits public employers from requiring workers to waive statutory
claims in grievance settlements. The Governor signed the bill on May 20 and the bill goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Liquor/Cannabis
Expanded Alcohol Service: House Bill 1515, sponsored by Rep. Julia Reed (D -36th LD),
modernizes the regulation of alcohol service in public spaces through temporary authorizations
expiring on December 31, 2027. It allows local governments to request approval from the
Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) for expanded outdoor and indoor alcohol service in public
spaces under specific conditions, including shared service areas, flexible barriers, and joint
operating plans for events. Jurisdictions hosting international sports events in June or July 2026
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may also request expanded service, with reporting requirements due by September 1, 2026.
The Governor signed the bill on May 19 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Brewery Food Service Flexibility: House Bill 1602, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Waters (R -17th LD),
expands food service options for domestic breweries and microbreweries by allowing
subcontracting or subleasing arrangements with third -party food service providers, such as
mobile food units or independent food establishments, to meet food service requirements tied
to certain liquor licenses. The bill ensures subcontracted or subleased areas are substantially
separated from nontax-paid alcohol storage and updates the definition of "restaurant" to
include breweries and microbreweries using subcontracted food services. Additionally, it aligns
dog -friendly premises rules with the new food service options and clarifies licensing
adjustments and health compliance responsibilities. The bill was signed by the Governor on
April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Cannabis Advertising Regulations: Senate Bill 5206, sponsored by Sen. Drew MacEwen (R -35th
LD), revises cannabis retailer advertising regulations to limit content, placement, and proximity
to sensitive locations. The bill prohibits advertising within 1,000 feet of game arcades admitting
persons under 21, increases allowable signage on licensed premises to four signs on the
building's main entrance side, and exempts small signs with general information from
advertising restrictions. It prohibits transit -related ads, content depicting alcohol or tobacco,
and advertising practices targeting youth, while allowing local authorities to enforce stricter
rules. The Governor signed the bill on May 20 and the bill goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
Local Tax Policy Changes
Public Safety Funding: House Bill 2015, sponsored by Rep. Debra Entenman (D -47th LD),
establishes mechanisms to enhance funding for local law enforcement recruitment, retention,
training, and public safety initiatives. The bill creates a supplemental criminal justice account, a
local law enforcement grant program, and authorizes a local option sales tax for criminal justice
purposes. Grant funds may be used to support hiring, training, and retaining law enforcement
officers, peer counselors, and behavioral health personnel, with a focus on co -response teams
and community policing efforts. Recruiting lateral hires is not an eligible use of these funds.
Revenue generated from the optional sales tax can be used for criminal justice purposes,
including domestic violence services, public defense, diversion programs, and behavioral health
improvement. The bill sunsets the local law enforcement grant program and supplemental
criminal justice account on June 30, 2028, and terminates reporting requirements on December
31, 2029. The Governor signed the bill on May 19 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Agritourism Tax Relief: House Bill 1261, sponsored by Rep. Sam Low (R -39th LD), amends
existing law to provide tax relief for incidental uses on open space land, farm and agricultural
land, and timberland. It expands definitions for "appurtenance" and "incidental use," allowing
compatible activities such as farm festivals, weddings, and minor structural upgrades without
removal of tax classification unless limits are exceeded. The bill also reduces the lookback
period for calculating back taxes from seven years to four years for certain removals of farm
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and agricultural land classification occurring after September 1, 2025. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Small Airport Funding Flexibility: House Bill 1650, sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent (R -13th LD),
expands the allowable uses of local real estate excise tax (REET) revenues to include capital
projects for airports with fewer than 10,000 annual enplanements, as determined by Federal
Aviation Administration data, and those included in the Washington Aviation System Plan or
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The bill clarifies exclusions related to airport fuel
systems, explicitly excluding the installation or improvement of fuel systems for distributing
leaded fuel at airports, and adjusts terminology for consistency. It also reorganizes subsection
references to accommodate these new provisions. The bill was signed by the Governor on April
21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Real Estate Excise Tax Flexibility: House Bill 1791, sponsored by Rep. Dave Paul (D -10th LD),
expands allowable uses of local real estate excise tax revenues to include affordable housing
and homelessness projects. The bill removes prior restrictions on using REET funds for
operations and maintenance of capital projects and explicitly allows their use for planning,
acquisition, construction, and improvement of facilities for affordable housing and
homelessness. It also introduces a tax exemption for the sale of "qualified space" in affordable
housing developments to nonprofit organizations, housing authorities, or public corporations
for community purposes. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 24 and goes into effect
on July 27, 2025.
Local Tax Notifications: Senate Bill 5315, sponsored by Sen. Chris Gildon (R -25th LD),
standardizes notification requirements for local tax changes and bond retirements to improve
tax administration and compliance. The bill requires local authorities to provide written
notification to the Department of Revenue for any local sales and use tax changes, including
supporting documentation such as ordinances, legal descriptions, and maps in cases of
annexation. It also mandates public facilities districts to notify the department at least 75 days
before retiring bonds issued for regional center projects. The bill enhances the Department of
Revenue's ability to administer local tax changes by requiring written notifications and
additional documentation for annexations and ensures timely communication regarding bond
retirements. The Governor signed the bill on May 12 and the bill goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
Community Center Exemptions: Senate Bill 5516, sponsored by Sen. Steve Conway (D -29th LD),
expands property tax exemptions for community centers to include surplus university property
acquired by nonprofits for conversion into facilities offering nonresidential community services.
The bill maintains exemptions for surplus school district property and allows community
centers to loan or rent space to other parties. Tax exemptions will apply to qualifying properties
for tax years 2026 through 2035, and minor technical adjustments are made to numerical
formatting and references to new subsections. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the
bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Planning/Land Use/Building Permits
Urban Services to Tribal Lands: House Bill 1039, sponsored by Representative Peter Abbarno
(R -20th LD), modifies the Growth Management Act to allow cities and federally recognized
Indian tribes to contract for the extension of urban governmental services beyond urban
growth boundaries to tribal lands under specific conditions. It establishes a legal framework for
agreements between cities and tribes to extend services to tribal lands contiguous to city
boundaries, with a deadline of December 31, 2028. The bill introduces a narrowly tailored
exception to restrictions on urban development outside urban growth areas, facilitating urban
development on tribal lands through mutual agreements. The Governor signed the bill on May
13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Residential Driveway Parking: House Bill 1061, sponsored by Rep. Sam Low (R -39th LD), allows
residential property owners to park vehicles across their driveways if permitted by local
ordinances or resolutions. The bill applies only to driveways no longer than 50 feet and ensures
that such parking does not obstruct sidewalks, other driveways, or the roadway. Technical
changes standardizing numerical references in the statute are also included. The bill was signed
by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Lot Splitting: House Bill 1096, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Barkis (R -2nd LD), facilitates
administrative lot splitting to expand middle housing and affordable ownership opportunities in
cities under the Growth Management Act. The bill allows residential lots to be split into two
through a streamlined administrative process without predecision public hearings, provided
conditions such as compliance with development regulations, mitigation of renter
displacement, and restrictions on further splitting are met. Cities with comprehensive plan
updates due in 2027 must incorporate the requirements into their next update, while others
must implement them within two years of the bill's effective date (July 27, 2025).
Growth Management Compliance: House Bill 1135, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr (D -1st LD),
strengthens requirements for jurisdictions to amend noncompliant plans under the Growth
Management Act before achieving compliance. The bill specifies that the Growth Management
Hearings Board cannot issue a finding of compliance unless the jurisdiction has amended the
portion of its plans or regulations previously found noncompliant, and allows individuals with
standing to participate in compliance hearings. It also emphasizes prioritization of compliance
hearings and reiterates existing timelines for board findings. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 7 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Retrofit Housing: House Bill 1183, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr (D -1st LD), facilitates
affordable and sustainable housing development by reforming building codes and development
regulations. It adjusts setback and roof height limits for retrofits and passive house
construction, prohibits facade modulation and upper -level setbacks for certain residential
projects, and restricts off-street parking requirements for affordable housing. Additionally, it
establishes maximum size limits for affordable housing units and requires local governments to
incorporate these provisions into their regulations during their next comprehensive plan
update. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Boundary Review Process: House Bill 1304, sponsored by Rep. Brandy Donaghy (D -44th LD),
modifies the filing and review process for notices of intention submitted to boundary review
boards. It establishes the effective filing date of a notice as the earlier of the chief clerk's
sufficiency determination or automatic sufficiency after deadlines. The bill also introduces
criteria for sufficiency, procedures for correcting insufficient notices, and mandates timely
review, while aligning existing timelines for board actions with the new framework. The bill was
signed by the Governor on April 11 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Self -Certification: House Bill 1353, sponsored by Rep. Alex Ramel (D -
40th LD), establishes a framework for cities to create self -certification programs for accessory
dwelling unit (ADU) permit applications. Registered architects may self -certify compliance with
applicable building codes for detached ADU projects, streamlining the permitting process. Cities
must adopt rules requiring random audits of at least 20% of self -certified applications annually,
penalties for failed audits, and professional liability insurance for participating architects. The
bill clarifies that self -certified permits are treated as equivalent to those issued after full project
review and includes safeguards such as reporting requirements and indemnification
agreements signed by property owners, contractors, and architects. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 7 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Disabled Veteran Parking: House Bill 1371, sponsored by Rep. Ed Orcutt (R -20th LD), expands
parking privileges for persons with disabilities to include veterans with a 70% or higher
disability rating who use service animals. Veterans qualifying under the new criteria are entitled
to parking placards, special license plates, or identification cards free of charge, and must
provide documentation as required by the Department of Licensing. The bill also establishes
reporting requirements and administrative processes, with the act taking effect on October 1,
2025. The Governor signed the bill on May 17.
Transit -Oriented Development: House Bill 1491, sponsored by Rep. Julia Reed (D -36th LD),
promotes transit -oriented development and affordable housing by requiring cities to allow
multifamily housing in station areas near major transit stops and adopt minimum floor area
ratios (FAR) for residential and mixed -use development. Rail station areas must have an
average FAR of at least 3.5, while bus station areas must have an average FAR of at least 2.5 or
3.0 if up to 25% of bus station areas are exempted. Additional provisions include affordability
requirements for residential developments, parking restrictions, a grant program to assist cities,
a model TOD ordinance, antidisplacement measures, a surplus property pilot program, impact
fee reductions, property tax exemptions, prohibitions on restrictive covenants, and categorical
environmental exemptions for certain developments. The Governor signed the bill on May 13
and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Affordable Housing Exemptions: House Bill 1494, sponsored by Rep. Alex Ramel (D -40th LD),
amends property tax exemption laws for new and rehabilitated multiple -unit dwellings in urban
centers. The bill refines definitions, strengthens affordability requirements, enhances
administrative oversight, and introduces antidisplacement measures to ensure alignment with
housing needs. Key changes include clarifying affordability requirements for exemptions,
updating transit proximity criteria, adding tenant relocation assistance provisions, and
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expanding eligibility for 20 -year exemptions to cities with populations of at least 15,000. No
new exemptions may be granted after January 1, 2032, and no extensions after January 1,
2046. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Diaper Changing Stations in Public Restrooms: House Bill 1562, sponsored by Rep. Victoria
Hunt (D -5th LD), requires the installation of baby diaper changing stations in public restrooms
under specific conditions. Newly constructed public buildings and those undergoing restroom
renovations costing $15,000 or more must include a baby diaper changing station in at least
one restroom accessible to women and one accessible to men, or in a gender -neutral restroom.
Exemptions apply to health care facilities with single -patient restrooms, industrial or
commercial buildings that prohibit entry to minors, and cases where installation is deemed
infeasible or noncompliant with accessibility standards. Building owners or operators may
remove a changing station if it is misused according to manufacturer standards. The Governor
signed the bill on May 13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Historic Landmark Designations: House Bill 1576, sponsored by Rep. Amy Walen (D -48th LD),
prohibits designating properties as historic landmarks without the written consent of the
property owner if the designation would restrict the use, alteration, or demolition of the
property. The bill requires cities and code cities to adopt or amend regulations within one year
to comply with the bill's requirements for properties zoned for residential or mixed use, with
automatic preemption of conflicting local regulations if they fail to do so. Exceptions are
provided for properties within historic districts established through local preservation
ordinances or for properties more than 125 years old. The Governor signed the bill on May 12
and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Electric Security Alarms: House Bill 1688, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Parshley (D -22nd LD),
establishes statewide standards for the installation and operation of electric security alarm
systems in jurisdictions without existing regulations. The bill requires compliance with
international safety standards, warning signage, height requirements, and perimeter barriers,
while allowing local governments to regulate or prohibit these systems through specific
ordinances. Systems installed before the adoption of local regulations may continue to operate
if they meet statewide standards. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 16 and goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Conversion of Existing Buildings: House Bill 1757, sponsored by Rep. Amy Walen (D -48th LD),
facilitates the addition of housing units within existing buildings in commercial, mixed -use, or
residential zones by limiting local government restrictions. Cities must adopt ordinances to
comply by June 30, 2026, and are prohibited from imposing additional permitting requirements
beyond those generally applicable to residential development in the zone, though change of
use permits may be required. The bill restricts cities from denying permits based on
nonconformities such as parking or setbacks unless significant detriment to the surrounding
area is demonstrated and exempts unchanged portions of buildings from energy code
compliance solely due to the addition of dwelling units. The Governor signed the bill on May 7
and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Building Permit Exclusion: House Bill 1935, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr (D -1st LD),
excludes building permits from the definition and procedural requirements of "project
permits." The bill refines the definition of "project permit" by explicitly removing building
permits and adjusts related statutory provisions to align with this exclusion. These changes
clarify the scope of project permits and streamline the application of procedural requirements
for local governments. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on
July 27, 2025.
Housing Accountability Act: Senate Bill 5148, sponsored by Senator Jessica Bateman (D -22nd
LD), introduces a state -level review process for housing elements and related development
regulations adopted by counties and cities under the Growth Management Act. The bill requires
jurisdictions to submit these plans to the Department of Commerce for compliance review, with
a decision issued within 90 days, and prohibits noncompliant jurisdictions from denying
affordable or moderate -income housing developments without specific exceptions. It also
establishes mandatory targeted reviews for up to 10 jurisdictions annually and directs the
Department to publish minimum compliance standards within six months of the bill's effective
date. The Governor signed the bill on May 13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Preemption on Parking Requirements: Senate Bill 5184, sponsored by Sen. Jessica Bateman (D -
22nd LD), establishes statewide limitations on minimum parking requirements for residential
and commercial developments. Residential parking is capped at 0.5 spaces per multifamily
dwelling unit and one space per single-family home, while commercial parking is capped at two
spaces per 1,000 square feet. Exemptions are provided for affordable housing, senior housing,
small residences, licensed childcare centers, and certain facilities, with accessible parking
requirements under the ADA remaining unaffected. Cities and counties may request variances
based on safety studies, and areas near major airports are exempt. The bill repeals prior parking
requirement laws and directs the State Building Code Council to review accessible parking
standards. Cities and counties with a population between 30,000 and 50,000 must implement
the requirements within three years of the effective date of the bill. Cities and counties with a
population of 50,000 or greater must implement the requirements of this act within 18 months
of the effective date of the bill, which is July 27, 2025. The Governor signed the bill into law on
May 7.
Energy Facility Appeals: Senate Bill 5317, sponsored by Sen. Keith Goehner (R -12th LD),
exempts certain local government actions related to Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
(EFSEC)-certified energy facilities from appeals under state siting laws. The bill shields actions
taken by cities or counties in partnership with EFSEC for technical assistance, advice, or reviews
related to certified energy facilities from challenges based on inconsistency with preempted
local codes. This amendment clarifies EFSEC's authority and limits the grounds for appealing
local government actions in energy facility siting and operation. The Governor signed the bill on
May 12 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Middle Housing Expansion: Senate Bill 5471, sponsored by Sen. Keith Goehner (R -12th LD),
authorizes counties to permit middle housing, such as duplexes and triplexes, in urban growth
areas (UGAs) and Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDs) under certain
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conditions. The bill limits development standards and permitting processes for middle housing
to be no more restrictive than those for single-family housing and allows up to four residential
units per lot in these areas if infrastructure requirements, such as sewer service, are met. It also
exempts county actions implementing these provisions from appeals under the State
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and review by the Growth Management Hearings Board
(GMHB). The Governor signed the bill on May 20 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Child Care Zoning: Senate Bill 5509, sponsored by Sen. Emily Alvarado (D -34th LD), mandates
that cities, towns, and code cities allow child care centers as a permitted use in all non-
industrial zones, with reasonable restrictions such as requirements for pickup and drop-off
areas. The bill also requires jurisdictions to update their zoning regulations based on their
comprehensive plan update schedule or, for non-GMA jurisdictions, within two years of the
bill's effective date. Child care centers must also be conditionally approved in industrial and
light industrial zones, except near high -hazard facilities, and cities retain flexibility to permit
child care centers in other zones. The Governor signed the bill on May 13 and the bill goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Comprehensive Plan Deadline Extension: Senate Bill 5558, sponsored by Sen. Keith Goehner
(R -12th LD), adjusts Growth Management Act compliance timelines for comprehensive plan
updates, design review processes, and housing density regulations. The deadline for Benton,
Chelan, Cowlitz, Douglas, Franklin, Kittitas, Skamania, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Yakima
counties to update their plans is extended to December 31, 2026, with subsequent updates due
every 10 years. Cities must align design review and housing density requirements with their
next periodic updates, while capital facilities plan updates for housing density compliance are
deferred until June 30, 2034. The bill also aligns Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance timelines
with periodic updates. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on
July 27, 2025.
Unit Lot Subdivisions: Senate Bill 5559, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D -40th LD), streamlines
the subdivision process for residential developments within urban growth areas by establishing
procedures for "unit lot subdivisions." The bill introduces definitions for terms such as "parent
lot," "unit lot," and "unit lot subdivision" and requires cities and towns in counties planning
under growth management laws to adopt regulations allowing unit lot subdivisions. It
mandates clear, objective, and streamlined procedures, prohibits public predecision meetings
or hearings except where required by law, and specifies implementation deadlines tied to
comprehensive plan updates or within two years of the bill's effective date. The Governor
signed the bill on May 13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Cladding Material Regulation: Senate Bill 5571, sponsored by Sen. Jessica Bateman (D -22nd
LD), prohibits cities, code cities, and counties from mandating or excluding specific exterior
cladding materials that comply with the state building code, with certain exceptions. Exceptions
include historic districts, wildfire safety areas, and jurisdictions with unique architectural
themes, such as Bavarian -style requirements. The bill also allows local governments to mandate
fire-resistant siding materials for wildfire protection without violating the prohibition. The
Governor signed the bill on May 13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Shared Streets Framework: Senate Bill 5595, sponsored by Sen. Emily Alvarado (D -34th LD),
establishes a framework for "shared streets" where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles share
roadway space under modified traffic rules. The bill allows local authorities to designate
nonarterial highways as shared streets, provided they develop procedures for doing so, and
permits state highways to be designated as shared streets only if they are primary roads
through a central business district. Key provisions include modified right-of-way rules,
exemptions from certain existing traffic regulations, and the ability for local authorities to set
speed limits as low as 10 miles per hour without requiring a traffic study. The Governor signed
the bill on May 17 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Permitting: Senate Bill 5611, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D -32nd LD), streamlines local
land use permitting processes and expands the use of binding site plans to include
commercially zoned property allowing multifamily residential uses. It prohibits local
governments from requiring or requesting deadline extensions at the initial submission of a
project permit application, introduces refund provisions for permit fees if deadlines are missed,
and mandates annual performance reporting on permit timelines. The bill also ensures
equitable treatment of condominiums and cooperatives in zoning and permitting processes.
The Governor signed the bill on May 7 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Child Care Facilities: Senate Bill 5655, sponsored by Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan (D -26th LD),
standardizes occupancy load calculations for child care centers in multi -use buildings, such as
churches, to encourage repurposing existing spaces. The bill requires that occupancy loads be
calculated solely based on the areas used for child care services, aligning building code
enforcement and fire safety standards with this method. Legislative findings emphasize the
public benefit of using existing buildings for child care rather than new construction. The bill
was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Public Works - Procurement
Public Works Bidding Requirements: House Bill 1549, sponsored by Rep. Mary Fosse (D -38th
LD), modifies responsible bidder criteria for public works projects to enhance compliance with
apprentice utilization and training requirements. The bill requires bidders on projects subject to
apprentice utilization requirements to submit an apprentice utilization plan, with templates
developed or approved by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and exempts bidders
who met utilization requirements on their previous project. It revises training requirements to
focus on recent public works experience or completion of specific training, and mandates
contracting agencies verify compliance using publicly available information. L&I must publish
compliance records and maintain training completion data. Sections of the bill take effect in
2026 and 2027, with phased expiration dates. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 16
and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Subcontractor Licensing Requirements: House Bill 1633, sponsored by Rep. Natasha Hill (D -3rd
LD), tightens requirements for subcontractor listing and licensing in public works bidding. The
bill requires subcontractor names for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work to be submitted "at"
the published bid submittal time rather than "within one hour after." Prime contract bidders
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must provide proof of licensing for listed subcontractors, with errors in proof of licensing
corrected within 48 hours of submission. It removes outdated provisions, including legislative
intent language and reporting requirements, and eliminates licensing as a specific reason for
substituting a subcontractor. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Prevailing Wage Oversight: House Bill 1821, sponsored by Rep. Julio Cortes (D -38th LD),
expands the definition of "interested party" under prevailing wage laws to include joint labor-
management cooperation committees and Taft -Hartley trusts, allowing these entities to
monitor and enforce compliance. The bill regulates access to certified payroll records,
restricting their use to filing complaints and prohibiting use for union organizing or commercial
activities. It includes provisions for the expiration and effective dates of certain sections to
ensure continuity. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July
27, 2025.
Design -Build Bonding: House Bill 1967, sponsored by Rep. Janice Zahn (D -41st LD), clarifies
bonding requirements for design -build public works contracts by exempting non -construction
services and aligning bond amounts with construction costs. The bill specifies that performance
and payment bonds are required only for the construction portion of the contract and must be
in an amount no less than the value of that portion. It also provides procedural clarity regarding
the timeline for bond submission. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Public Works - Transportation
EV Installer Certification: Senate Bill 5528, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D -21st LD),
establishes specialized certification requirements for electricians installing electric vehicle
supply equipment (EVSE) on public works projects. Installations must be performed by
individuals certified through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or a
comparable accredited program, with exemptions for apprentices supervised by certified
journey -level electricians and for contracts executed before the act's effective date. The
Department of Labor and Industries is authorized to adopt rules for implementation, and the
act takes effect on January 1, 2026.
Toll Rate Process: Senate Bill 5702, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ramos (D -5th LD), streamlines the
toll rate -setting process by exempting the Transportation Commission from the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA) when exercising its tolling authority. The bill establishes a new, expedited
process for setting and adjusting toll rates, toll exemptions, and administrative fees, while
maintaining public transparency and input. Key provisions include public notice at least 30 days
before toll rate changes, adoption of toll rates in open meetings with remote participation
options, emergency toll adjustments to meet legal or financial obligations, and transparency
through publication of toll rates and policies on the Commission's website. The Governor signed
the bill on May 16 and the bill goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
Transportation Funding and Reforms: Senate Bill 5801, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-21),
makes extensive changes to transportation funding, infrastructure, tolling, public -private
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partnerships, and environmental considerations. Key provisions include a 6 -cent per gallon fuel
tax increase starting July 1, 2025, with annual inflation adjustments, higher electric vehicle
registration fees, and new fees for luxury vehicles, motor homes, vessels, and aircraft exceeding
specified price thresholds. The bill also establishes new grant programs for transit safety and
active transportation, authorizes the acquisition of hybrid diesel-electric ferries, and requires
environmental justice assessments for certain transportation investments. It repeals the
Transportation Innovative Partnership Act, replacing it with a new public -private partnership
framework, and reduces the number of voting members on the Transportation Commission
from seven to five. The bill includes multiple effective dates, with some provisions phased in
through 2028. The Governor signed the bill on May 20 and the bill includes various effective
dates.
Highway Land Leasing: House Bill 1774, sponsored by Rep. Jake Fey (D -27th LD), authorizes the
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to lease unused highway land for
community purposes under specified conditions. The bill expands eligible lessees to include
public agencies, tribes, state historical societies, and nonprofit organizations, and establishes
criteria for evaluating leases, including benefits to overburdened communities and lessee
qualifications. Lease agreements must incorporate community benefits, limit use to designated
purposes such as housing and salmon habitat restoration, and require legislative approval for
nonprofit leases exceeding five years. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill goes
into effect on July 27, 2025.
Solid Waste
Organic Waste Management: House Bill 1497, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D -22nd LD),
establishes new standards for organic waste management across jurisdictions, businesses,
schools, and multifamily buildings. Key provisions include mandatory color -coded waste
collection containers by 2028, phased organic waste collection for multifamily residences, and
penalties for businesses generating significant organic waste that fail to comply with
management requirements. The bill also promotes food waste reduction in schools, expands
farm -to -school programs, and updates the state building code to ensure sufficient space for
organic waste collection in new buildings. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill
goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Photovoltaic Module Recycling: Senate Bill 5175, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D -42nd
LD), extends deadlines for photovoltaic module stewardship plans and establishes an advisory
committee to recommend program improvements with a focus on environmental justice.
Manufacturers must submit stewardship plans by January 31, 2030, or within 30 days of their
first sale, and sales without an approved plan are prohibited after January 31, 2031. The
advisory committee, supported by an independent consultant, will develop recommendations
for a safe and equitable recycling system, with a report due to the legislature by December 1,
2028. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on June 30, 2025.
Extended Producer Responsibility: Senate Bill 5284, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D -40th LD),
establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for consumer packaging and
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paper products to enhance recycling and reduce waste. Producers must join or form producer
responsibility organizations (PROs) to implement and finance statewide programs for waste
reduction, recycling, and composting, meeting performance targets for recycling rates, source
reduction, and postconsumer recycled content. The bill also requires curbside recycling in
urban areas by 2030, mandates equity considerations to reduce service disparities, and includes
penalties for noncompliance. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Utilities
Sewage Spill Notifications: House Bill 1670, sponsored by Rep. Victoria Hunt (D -5th LD),
establishes new requirements for public notification of sewage spills. The bill mandates the
Department of Ecology to develop a public -facing website by July 1, 2026, featuring timely and
detailed information about sewage spills, including spill volume, treatment level, location,
duration, and impacted waters. The website must also be designed to effectively communicate
with individuals with limited English proficiency. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and
the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Utility Cost Securitization: House Bill 1990, sponsored by Rep. Peter Abbarno (R -20th LD),
authorizes electrical, gas, and water utilities to use securitization financing for disaster -related
costs and other rate recovery expenditures. The bill replaces prior provisions for "conservation
investment" with broader "rate recovery expenditures" and establishes a framework for the
issuance of "rate recovery bonds." It includes protections for bondholders, procedures for
financing orders, and imposes non -avoidable rate recovery charges on customers, with
adjustments to ensure timely bond repayment. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the
bill goes into effect immediately.
PFAS Biosolids Management: Senate Bill 5033, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson (R -19th LD),
establishes requirements for PFAS sampling, testing, and reporting in biosolids. The
Department of Ecology must publish guidance on sampling requirements by July 1, 2026, and
facilities generating biosolids must conduct quarterly sampling for PFAS chemicals starting in
2027, with results due by September 30, 2028. The bill also requires an advisory committee to
provide input on testing standards and directs the Department of Ecology to report PFAS levels
and recommendations to the Legislature by July 1, 2029.
Excavation Safety Reform: Senate Bill 5627, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ramos (D -5th LD), makes
significant amendments to Washington's Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act, focusing
on improving excavation safety, enhancing utility damage prevention, and clarifying
responsibilities for excavators and facility operators. Key changes include introducing new
definitions such as "blind boring," "design locating," "force majeure," "positive response," and
"work -to -begin date"; prohibiting blind boring without physical exposure of underground
facilities; requiring excavators to provide a "work -to -begin date" in their notice and prohibiting
excavation until positive response is received; mandating the use of a free web -based platform
for submitting excavation notices; and increasing civil penalties for violations to as much as
$25,000 for damaging hazardous facilities. The bill also expands the safety committee's role to
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review complaints and authorizes the Utilities and Transportation Commission to enforce
violations. The Governor signed the bill on May 16 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Utility Connection Waiver: Senate Bill 5662, sponsored by Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D -3rd LD),
allows municipal utilities to waive connection charges for affordable housing, emergency
shelter, and permanent supportive housing, contingent on recorded covenants that restrict
property use and include price restrictions and household income limits. Counties east of the
Cascade Mountains with populations exceeding 500,000 may waive these charges without
requiring upfront funding, provided a covenant is recorded to ensure the property remains
dedicated to eligible uses. Developers must repay waived charges if the property is converted
to ineligible uses. The Governor signed the bill on May 19 and the bill goes into effect on July
27, 2025.
Water Policy
Water System Classification: House Bill 1615, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Caldier (R -26th LD),
clarifies classification criteria for public water systems and prohibits the use of default
population numbers to reclassify systems from Group B to Group A. The bill ensures that actual
usage data is used for classification and limits local governments from imposing additional
requirements on Group B systems that conflict with these provisions. It declares an emergency,
making the act effective immediately upon passage. The bill was signed by the Governor on
April 16 and goes into effect immediately. The Governor signed the bill on April 16 and the bill
goes into effect immediately.
Water System Oversight: House Bill 1947, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Engell (R -7th LD),
expands regulatory oversight of certain Group B public water systems to require satellite
management agency operation under specified conditions. The bill clarifies that existing
satellite management agency requirements apply specifically to Group A systems and
introduces new criteria for Group B systems, including those requiring water treatment,
providing fire flow, having atmospheric storage, or serving 10 or more service connections. It
also authorizes local boards of health to adopt stricter standards for Group B systems and
clarifies enforcement responsibilities for the Department of Health and local health
jurisdictions. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 11 and goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
Precode Water Rights: Senate Bill 5212, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D -42nd LD),
modifies water rights law to allow the filing of adjudication claims for precode water uses in
Water Resource Inventory Area 1 (WRIA 1), encompassing Whatcom and Skagit counties. The
bill aligns WRIA 1 adjudication procedures with those used in the Yakima Basin, ensuring that
claims for precode water uses can be included in the process. Claims filed under the new
provisions are subordinate to certain pre-existing water rights, including those established
before July 27, 1997, and do not impair existing water rights. The Governor signed the bill on
May 17 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Behavioral Health
Health Information Disclosure: House Bill 1287, sponsored by Rep. Alicia Rule (D -42nd LD),
aligns confidentiality rules for licensed and credentialed professionals with existing health care
information disclosure standards under chapter 70.02. The bill introduces new provisions
allowing the disclosure of health care information under specific circumstances and ensures
that disclosures permitted under chapter 70.02 are explicitly permissible under these sections.
No recent actions, hearings, or amendments have been reported. The bill was signed by the
Governor on April 21 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Criminal Insanity Reform: House Bill 1359, sponsored by Rep. My-Linh Thai (D -41st LD),
establishes a task force to review and modernize laws related to criminal insanity and
competency to stand trial. The task force will include representatives from state agencies,
courts, advocacy groups, and individuals with lived experience in the forensic mental health
system, and is tasked with addressing barriers to administration, fairness, efficiency, and public
safety. Additionally, the bill recodifies and decodifies sections of existing statutes to improve
clarity and coherence, with a contingency clause requiring funding by June 30, 2025, for the act
to take effect. The Governor signed the bill on May 19 and the bill goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
Juvenile Diversion Reform: House Bill 1391, sponsored by Rep. Julio Cortes (D -38th LD),
expands and standardizes juvenile diversion programs to reduce reliance on formal court
processes and improve youth outcomes. The bill raises the age limit for diversion agreements
to a juvenile's 21st birthday, prohibits parents or guardians from preventing juveniles from
entering diversion agreements, and ensures completed diversions are not part of a juvenile's
criminal history. It mandates improved data collection and reporting on diversion outcomes,
disaggregated by demographics. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Mental Health Parity: House Bill 1432, sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons (D -23rd LD), updates
mental health parity laws to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder
(MH/SUD) services. The bill mandates that health plans provide MH/SUD coverage consistent
with generally accepted standards of care and eliminates barriers by standardizing medical
necessity determinations and utilization review processes. It also prohibits restrictive utilization
management practices for initial outpatient visits, requires compliance with federal parity
standards, and authorizes the insurance commissioner to adopt rules for implementation. The
Governor signed the bill on May 12 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Co -Response Services: House Bill 1811, sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D -48th LD),
enhances behavioral health crisis response by integrating co -response teams and establishing
statewide training programs. It defines "co -response" as a multidisciplinary partnership
between first responders and human services professionals to address behavioral health crises
and complex medical needs, restricts regional crisis lines from dispatching law enforcement,
and expands peer support privilege protections to co -response professionals. The bill also
directs the University of Washington School of Social Work to establish a crisis responder
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training academy by January 1, 2026, with statewide expansion by January 1, 2027, offering
optional certification in best practices for crisis response. The Governor signed the bill on May
19 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Mental Health Sales Tax Funding for Capital Facilities: Senate Bill 5696, sponsored by
Sen. Curtis King (R -14th LD), expands the allowable uses of local sales and use tax revenue
dedicated to chemical dependency and mental health treatment programs to include the
construction of new facilities and modifications to existing facilities necessary for the delivery of
these programs. The bill also recognizes these programs, along with therapeutic court
programs, as integral to local government public safety efforts. The tax rate and other existing
provisions remain unchanged. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Involuntary Treatment Counsel: Senate Bill 5745, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D -45th
LD), mandates counties to administer or fund legal representation for individuals detained
under the Involuntary Treatment Act, with reimbursement mechanisms clarified. The bill
authorizes the Health Care Authority to contract with the Office of Public Defense for
representation at state facilities upon county request, and specifies the Attorney General's role
in representing state -operated facilities in related proceedings. It updates definitions for "state
hospital" and "state facility" and declares an emergency, taking effect immediately. The
Governor signed the bill into law on May 12.
Child Care
Early Learning Facilities: House Bill 1314, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Callan (D -5th LD), expands and
refines the early learning facilities grant and loan program to increase flexibility, address
emergencies, and support capacity growth. The bill separates funding accounts, designates
them as the Ruth LeCocq Kagi early learning facilities revolving and development accounts, and
allows emergency grants for projects addressing natural disasters or health and safety threats.
It also prohibits requiring matching funds from applicants facing financial hardship and
prioritizes projects that increase capacity, such as converting ECEAP slots to full -day or
extended -day programs. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 7 and goes into effect on
July 27, 2025.
ECEAP Eligibility Expansion: House Bill 1351, sponsored by Rep. Adam Bernbaum (D -24th LD),
modifies eligibility criteria and enrollment rules for the Early Childhood Education and
Assistance Program (ECEAP). The bill revises the definition of an "eligible child" to include
children at least three years old by August 31 of the school year, adjusts income thresholds, and
introduces new eligibility pathways for children meeting specific risk factors or participating in
certain early learning programs. It includes phased implementation and contingent effective
dates tied to the enactment of Senate Bill 5752. The Governor signed the bill on May 13 and the
bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Child Care Workforce: House Bill 1648, sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent (R -13th LD), modifies child
care provider qualification requirements by extending certification deadlines, creating
alternative training pathways, and recognizing work experience as a qualification. The bill
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extends the implementation deadline for a community -based training pathway to August 1,
2030, or five years from the date of hire for providers hired after the bill's effective date,
whichever is later. It also caps the cost of community -based training at $250 per person,
ensures training pathways are accessible in multiple languages and culturally relevant, and
requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to convene a stakeholder group to
identify strategies for improving qualification processes and report to the legislature by
December 1, 2026. The Governor signed the bill on May 15 and the bill goes into effect on July
27, 2025.
Miscellaneous
Vehicle Rescue Immunity: House Bill 1046, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D -28th LD),
provides civil liability immunity to individuals who forcibly enter locked vehicles to rescue
vulnerable persons or domestic animals under specific conditions. The bill defines "vulnerable
person" to include minors or individuals with certain impairments and "domestic animal" as
household pets, excluding livestock. Immunity applies if the rescuer acts in good faith,
determines the vehicle is locked, believes imminent harm is likely, notifies law enforcement or
911, uses only necessary force, and remains with the rescued individual or animal until
authorities arrive. The Governor signed the bill on April 30 and the bill goes into effect on July
27, 2025.
Consumer Protections in Real Estate Transactions: House Bill 1081, sponsored by Rep. Brandy
Donaghy (D -44th LD), establishes consumer protections for owners in solicited real estate
transactions. The bill applies to transactions executed on or after January 1, 2026, where a
buyer actively solicits the purchase of property not publicly listed for sale. It ensures property
owners have the right to an appraisal at the buyer's expense, the ability to cancel purchase
contracts without penalty under specific conditions, and requires clear disclosure of these
rights in contracts. The bill exempts transactions involving licensed real estate brokers and ties
violations to the Consumer Protection Act. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 21 and
goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Public Facilities District Sales Tax Credit Extension: House Bill 1109, sponsored by Rep. Cindy
Ryu (D -32nd LD), extends the maximum duration for public facilities districts to collect sales and
use tax credits from 40 to 55 years. The bill also clarifies statutory language by replacing "the
regional center" with "a regional center" to improve consistency. The Governor signed the bill
on May 17 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
911 Funding Allocation: House Bill 1258, sponsored by Rep. Timm Ormsby (D -3rd LD),
mandates revenue sharing of county 911 excise taxes with municipalities operating public
safety answering points. The bill applies to counties east of the Cascade Mountains with
populations between 530,000 and 1,500,000 that operate regional 911 systems transferring
emergency calls to municipal systems. Beginning in 2026, counties must transfer a portion of
excise tax revenues quarterly to municipalities handling emergency call disposition and
dispatch. The Governor signed the bill on May 15 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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Oath of Office Timing: House Bill 1573, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Parshley (D -22nd LD), revises the
timeline for local elected officials in counties, cities, towns, and special purpose districts to take
the oath of office. The bill specifies that the oath must be taken between the final certification
of election results and the day before the term of office begins, removing previous options for
earlier oath -taking and clarifying the timeline. It also includes minor language adjustments for
consistency. The Governor signed the bill on May 17 and the bill goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
PRA Exemption for Employees Involved in Investigation: House Bill 1934, sponsored by
Rep. Rob Chase (R -4th LD), expands privacy protections for individuals in employment
investigations by requiring redactions of names, images, job titles, email addresses, and phone
numbers of complainants, accusers, and witnesses in investigative records. It also mandates
voice alterations in audio recordings to ensure anonymity while retaining inflection and tone.
The bill includes an exception for elected officials, whose names and titles will not be redacted
after investigations conclude, and clarifies that disclosure of redacted information requires
consent. The Governor signed the bill on May 15 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Public Records Exemptions Review: Senate Bill 5049, sponsored by Senator Jeff Wilson (R -19th
LD), clarifies the Sunshine Committee's meeting schedule by specifying it must meet four times
a year, replacing the previous language requiring quarterly meetings. The bill does not alter the
committee's composition, duties, or support structure, which remains focused on reviewing
public disclosure exemptions, developing criteria for evaluations, and recommending whether
exemptions should be continued, modified, or terminated. The bill takes effect on July 27, 2025.
The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Public Risk Pools Exemption: Senate Bill 5102, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D -11th LD),
exempts proprietary financial data of public risk pools from public disclosure. This includes
formulas, data used for calculating member contributions or assessments, and actuarial
analyses and reports. The bill seeks to expand the scope of information exempt from public
disclosure to safeguard sensitive proprietary information related to public risk pools' financial
operations. The Governor signed the bill on April 19 and the bill goes into effect on July 27,
2025.
Electrical Inspector Qualifications: Senate Bill 5265, sponsored by Sen. Curtis King (R -14th LD),
expands the eligibility criteria for electrical inspectors by recognizing out-of-state experience.
Individuals with a journey -level electrician certificate issued by the Washington Department of
Labor and Industries and at least eight years of electrical construction trade experience, four of
which must follow licensure or certification by examination in another state with a reciprocal
licensing agreement, would qualify for inspector positions. The bill retains provisions regarding
the appointment, duties, and compensation of electrical inspectors, as well as the funding
source for their salaries and expenses, which are paid from the electrical license fund. The bill
takes effect on July 27, 2025. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 22 and goes into
effect on July 27, 2025.
Unclaimed Property Management: Senate Bill 5316, sponsored by Sen. Paul Harris (R -17th LD),
updates unclaimed property laws concerning funeral contracts, virtual currency, reporting
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thresholds, and administrative procedures. Prearrangement funeral service contracts are
presumed abandoned after specified criteria, including the beneficiary's death or reaching 107
years of age. The bill mandates liquidation of virtual currency within 30 days before reporting,
lowers reporting and notification thresholds, and establishes a six -year statute of limitations for
holders to request refunds for property delivered in error. The bill was signed by the Governor
on April 8 and goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
Community Center Libraries: Senate Bill 5365, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson (R -19th LD),
expands the allowable uses of park and recreation district facilities to include public library
spaces under specific conditions. The bill clarifies that community centers classified as
recreational facilities may house public libraries, provided the library occupies less than 50% of
the usable space within the center and is operated in accordance with laws governing public
libraries. No other changes to the statute are made by this bill. The Governor signed the bill on
May 13 and the bill goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
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GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
2025-27 Budget
2025 Legislative Session
General Overview
The 2025 legislative session convened on January 13 and was scheduled for 105 days. As with
all odd -numbered years, 2025 marked the beginning of Washington State's biennial budget
cycle. The Legislature's primary responsibilities were twofold: to develop and adopt biennial
operating, capital, and transportation budgets, and to debate, advance and adopt policy. The
session began amidst significant turnover: 24 new legislators joined the House and Senate, nine
new state senators took office, and several statewide executive positions changed hands,
including newly elected Governor Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, Insurance
Commissioner Patty Kuderer and Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove. These
changes led to notable shifts in dynamics both within the Legislature and between the
legislative and executive branches.
Budget Shortfall
While a broad array of policy topics was on the agenda, the dominant issue throughout the
session was a multi -billion -dollar operating budget shortfall. Revenue forecasts in September
and November 2024 projected that expenditures would outpace revenues in both the current
and upcoming biennia. The precise size and causes of the shortfall remain debated, but
contributing factors likely included increased contractual obligations to state employees, the
expiration of temporary federal COVID relief funding, and inflationary pressures. Just before the
session began, a leaked email from Senate Democrats previewed a plan to reform Washington's
regressive tax code by introducing new taxes targeted at the state's highest earners and largest
corporations.
Beyond the budget, legislators grappled with a record number of policy proposals. Key themes
included housing affordability, parental rights, unemployment benefits for striking workers, and
public safety —including firearm regulations. A total of 2,387 bills were introduced (1,305 in the
House, 1,082 in the Senate), with only 433 ultimately passing the full Legislature. On March 18,
the state's revenue forecast was updated, projecting a $900 million drop in the four-year
outlook compared to November 2024, bumping the budget deficit to $15 billion and further
complicating budget negotiations. As required by law, the Legislature had to adopt a budget
that balanced over two biennia, or four years, (2025-27 and 2027-29) prompting discussions
around both spending cuts and new revenue sources.
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Governor Ferguson released his own operating budget proposal, demonstrating how the
Legislature could reduce spending at the agency level to reduce pressure on the general fund.
In addition to continuing $3 billion in programmatic cuts proposed by outgoing Governor Jay
Inslee, Ferguson added another $4 billion in reductions. He emphasized protecting vulnerable
populations, investing $100 million in law enforcement and public safety, and improving the
state's ferry system. However, he also warned that deeper cuts at the federal level —
potentially affecting critical services like Medicaid —required Washington State to be adaptable,
adjusting to meet the needs of Washingtonians should cuts go into effect. This appeared to
mean the Legislature should not exhaust all possible revenue options during the 2025 session.
Revenue Proposals
Democratic lawmakers in both chambers released initial revenue proposals aimed at addressing
the shortfall. Though the specifics varied, both proposals centered on increasing taxes on
wealth and financial assets and lifting limits on property tax growth. The proposals were
expected to generate $14-17 billion over four years.
Senate Democrats' Initial Revenue Proposal (March 2025):
• 5% employer payroll tax on payroll expenses exceeding the Social Security threshold
($176,100), for businesses with $7 million+ in total payroll.
• Adjust property tax levy growth to reflect population and inflation (replacing the 1%
cap).
• $10 per $1,000 financial intangible asset tax (stocks, bonds, etc.) for those with over $50
million in assets.
• Repeal 20 tax exemptions deemed ineffective.
• State sales tax rate reduction from 6.5% to 6%.
House Democrats' Initial Revenue Proposal (March 2025):
• Additional 1% B&O tax surcharge on taxable income over $250 million.
• Increase in existing financial institution surcharge from 1.2% to 1.9% for institutions with
income exceeding $1 billion.
• $8 per $1,000 financial intangible property tax, with the first $50 million exempt.
• Property tax levy cap increased to 3%, reflecting population and inflation.
Following public hearings for each revenue bill, budget writers integrated these revenue
assumptions into their respective proposed spending plans. Governor Ferguson, however,
criticized the magnitude of the proposed revenue increases, particularly the wealth tax
components, citing likely legal challenges and a strong probability that the tax would be unable
to provide immediate fiscal relief. He urged lawmakers to consider deeper budget cuts and
more conservative revenue options.
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Roughly ten days before adjournment, Democrats unveiled a revised revenue package,
removing the most controversial proposals and scaling back others in response to the
Governor's concerns. The package included the following (April 2025):
• Capital gains and estate tax increase.
• Business and occupation tax increase, and an increase to the Advanced Computing
Surcharge (ACS) cap.
• Tax on services and nicotine products, including a prepayment on sales tax for certain
businesses.
• Excise tax on zero emission vehicle tax credits.
• Modified tax preferences for certain industries.
• Lifting the state and local property tax cap (later abandoned in final negotiations after
pushback from Governor Ferguson).
These changes were projected to generate approximately $12 billion, though further revisions
to the proposals eventually brought the projected revenue closer to $9 billion over four years.
For more details about each proposal's final form, please see the Legislature Adopted Revenue
document.
Outcomes
The Legislature adopted both new revenue and programmatic cuts or delays to support a
balanced budget over four years. The Legislature advanced cost -saving measures by unwinding
or delaying several statutory programs, including:
• Delay implementation of 2023 law related to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD)
Assistance Program, requiring recipients to pay the state back if they receive federal SSI
disability payments for the same time period as the state assistance.
• Eliminates a 2023 law that created the Washington Employee Ownership Program that
allows businesses to sell to an employee ownership structure.
• Delays the implementation of a 2024 law that addressed families receiving assistance
through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Families receiving TANF must
assign their rights to child support to the state as partial reimbursement for receiving
assistance. The law would have required DSHS to pass through all child support
regardless of TANF assistance; that is delayed until 2029.
The Legislature adjourned Sine Die on April 27 at approximately 6 p.m., having passed balanced
budgets and accompanying revenue legislation in both chambers. There was much speculation
that Governor Ferguson may veto some revenue bills, prompting a special session. Ultimately,
the Governor honored the Legislature's work and signed all three budgets and accompanying
revenue bills into law. Not surprisingly, the Governor did utilize partial veto authority to cut a
total of $25 million in the operating budget, mostly attributed to studies and programs.
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Budget Summaries
Operating Budget
The proposed state operating budget for the 2025-27 biennium is based on the March 2025
revenue forecast, which projects $71.0 billion in General Fund revenue, and assumes 3.5%
average annual growth rate over two years. Annual average growth in revenues was 5.2% over
fiscal year (FY) 2022 through FY 2024; an annual average growth of 3.5% reflects a decline in
revenue growth to support the state budget. For reference, the 2023-25 biennial budget
totaled $71.9 billion.
Total proposed spending for 2025-27 Operating Budget includes $77.9 billion from the General
Fund and $150.4 billion across all funds. Of the increase in spending from 2023-25 to 2025-27,
$4.4 billion from the General Fund and $6.8 billion overall are needed just to maintain current
services, even without new programs. Budget writers reported that the key cost drivers
included inflation in K-12 salaries, growing caseloads in childcare, low-income medical
assistance, and long-term care. The budget funds and approves collective bargaining
agreements for state employees, including for those who are not union -represented and does
not include any furloughs or benefit changes.
The General Fund is projected to end with a $225 million balance. Total reserves are estimated
at $2.3 billion, including $2.1 billion in the Budget Stabilization Account. The four-year outlook
for 2027-29 anticipates a $673 million General Fund balance and $3.6 billion in reserves.
Transfers were made out of the General Fund, including:
• $77 million to the Disaster Response Account
• $70.1 million to the Home Security Fund.
Transfers into the General Fund include:
• $288 million from the Public Works Assistance Account
• $110 million from the State Treasurer's Service Account
• $89 million from the Washington Student Loan Account.
Investments made in the Operating Budget include maintaining funding to the following areas:
• $93 million for emergency food assistance programs
• $1.2 billion for homelessness and affordable housing including:
o $200 million for the covenant homeownership program
o $137 million for the housing essential needs program
o $117 million for grants to local governments to maintain shelter space
historically funded through document recording fee revenues
o $111 million for grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations for
homeless housing programs and services
o $90 million to transition those living in encampments to safer housing
o $25 million for grants to support permanent supportive housing
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• $100 million is allocated to law enforcement grants
• $20 million to expand resources for crime victims
• $25 million to improve support for refugee and immigrant communities
The 2025-27 budget also includes $4.4 billion in new revenue, primarily from increases to the
business & occupation tax, capital gains and estate taxes, and excise taxes on services. For more
information on the revenue package approved by the Legislature this session, please refer to
the Legislature Adopted Revenue document.
Transportation Budget
Transportation Budget writers faced a multi -billion shortfall over the budget's 10 -year spending
plan. This was exacerbated with the March 2025 revenue forecast, which projected a further
$1.7 billion decrease in the fuel tax from the prior year's forecast. The fuel tax represents 44%
of all forecasted transportation revenues, which presented significant challenges to balance the
budget in the next four years. The final negotiated 2025-27 biennial transportation budget
totals $15.5 billion, which is lower than both the House and Senate's initial proposals. Of the
$15.5 billion, approximately 60% ($9.2 billion) is allocated for capital expenditures, and
approximately 40% ($6.2 billion) will pay for ongoing operating expenditures.
The final budget relies on a variety of new and existing revenues, including a 6 -cent fuel tax
increase, and increases in several fees such as truck weight fees, passenger weight fees, filing
fees and more. While the Legislature considered revenue proposals to replace the fuel tax, such
as the road usage charge — a fee modeled after a program in Virginia that is calculated based on
a car's average miles per gallon — the Legislature chose to not advance those proposals and
instead increased revenues through the state's traditional transportation funding sources. Click
here for a full list of new revenue sources.
Despite these increases, some planned projects were delayed, in order to maintain a balanced
budget. The budget also includes a permanent transfer of 0.1% of the state sales tax to
transportation, beginning in 2028, adding $300 million annually.
Capital Investments & Project Adjustments
Most capital funding supports ongoing projects from previous legislative packages and the
Climate Commitment Act (CCA). However, many state and local projects not yet under contract
have been deferred. To view the final 2025-27 Transportation Budget, click here.
• Fish passage barrier removal receives $1.09 billion this biennium —$125 million more
than the last —and $1.12 billion is committed in future budgets.
• Washington State Ferries funding supports construction of a new hybrid -electric ferry
and related electrification. The first vessel conversion is delayed by one year, with bids
for new vessels due in May 2025. Fleet preservation funding increased by $100 million
for 2025-27.
• Highway maintenance and preservation remains flat for 2025-27 but increases by $200
million in 2027-29.
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Climate Commitment Act (CCA)
Appropriations totaled $1.36 billion for the 2025-27 biennium, including the following key
investments:
• $127 million for ferry terminal electrification
• $33 million for the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities program
• $26.2 million for port electrification competitive grants
• $7.5 million for the high-speed rail program
Cost Management & Program Changes
To manage costs, the budget reduces or eliminates certain programs and administrative
expenses. Savings include reduced travel for agency staff, expanded flexibility for WSDOT
project delivery, and authorization for in-house ferry work. While funding for bike and
pedestrian safety programs was preserved, reductions were made to transit coordination,
rideshare, and transportation demand management grants.
Public Safety & Enforcement
New investments total $30 million for driver safety, including over $18 million for work zone
speed cameras and $10 million for young driver education. An additional $16 million supports
the Washington State Patrol, funding training, bonuses, and new trooper classes.
Capital Budget
The state's capital budget funds infrastructure and building construction for state and local
communities through direct appropriations and grant programs. A percentage of the operating
budget is dedicated to paying bonds issued to fund the budget. Of the three budgets, revenues
in the capital budget were the most stable although not as ample as in previous years. In recent
years there was an influx of funding into the capital budget from the federal government
through American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds that did not occur for the 25-27 biennium.
Key Investments
The 2025-27 Capital Budget appropriates $4.5 billion in new bond capacity and $7.5 billion in
total funds, including cash, federal funds, and other revenue sources. To view the final 2025-27
Capital Budget and the associated project lists and grant programs, click here. Below are some
highlights of the investments made within the final Capital Budget:
• $975 million for construction of and improvements to K-12 buildings
• $827 million for natural resources
• $605 million for the Housing Trust Fund
• $129 million for behavioral health facilities
• $365 million for the Public Works Assistance Account to finance infrastructure projects
for cities, counties, and special purpose districts. Existing revenue streams are predicted
to give the PWAA some $754 million in resources through the 2025-27 biennium. This
year's budgets make a one-time additional diversion of $288 million on top of
preexisting diversions of $180 million. To offset that, the capital budget gives the Board
$100 million in state construction bonds and authority to spend $265 million from the
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PWAA, which protects existing commitments and allows the Board to offer a new loan
round.
• $81 million for the Community Economic Revitalization Board to assist communities
with financing publicly owned economic development infrastructure improvements to
encourage new business development and expansion.
• $32.5 million for the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board to award grants for local
culvert replacements.
• $125 million for grant programs funding local clean energy and climate resilience and
mitigation projects.
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GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Operating Budget Revenue
Provision
Capital Gains & Estate Tax - SB 5813
• Applies an additional 2.9% excise tax on an individual's Washington capital gains exceeding $1m
(current rate is 7% making the total 9.9%); 7% rate is maintained for capital gains between
$250,000 and $1 million.
• Increases the estate exclusion amount to $3m (current exclusion is $2.193m) and then increases
annually with the Seattle CPI.
• Increases the tax rates for Washington taxable estates of descendants dying on or after July 1,
2025:
Washington Taxable Estate Value
Current
Rate
New
Rate
$0 to $1,000,000
10%
10%
$1,000,000 to $2,000,000
14%
15%
$2,000,000 to $3,000,000
15%
17%
$3,000,000 to $4,000,000
16%
19%
$4,000,000 to $6,000,000
18%
23%
$6,000,000 to $7,000,000
19%
26%
$7,000,000 to $9,000,000
19.5%
30%
$9,000,000 and up
20%
35%
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2025-27 Total4-Year
$321.6 million $635.5 million
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Qualified Family -Owned Business Interest may be deducted from the taxable value of an estatE
the deduction is less than $2.5 million, the business interest exceeds 50% of the decedent's est
the heir must continue the business for three years from the date of death.
B&O Increases, Advanced Computing Surcharge Cap - HB 2081
• B&O on businesses with a gross income over $5 million is increased to 2.1 percent beginning
October 1, 2025.
B&O on businesses in the following categories is increased to .5% (currently these categories ht
variety of rates between .471% and .484%): manufacturing, extracting, wholesaling, retailing,
radioactive waste cleanup, retail of digital goods, research and development by nonprofits,
insurance agents, childcare, treatment of chemical dependency, salmon canners, commercial
airplanes or components of airplanes or tooling used in airplane manufacturing, printing mater
and publishing of periodicals and magazines other than newspapers, highway and government
contractors, cold storage warehousing, and radio and television broadcasting.
• B&O increase to 1.8 percent for contests of chance.
• B&O tax of .5% on businesses with at least $250 million in Washington taxable income; the tax
only on income in excess of $250 million and is in addition to other B&O taxes paid. Exempted:
income related to manufacturing activities, the sale of food, food stamp purchases, prescriptio
drugs, petroleum products, fuel, timber, and timber products. Farmers and financial institution
exempt. Taxpayers who pay an advanced computing charge (below) are exempt.
• B&O tax on financial institutions is increased to 1.5%.
• Under current law, advanced computing businesses with a worldwide revenue in excess of $25
billion are subject to a 1.22% advanced computing surcharge, and the total amount is capped a
million per year per taxpayer. The tax is increased to 7.5% and the amount per taxpayer is capF
at $75 million per year per taxpayer. By FY 2028, the number of enrollments in computer scien
4 -year state universities must increase.
Excise Tax on Zero -Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Credits HB 2077
Background: Consistent with the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA), Washington has adopted Californ
emission standards for new motor vehicles. Manufacturers are required to sell a specified
percentage of vehicles that are ZEV or obtain credits equal to that percentage (e.g. 22% in 202`
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35% in 2026; 43% in 2027). Manufacturers can trade credits with other manufacturers and can
"bank" credits for up to 4 years for use in a future year and can be transferred to another state•
has adopted California's emission standards.
• 2% excise tax is imposed on ZEV credits sold from one manufacturer to another.
10% excise tax is imposed on ZEV credits once carried over by a manufacturer to be used in a fu
model year
• Exemptions: Credits transferred to other states are not taxed. Manufacturers with credits unde
25,000 for a specific model year.
Retail Sales on Services, Nicotine, and Pre -Payment - SB 5814
The following services are classified as "retail" and subject to retail sales and use tax and retailir
B&O tax.
o Investigation, security services, security monitoring services, and armored car services,
including background checks, security guard and patrol services, personal and event
security, armored car transportation of cash and valuables, and security system service!
and monitoring. This does not include locksmith services.
o Temporary staffing services (excludes hospitals)
o Custom software and customization of prewritten computer software
o Imposes a sales tax on digital automated services, which is any service that primarily
involves the application of human effort by the seller, and the human effort originated
after the customer requested the service; excludes telehealth and telemedicine service!
• Imposes a 3% B&O tax on gross income derived from advertising, which excludes web hosting
services and services rendered in respect to printing, publishing, radio, and television.
• Imposes a 3% B&O tax on gross income derived from high technology services (IT consulting,
custom website development, IT training services and technical support).
• Expands the definition of nicotine products to include products that contain nicotine, whether
derived from tobacco or created synthetically, and subjects them to the "other tobacco product
tax
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• Requires taxpayers who file a monthly combined excise tax return with $3m or more taxable retail
sales during the 2026 calendar year to make a one-time prepayment of state sales tax, which must
be paid June 25, 2027.
Repealing Tax Preferences — SB 5794 l $148.5 million
• A B&O tax (.5%) and retail sales tax (6.5% + local sales tax) are imposed on the sale of precious
metals (gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, and palladium) and bullion.
• A B&O tax is imposed on the gross receipts from the rental or lease of individual self-service
storage space at self -storage facilities; 1.5% for businesses with a taxable income of less than $1
million and 1.75% for businesses with a taxable income over $1 million.
I -
Estimated Totals $3.854 billion
Additional Revenue -Generating Policy Adopted by the Legislature
Marriage License Fee/Domestic Violence Support — HB 1498
• Imposes a new $100 fee on marriage licenses
Discover Pass Increase — SB 5390
• Increases the cost of a Discover Pass from $30 to $45.
Mortgage Fee — SB 5686
$236.7 million
$9.54 billion
• Imposes an $80 fee for each residential mortgage loan originated, with the exception of reverse mortgage loans issued to seniors over 61.
Public Safety Sales Tax — HB 2015
• Authorizes cities and counties to each impose a .01 sales tax increase to fund public safety.
School Enrichment Levies— HB 2049
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• Background: Schools are funded through state funding and local property tax levies. Local enrichment levies are voter -approved property
tax increases to fund elements beyond basic education. The levy is capped at the lesser of $2.50/$1,000 AV or a per student amount
(depending on school size is either $3,149.60 or $3,779.62). The per student amount increases by the Seattle CPI each year. It is that
amount that this bill increases, thereby allowing larger local enrichment property tax levies until 2031.
• The bill increases the per student amount to be the Seattle CPI plus $500 in 2026. For smaller school districts, the increase in 2027-2030 is
3.3 percent above the Seattle CPI. In 2031, all school districts have a maximum per student limit of $5,035.
• The bill creates a work group and report back on changes to school funding formulas. If state funding does not increase to fund education at
a similar pace, schools will be increasingly funded with local levies.
Transportation Budget Revenue
Provision & Summary
6 -Year Total
Implementation
Date
Fuel -Related
Increases Fuel Tax & Establishes Indexing
$1.448 billion
July 1, 2025
• Imposes a 6 cent increase to the current 49.4 cent rate in fiscal year (FY) 2026.
• The entire higher rate is inflated by 2% each year starting in FY 2027.
• Of the increased amounts, 2.5% is distributed to cities and 2.5% is distributed to
counties.
Increases Diesel Differential Tax Rate
$166 million
July 1, 2025
• Imposes a 3 cent increase to the Special Fuel Tax rate above the gasoline rate in FY 2026,
and another 3 cent increase in FY 2028.
• The 6 cent increase is inflated by 2% each year starting in FY 2029.
• Of the increased amounts, 2.5% is distributed to cities and 2.5% is distributed to counties
Fees Due at the Time of Vehicle Registration
Increases Truck Weight Fees
$317 million
January 1, 2026
• Sets gross weight fees at $30 per ton, up to 40,000 lbs for schedule B trucks and 52,000
lbs for schedule A trucks, including the freight project fee and additional fee in the
calculation.
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• Gross weight fees are inflated by 2% each year starting in FY 2027.
Increases Passenger Weight Fees
• Increases the passenger weight fee for heavier vehicles as follows:
Weight
Current Fee
New Fee
0 - 4,000 lbs
$35
$35
4,001- 6,000 lbs
$55
$75
6,001 - 8,000 lbs
$75
$90
8,001 and over
$82
$110
Increases Filing Fees
• Increases the $4.50 registration filing fee to $6 and the $5.50 title filing fee to $6.50.
• The majority of the funds ($89 million) from the fee increases is retained by counties, but
$5 million is to be deposited into the Highway Safety Account
Increase Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Fee
• Increases the fee from $6 to $8 and changes the administrative allocation up to 10%
Sales and Use Taxes
Increases Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Taxes
• Increases the additional sales tax assessment on motor vehicles from 0.3% to 0.5%
Increases Rental Car Tax & Establishes Corporate Peer to Peer Car Sharing
• The 5.9% additional rental car tax is increased to $11.9% on January 1, 2026 and then
adjusted down to 9.9% on January 1, 2027
• These rates are applied to peer-eto-peer car transaction involving a vehicle exempted
from retail sales or use tax. True peer -to -peer transactions involving personal car sharing
by individuals would not be subject to taxation.
Establishes a Recreational Vessels Tax
• Imposes a 0.5% sales and use tax on recreational vehicles
$317 million
$5 million
$3 million
$257 million
$205 million
$7 million
Half of the increase
occurs January 1, 2026
The second half of the
increase occurs January
1, 2029
January 1, 2026
January 1, 2026
January 1, 2026
Rental Car Tax: January
1, 2026
Peer -to -Peer Car
Transaction: January 1,
2027
July 1, 2026
Establishes Luxury Vehicle Tax I $202 million I January 1, 2026 I
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• Imposes a luxury tax of 8% on a portion of the retail sale, lease or transfer of a vehicle.
Applies to the portion of the selling price or value that exceeds $100,000.
• The deduction of $100,000 is increased by 2% per year. This does not apply to motor
vehicles that have a gross weight fee rating above 10,000 lbs other than motor homes.
Commercial motor vehicles are also exempt. There is no exception for the value of a
trade-in vehicle.
Establishes a Luxury Aircraft Tax
$21 million
April 1, 2026
• Imposes a 10% luxury tax on a portion of the retail sale, lease, or transfer of an aircraft.
• Applies to the portion of the selling price or value that exceeds $500,000 of a non-
commercial aircraft.
• There is no exception for the value of a trade-in aircraft.
Other Taxes and Fees
Increases Tire Disposal Fees
$117 million
January 1, 2026
• Increases the existing $1 tire replacement fee to $5.
• Increase the amount retained by the retailer to 25 cents
Establishes a WSDOT Work Zone Violation Fee
$138 million
July 1, 2026
• Background: WSDOT is beginning implementation of a speed safety camera work zone
pilot program that ends in FY 2030, unless extended. Current policy provides a $0 fine for
the 1st offense.
• First offense fines are increased to $125 until the pilot program concludes.
Increases fees for Standard Driver's License and Identicards
$74 million
October 1, 2025
• Increases the current $9 per year fee for driver's licenses and identicards to $10 per year
in FY 2026.
• The per -year fee amounts are increased to $1 per year every three years in the future to
approximate inflation.
Removes Toll Exemption for Transit and Ride Share Vehicles
$6 million
October 1, 2025
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• Directs the Transportation Commission to remove current toll exemptions for public and
private transit buses, vans and rideshare vehicles on bridges. Public and private school
buses may be exempted.
• Anticipated to primarily apply to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the 520 bridge.
Washington State Ferries (WSF) Specific Increases
Increases Capital Vessel Surcharge
$47 million
October 1, 2025
• Increases the current 50 cent fee to $1 in October 2025.
• Requires an additional 10 cent increase in October 2027 and an additional 10 cent
increase in October 2029.
Imposes a Credit Card Surcharge on Riders
$24 million
March 1, 2026
• Imposes a rider surcharge to cover credit card transactions currently paid by Washington
State Ferries.
Total Revenue Raised over 6 years
$3.208 billion
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GORTON THOMAS HONEYWELL
coVrRNMt ii un a rrorrs
City of Port Orchard
2025 End of Session Legislative Report
June 18, 2025
Dear City of Port Orchard,
It was a pleasure to advocate for the City of Port Orchard throughout the 2025 legislative
session.
The 2025 session was the first of the two-year legislative biennium, and the Legislature had the
primary task of adopting new biennial budgets. This task proved to be more difficult than
recent years due to lower than projected revenue growth and increased obligations from
program expansions. Additionally, the Governor directed the Legislature to address the double
digit billion -dollar budget deficit by first making significant cuts to spending. These cuts
primarily impacted the operating budget but placed an additional strain on the development of
the capital budget.
For these reasons, it was a difficult year to secure new funding. Larger dollar requests faced an
even harder path. Although the City did not receive full funding, the final capital budget
includes $1 million toward the Port Orchard Downtown Reconstruction project! This would not
have been possible without an active and supportive legislative delegation: Senator Deborah
Krishnadasan, Representative Michelle Caldier and Representative Adison Richards. All three
members of the City's delegation worked collaboratively to represent the City's interests.
Now that session is over, legislators will turn their focus to interim work. Due to the long
session, this is a short interim and a non -election year for the Legislature. However, there were
8 legislators appointed to their positions following the last election, which means they will be
campaigning to retain their seats during the fall's special election.
Looking ahead, the 2026 session will be a short 60 -days and the second year of the two-year
legislative cycle. The Legislature will focus on creating supplemental budgets, will consider bills
that were introduced this year but did not pass, and develop new legislation.
The ever-changing political climate requires adaptive and consistent advocacy. I look forward to
working with the City throughout the interim months to continue advancing Port Orchard's
priorities and preparing for the 2026 legislative session.
Thank you,
Shelly Helder
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Overview of the 2025 Legislative Session
The 2025 Legislature convened for a 105 -day session beginning on January 14 and concluded on
time on April 27. Legislators had a challenging task of balancing new biennial budgets, which
were agreed upon in the final hours of the session. A total of 2,387 pieces of legislation were
introduced this session, and the Legislature passed 433 bills into law.
As the first year of the legislative biennium, the Legislature established new committee
structures, committee chairs, and selected new leadership. In November 2024, Democrats
captured nine executive state office positions and flipped two previous Republican seats in the
Legislature. The Democrats held the majority in the House of Representatives (59-39) and the
Senate (30-19). This means Democrats had a 60 percent majority of each chamber, allowing
them to approve bonds and transfers out of the budget stabilization account without support
from Republicans. It also allowed Democrats in the House of Representatives to adopt new
rules that limit the length of debate on the House floor and limit the ability for staff from the
Governor's Office to access the floor.
Although the state's political landscape remains relatively the same, the Legislature saw high
turnover this year following retirements and lawmakers moving to different elected or
appointed positions. As transitions occurred over the weeks leading up to and during the
session, 24 new "freshman" legislators were welcomed.
Democrats from both Chambers prioritized public schools, affordable housing and health care,
a clean environment, and safe communities.
Additionally, Governor Bob Ferguson was inaugurated as the 24th Governor of Washington
State. Much of the legislative session was marked with tensions between the Governor and the
Legislature, with the Governor finding himself more aligned with Republicans and moderate
Democrats.
Legislative Agenda Items
Port Orchard Community Event Center
The Port Orchard Community Event Center will feature space for community events and the
Kitsap Regional Library. Design, planning, and property acquisition are well underway, though
the City will not be ready for construction in the 2025 fiscal year. Although there was no funding
request for this project this session, it remains a City priority and something we continue to
discuss with the city's legislative delegation.
Bay Street Sea Level Rise — Climate Resilience Funding
The City has received federal funding for design and partial construction to raise Bay Street,
utilities, and adjacent businesses along the City waterfront, to ensure public access in the event
of sea level rise. The City requested state funding to address the $3.55 million funding gap to
complete the project.
Recognizing the lack of resources and high demand on the state's transportation budget, we
strategically submitted a request to both the capital and transportation budgets. The state's
capital budget writers were keenly aware of the lack of transportation resources and were
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resistant to allocate capital budget funds toward transportation projects. For this reason, we
renamed this project to be the Port Orchard Downtown Reconstruction Project. This title
ensured the project was not immediately eliminated from consideration during capital budget
deliberations. Further, since this project is prompted due to climate change and sea level rise,
we pursued the Climate Commitment Act revenues that are allocated to both the capital and
transportation budget.
Senator Krishnadasan submitted the funding request to both the transportation and capital
budgets. Rep. Richards submitted the funding request to the House capital budget and Rep.
Caldier submitted the funding request to the House transportation budget. The entire
delegation was supportive of the project.
The Senate proposed transportation budget included this project on the list of projects that
would be eligible for funding if the Senate's proposed new revenue was adopted. No funding
was allocated to the project in the Senate capital budget. The House capital budget included $1
million for the project but nothing in the House transportation budget. Once budgets were
released, we worked with the 26th district legislators to try to increase the appropriation to
further bridge the funding gap. Unfortunately, there was no additional funding available in
either the transportation or capital budget. The final capital budget that passed the legislature
and was signed into law includes $1 million for the Port Orchard Downtown Reconstruction
Project.
Although this is less than what is needed, it is still on the higher end of awards granted to local
community projects. The average size award this year was $604,000. The capital budget was
$1.5 billion smaller than it was in 2023, which meant every pot of money had less to distribute.
Municipal Water Supply — Foster Pilot Program
The City of Port Orchard was chosen by the state for a water resource mitigation pilot project to
address municipal water supply challenges after the Foster decision. The City has invested over
$1 million in City funds for this pilot project, which has not yet resulted in an Ecology -approved
water supply. The City requested the Legislature adopt solutions to provide municipalities a
path to sustainable water permitting and usage, as required to accommodate growth under the
Growth Management Act. With two new members of the City's legislative delegation and over
two dozen new members in the Legislature, the primary task this session was to educate
lawmakers on the challenges and urgency of addressing municipal water supply. This priority
will be ongoing throughout the interim and into the 2026 session.
Sedgwick Roundabouts at SR-16/SR-160 Intersections
The City continued to request investment for improvements at the intersection of Sedgwick
Road (State Route 160) and State Route 16. The City has funded temporary improvements to
these intersections to provide short-term relief; however, long-term improvements are needed.
The City proposes two compact roundabouts at the SR -16 and SR -160 interchanges. Prior to
current inflation rates, the project was estimated to cost $6 million.
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This session we submitted funding requests in both the House and Senate for budget writers'
consideration. The House and Senate developed contrasting budget proposals. The Senate
proposal included significant new revenue and a list of eligible local projects that could be
funded if revenue was adopted. The House proposal took a different approach and did not
include funding for any local projects despite raising new revenue. The new revenue in the
House proposal was invested in finishing existing projects that had cost increases, addressing
the state's obligation to improve fish culverts and maintenance and preservation of state
highways. The final budget is a blend of the two approaches in that it raises new revenue but
does not allocate funding to any new projects, including the Sedgwick Roundabouts.
Policy Priorities
Police Training Academy and BLEA
The City asked the Legislature to fund a study on the feasibility of a regional police training
academy on the Kitsap Peninsula and additional Basic Law Enforcement Academy Classes. The
state operating budget funds 23 Basic Law Enforcement Funding courses in 2026 and 2027,
with two per year in each of the four regional training academies in Arlington, Pasco, Spokane,
and Vancouver. It does not include a study to consider expanding regional training facilities in
other locations in the state.
It also reinstates the requirement that cities pay 25% of the cost of each officer's training. This
is a reduced investment from what the Legislature allocated in the 2023-25 budget but is
similar to amounts allocated to law enforcement training prior to 2023. The Legislature
maintained investment levels for co -responder programs, allocating $4 million to the
Association of Washington Cities to provide grants to create alternative response team
programs throughout the state.
GMA Reform
The City requested the Legislature update the Growth Management Act (GMA) so that cities
can grow within urban areas. There were dozens of bills introduced making changes to the
GMA to promote growth, primarily housing development, in cities. The majority of those
proposals amend the GMA to mandate local conditions for development. See the attached
document titled 2025 Bills Impacting Cities for a comprehensive list of bills that passed the
Legislature.
Penalty on Vacant Buildings
There were no bills considered that specifically discouraged landowners from allowing buildings
to sit vacant. Not directly applicable but tangentially related, Senator Emily Alvarado (D -Seattle)
introduced Senate Bill 5755 which requires the Department of Commerce to solicit letters of
interest from owners or developers of retail or commercial properties with substantial potential
for redevelopment as residential or mixed -use properties providing market rate and affordable
housing supply. The bill had a public hearing in the Senate Housing committee but did not
advance.
Oppose New Housing & Homelessness Mandates
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In recent years, the Legislature, on both sides of the aisle, has not honored local decision -
making, opting instead to establish statewide mandates. In many cases, the Legislature
preempted local land use controls with a desire to improve housing affordability as the stated
justification for the preemption. That theme continued for the 2025 Legislative Session with the
Legislature approving those proposals.
Throughout the session, Democrat lawmakers concentrated on three key pillars: enhancing
housing stability for renters (stability), increasing the overall housing supply (supply), and
expanding financial subsidies for housing development (subsidy). As a result of this emphasis,
the Legislature passed House Bill 1217, regulating rent increases. To address housing supply,
the Legislature continued its trend of focusing on local government mandates by approving
Senate Bill 5814 mandating a reduction in parking requirements for new construction projects
in cities with a population over 30,000, House Bill 1096 and Senate Bill 5633 allowing lot
splitting and unit lot subdivision, and House Bill 1491 mandating density around light rail and
bus rapid transit. Additionally, the Legislature made significant investments in the state's
Housing Trust Fund, allocating substantial resources to subsidize the construction of affordable
housing units across Washington. Here are some of the highlights:
• $605 million for the Housing Trust Fund.
• $90 million for Connecting Housing to Infrastructure (CHIP) grants to local governments.
• $14.7 million for recovery residences grants.
• $9 million for youth shelters and housing.
• $5 million for low-income home rehabilitation grants.
DID NOT PASS: Homelessness Regulation Framework: House Bill 1380, sponsored by Rep. Mia
Gregerson (D -33rd LD), proposed a framework for regulating the use of public property by
individuals experiencing homelessness, requiring such regulations to be "objectively
reasonable" in terms of time, place, and manner. The bill would have allowed individuals to
challenge unreasonable laws in court and assert an affirmative defense, prohibit monetary
damages, and include an emergency clause for immediate enactment. The bill received
significant consideration in the House but was never approved by the chamber.
Transportation Revenue
As part of the final transportation budget and associated revenue, the Legislature imposed a 6 -
cent increase to the current 49.4 cent rate. The entire higher rate is then inflated 2 percent
each year. Of the increased amounts (both the 6 -cent and inflationary increases), 2.5 percent is
distributed to cities and 2.5 percent is distributed to counties. This revenue -sharing with locals
is significant since recent packages have not provided local distributions.
The legislature also considered but did not advance alternative transportation revenue sources
such as Senate Bill 5726/House Bill 1921, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ramos (D -5th LD) and Rep. Jake
Fey (D -27th LD), which would have established a road usage charge. After public input on these
two proposals, budget proposals chose to advance a gas tax rather than a road usage charge at
this time. The road usage charge discussion is likely to continue into future years.
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As part of one of the state's largest investments in housing infrastructure, the 25-27 capital
budget includes $90 million for Connecting Housing to Infrastructure (CHIP) grants.
Additionally, the following proviso language was included in the final 2025 transportation
budget:
$200,000 is for the joint transportation committee to conduct a study and make
recommendations on alternative new methods for local governments to fund sidewalk
improvements, including but not limited to establishing a sidewalk utility. The study must review
revenue options utilized in other states and make evaluations based on fairness, stability,
adequacy, regressivity, simplicity, and the effect on economic vitality. A preliminary report is due
to the office of the governor and the transportation committees of the legislature by December
15, 2025. The final report is due to the office of the governor and the transportation committees
of the legislature by June 30, 2026.
Infrastructure Funding
The primary source of infrastructure funding for local governments is the Public Works
Assistance Account (PWAA), also referred to as the Public Works Trust Fund. The account is
funded through a combination of revenue sources, including a statutory allocation of a
percentage of certain taxes, repayments from local government loans and interest earned. It
also receives funding from bond proceeds when authorized by the legislature. The PWAA is a
stable account that is often raided when the state is facing a challenging budget. The 2025
session was no exception. Both the House and Senate budget proposals included sweeps of
funds from the PWAA. The Senate proposal took it one step further by diverting the revenue
that is otherwise dedicated to the account and using it to pay for fish culverts. Due to the
advocacy of local governments around the state, this concept did not advance.
In the 2025-27 budget the Legislature transferred $288 million from the PWAA to the state's
general fund. All the revenues dedicated to the account remain intact and the legislature
provided additional bond authority of $100 million for the 25-27 biennium. Overall, the
legislature did not make new investments in infrastructure resources, but they also didn't
eliminate existing resources.
Bill Tracking List
Below is the list of bills we tracked for the City during the 2025 session and the City's position
on the bill, if one was taken. This list includes the bills that died and those that passed into law
and is organized by the topics listed on the City's Policy Statements document.
General Government
Bill #
Abbrev. Title
Short Description
Status
Sponsor
Position
Authorizing cost
HB 1042
County treasurer costs
recovery for county
H Finance
Wylie
(Dead)
treasurers.
Concerning law
HB 1056
Law enf. misconduct
enforcement and local
H Civil R & Judi
Farivar
(Dead)
corrections agency
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(SSB
misconduct through
5066)
investigations and
legal actions.
Incentivizing cities and
counties to attract and
HB 1095
Law enforcement
(Dead)
funding
retain commissioned
H Finance
Walen
law enforcement
officers.
HB 1100
Creating a local sales
Local sales and use tax
H Finance
Jacobsen
(Dead)
and use tax.
Public facilities
Concerning public
HB 1109
districts
facilities districts.
Del to Gov
Ryu
Support
Concerning
ESHB
accountability and
Misdemeanor
1113
access to services for
H Rules 3C
Farivar
dismissal
(Dead)
individuals charged
with a misdemeanor.
Improving public
safety by
implementing
evidence -based
HB 1138
Criminal interview
interview practices
H Community
(Dead)
practices
that increase the
Safe
Peterson
reliability of
statements collected
during criminal
investigations.
Allowing small
2SHB
Small
business
1175
businesses/residential
establishments in
H Rules C
Klicker
(Dead)
(Dead)
residential zones.
Concerning building
2SHB
Building codes
code and
C 139 L 25
Duerr
1183
development
regulation reform.
SHB 1212
Concerning the siting
(Dead)
(ESSB
Childcare center siting
of childcare centers.
H Approps
Alvarado
5509)
Facilitating law
HB 1250
Law enf agency
enforcement and
(Dead)
accreditation
corrections agency
H Approps
Barnard
accreditation.
HB 1299
(Dead)
Minimum parking
Concerning minimum
(ESSB
requirements
parking requirements.
H Local Govt
Peterson
5184)
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Modifying the annual
HB 1334
Property tax revenue
regular property tax
H Finance
Pollet
(Dead)
growth
revenue growth limit.
Allowing objectively
SHB 1380
Public property
reasonable regulation
H Rules R
Gregerson
Oppose
(Dead)
regulations
of the utilization of
public property.
Concerning the county
criminal justice
HB 1428
Criminal justice
assistance account
H Approps
Rule
(Dead)
assistance
and municipal criminal
justice assistance
account.
HB 1435
Creating a law
(Dead)
Law enf. hiring grants
enforcement hiring
H Approps
Abell
(2SSB
5060)
grant program.
Incentivizing cities and
HB 1436
Law enf.
counties to increase
officers/increase
officers/increase
employment of
H Finance
Abell
(SB 5285)
commissioned law
enforcement officers.
Modifying the
E2SHB
Responsible bidder
responsible bidder
1549 (SB
criteria
criteria for public
C 63 L 25
Fosse
5476)
works projects.
SHB 1592
Public defense
Concerning public
(Dead)
services
defense services.
H Approps
Peterson
(SB 5404)
ESHB
Allowing bargaining
1622
Collective
over matters related
(Dead)
bargaining/Al use
to the use of artificial
H Rules 3C
Parshley
Oppose
(SSB
intelligence.
5422)
Concerning revenues
from the excise tax on
HB 1694
City & county REET
real estate
H Finance
Thai
(Dead)
revenues
transactions imposed
by cities and counties
under RCW 82.46.035.
HB 1704
Cannabis
Increasing cannabis
(Dead)
revenue/local gov.
revenue distributions
H Approps
Schmidt
to local governments.
Creating a sales and
HB 1717
Affordable
use tax remittance
(Dead)
housing/sales tax
program for
H Approps
Leavitt
(SB 5591)
affordable housing.
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HB 1772
(Dead)
Shared streets
Establishing shared
H
Reed
Support
(ESB
streets.
Transportation
5595)
Sharing state sales tax
HB 1778
State sales tax
revenues with local
(Dead)
revenues
governments and not
H Approps
Dufault
increasing the state or
local sales tax rate.
Increasing the
flexibility of existing
Local real estate
funding sources to
SHB 1791
excise tax
fund public safety and
other facilities by
C 159 L 25
Paul
modifying the local
real estate excise tax.
Increasing the
ESHB
availability of
1923
Passenger -only ferries
passenger -only ferries
H Rules 3C
Nance
(Dead)
by establishing the
mosquito fleet act.
Concerning the
Project permit
definition of project
SHB 1935
definition
permit and project
C 102 L 25
Duerr
permit application.
Improving public
safety funding by
providing resources to
local governments and
ESHB
Public safety funding
state and local
Del to Gov
Entenman
Support
2015
criminal justice
agencies, and
authorizing a local
option tax.
Investing in the state's
ESHB
K-12 education
paramount duty to
2049 (SB
funding
fund K-12 education
Del to Gov
Bergquist
5812)
and build strong and
safe communities.
2SSB
Creating a law
5060
Law enforcement
enforcement hiring
S Rules X
Holy
Support
(Dead)
personnel
(HB 1435)
grant program.
Concerning law
SSB 5066
enforcement and local
S Ways &
(Dead)
Law enf. misconduct
Hansen
(HB 1056)
corrections agency
Means
misconduct through
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investigations and
legal actions.
Concerning three of
SSB 5085
Closed retirement
Washington state's
S Rules 3
Robinson
(Dead)
plans
closed retirement
plans.
Concerning
underinsured motorist
SB 5107
Local gov. vehicle
coverage for local
S Loc Gov
Boehnke
(Dead)
insurance
government
employees.
Concerning cost -of -
living adjustments for
SB 5113
plan 1 retirees of the
(Dead)
Plan 1 retiree COLAs
teachers' retirement
S Ways &
Boehnke
(HB 1292)
system and public
Means
employees' retirement
system.
ESSB
Common interest
Concerning common
C 119 L 25
Pedersen
5129
communities
interest communities.
ESSB
Minimum parking
Concerning minimum
5184 (HB
Del to Gov
Bateman
requirements
parking requirements.
1299)
Modifying small works
SB 5220
City small works
roster requirements
S Loc Gov
Shewmake
(Dead)
rosters
for cities.
Incentivizing cities and
SB 5285
Law enf.
counties to increase
(Dead)
officers/increase
employment of
S Loc Gov
Holy
(HB 1436)
commissioned law
enforcement officers.
SB 5404
(Dead)
Public defense
Concerning public
S Law &
Trudeau
(SHB
services
defense services.
Justice
1592)
Allowing small
SB 5421
Small
business
S Loc Gov
Shewmake
(Dead)
businesses/residential
establishments in
residential zones.
SSB 5422
Collective
Allowing bargaining
over matters related
S Ways &
(Dead)
(ESHB
bargaining/Al use
to certain uses of
Means
Bateman
Oppose
1622)
artificial intelligence.
SB 5453
Concerning public
Public defense
S Ways &
(Dead)
defense recruitment
Slatter
(HB 1956)
recruitment
and retention.
Means
SB 5476
Responsible bidder
Modifying the
S State
(Dead)
criteria
responsible bidder
Gov/Trib
Hasegawa
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(E2SHB
criteria for public
1549)
works projects.
Concerning
compliance with siting,
development permit
processes and
SB 5497
standards, and
(Dead)
Housing & shelters
requirements for
S Housing
Alvarado
(2SHB
permanent supportive
1195)
housing, transitional
housing, indoor
emergency housing, or
indoor emergency
shelters.
Public employee
Concerning public
SSB 5503
bargaining
employee collective
Del to Gov
Valdez
bargaining processes.
ESSB
5509
Childcare center siting
Concerning the siting
Del to Gov
Alvarado
(SHB
of childcare centers.
1212)
SB 5547
Cannabis
Increasing cannabis
S Ways &
(Dead)
revenue/local gov.
revenue distributions
Means
Wagoner
to local governments.
Providing a sales and
SB 5553
Multifamily
use tax incentive for
S Ways &
Salomon
(Dead)
housing/tax
multifamily affordable
Means
housing.
Streamlining the
ESB 5559
UGA subdivision
process
subdivision process
inside urban growth
Del to Gov
Lovelett
areas.
SSB 5573
Electric security
alarms
Concerning electric
security alarm
S Rules X
Chapman
(Dead)
systems.
ESSB
Providing state
5576
Affordable housing
funding for essential
S Rules 3
Lovelett
(Dead)
funding
affordable housing
(HB 1763)
programs.
Concerning affordable
housing development
in counties not closing
Affordable housing
the gap between
SSB 5587
dev.
estimated existing
Del to Gov
Cleveland
housing units within
the county and
existing housing
needs.
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ESB 5595
Shared streets
Establishing shared
Del to Gov
Alvarado
Support
(HB 1772)
streets.
Creating a categorical
exemption for
multiunit housing
SB 5612
Multiunit
development within
(Dead)
housing/SEPA
the incorporated areas
S Housing
Salomon
in an urban growth
area under the state
environmental policy
act.
Concerning the
development of clear
E2SSB
and objective
Residential
5613
standards, conditions,
S Rules 3
Salomon
development
(Dead)
and procedures for
residential
development.
SSB 5614
Impact fees
Concerning impact
S Rules X
Salomon
(Dead)
fees.
Concerning project
SB 5615
Residential housing
permit applications for
(Dead)
permits
residential housing
S Housing
Salomon
units.
SB 5633
Subdivision of land
Concerning the
S Loc Gov
Lovelett
(Dead)
subdivision of land.
SB 5650
Cannabis local excise
Authorizing a local
S Ways &
(Dead)
tax
excise tax on cannabis.
Means
Wagoner
ESSB
Local gov. hearing
Concerning local
5719
government hearing
S Rules 3
Salomon
(Dead)
examiners
examiners.
Encouraging
construction of
ESB 5729
Housing permitting
affordable housing by
S Rules 3
Gildon
(Dead)
streamlining the
permitting process.
Expanding local taxing
authority to fund
ESB 5775
Public safety/local tax
public safety and
S Rules 3
Slatter
Support
(Dead)
community protection
focused programs and
services.
SSB 5798
Property tax
Concerning property
tax reform.
S Rules
Pedersen
SB 5812
Investing in the state's
K-12 education
S Ways &
(ESHB
funding
paramount duty to
Means
Wellman
2049)
fund K-12 education
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132
and build strong and
safe communities.
GMA Reform
Bill #
Abbrev. Title
Short Description
Status
Sponsor
Position
Extending governmental services
HB 1097
Gov. services
beyond the urban growth area in
H Local
Low
(Dead)
beyond UGA
Govt
specific circumstances.
Local
Ensuring that local government
ESHB
government
planning complies with the growth
C 17 L
Duerr
1135
planning
management act.
25
Urban growth
Expanding urban growth area
HB 1164
area
boundaries for residential
H Local
Connors
(Dead)
boundaries
development.
Govt
Concerning compliance with siting,
2SHB
development permit processes and
1195
Housing &
standards, and requirements for
H Rules
(Dead)
shelters
permanent supportive housing,
C
Peterson
Oppose
(SB 5497)
transitional housing, indoor emergency
housing, or indoor emergency shelters.
HB 1235
Ensuring compliance with the housing
(Dead)
GMA housing
H
element requirements of the growth
Peterson
(E2SSB
element
Housing
5148)
management act.
Housing & Homelessness Mandates
Abbrev.
Bill #
Short Description
Status
Sponsor
Position
Title
Residential
Providing additional parking flexibility in
C 137 L
SHB 1061
parking
residential neighborhoods.
25
Low
E2SHB
Increasing housing options through lot
Del to
Lot splitting
Barkis
1096
splitting.
Gov
Local gov.
SHB 1160
design
Concerning local government design
H
Walen
(Dead)
review.
Rules C
review
Improving housing stability for tenants
subject to the residential landlord -
tenant act and the
manufactured/mobile home landlord-
EHB 1217
Residential
tenant act by limiting rent and fee
increases, requiring notice of rent and
Del to
Alvarado
(SSB
5222)
tenants
fee increases, limiting fees and deposits,
Gov
establishing a landlord resource center
and associated services, authorizing
tenant lease termination, creating
parity between lease types, and
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providing for attorney general
enforcement.
ADU self-
Establishing a self -certification program
C 22 L
SHB 1353
certification
for accessory dwelling unit project
25
Ramel
permit applications.
HB 1438
Housing
Ensuring efficient approval of certain
H Local
(Dead)
permit
housing permit applications.
Govt
Connors
Oppose
approval
2SHB
1443
Mobile
(Dead)
dwellingsl
Concerning mobile dwellings.
Rules R
Gregerson
Oppose
(SSB
5332)
E2SSB
GMA
Ensuring compliance with the housing
Del to
5148 (HB
housing
element requirements of the growth
Bateman
1235)
element
management act.
Gov
Improving housing stability for tenants
subject to the residential landlord -
tenant act and the
manufactured/mobile home landlord-
tenant act by limiting rent and fee
SSB 5222
increases, requiring notice of rent and
S Ways
(Dead)
Residential
fee increases, limiting fees and deposits,
&
Trudeau
(EHB
tenants
establishing a landlord resource center
Means
1217)
and associated services, authorizing
tenant lease termination, creating
parity between lease types, and
providing for attorney general
enforcement.
SSB 5332
S Ways
(Dead)
Mobile
Concerning mobile dwellings.
&
Shewmake
Oppose
(2SHB
dwellings
1443)
Means
ESSB
Land use
Streamlining and clarifying local
Del to
permitting
governments' land use permitting
Salomon
5611
workload
workloads.
Gov
Infrastructure Funding
Bill #
Abbrev. Title
Short Description
Status
Sponsor
Position
HB 1387
Prevailing
Concerning the prevailing
H Labor &
(Dead)
wage/public
wages on public works.
Workpl
Schmidt
(SB 5293)
works
Establishing new sources of
HB 1921
Transportation
transportation revenue based
H
(Dead)
(SB 5726)
revenue
on motor vehicle use of public
Transportation
Fey
roadways.
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Requiring certain wages in
E2SSB
Public works
public works contracts to be
5061
at least the prevailing wage in
S Rules 3
Conway
(Dead)
wages
effect when the work is
performed.
SB 5293
Prevailing
Concerning the prevailing
S Labor &
(Dead)
wage/public
King
(HB 1387)
works
wages on public works.
Comm
Establishing new sources of
SB 5726
Transportation
transportation revenue based
S
(Dea(DB
revenue
on motor vehicle use of public
Transportation
Ramos
1d921)
roadways.
SSB 5804
Fish habitat
restoration
Concerning fish habitat
restoration.
S Rules 2
Trudeau
Oppose
Police Training Academy
Bill #
Abbrev.
Title
Short Description
Status
Sponsor
Position
Increasing local law enforcement officers by
authorizing a local sales and use tax credited
Local law
HB 1896
against the state portion to hire additional
H
enf.
Abell
(Dead)
officers and increasing the number of basic
Finance
officers
law enforcement courses offered by the
criminal justice training commission.
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Ong City of Port Orchard
ORCHARD 216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
1.. (360) 876-4407 • FAX (360) 895-9029
Agenda Staff Report
Discussion Items: Multi Family Tax Exemption (Bond)
Estimated Discussion Time: 30 Minutes
Meeting Date: July 15, 2025
Prepared By: Nick Bond, AICP, Community Development Director
Presenter: Nick Bond, AICP, Community Development Director
Summary and Background:
In 2024, the City Council requested that a discussion of the multi -family tax exemption (MFTE)
program be placed on a future agenda for discussion. This discussion was on hold pending completion
of the City's Comprehensive Plan Update and Middle Housing ordinance. Now that those items have
been completed, staff have prepared a discussion of the previous MFTE program as well as options for
utilizing the program going forward.
The State of Washington has authorized cities to adopt Multi -Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) programs
since 1995, pursuant to RCW 84.14. These programs are intended to support the development of
multifamily housing and, in some cases, affordable housing in urban areas experiencing growth
pressures. Port Orchard adopted its MFTE program in 2016 to incentivize the construction of new
multifamily housing, including affordable units, by providing a limited property tax exemption on the
value of residential improvements for a period of eight or twelve years.
Since 2016, the City entered five MFTE agreements supporting the construction of 442 apartment
units, with two projects (totaling 97 units) reserving 20% of units as affordable housing in exchange for
a 12 -year exemption. Several other multi -family projects have been constructed since 2016 without
participating in the MFTE program.
Under the repealed framework, there were two types of 8 -year exemptions and a 12 year exemption.
The 8 -year exemptions targeted redevelopment and encouraging projects with structured parking.
The 12 -year exemption required that 20% of units be rented at 10% below HUD fair market rent for
the duration of the MFTE approval.
Increasing housing supply has been shown to be effective in combatting rent increases. As many new
apartments became available in 2021 and 2022, data shows that vacancy rates climbed above 5% and
rents in Port Orchard stopped increasing at the rates seen between 2014 and 2021 when vacancy
rates were below 5%. MFTE does not significantly impact the property tax revenues received by the
City or junior taxing districts. Instead, the savings that go to developers is shifted to other properties
136
in Port Orchard resulting in very small property tax increases for the duration of the MFTE approval.
(See the attached "What is Tax Shift" document produced by Commerce.) At the same time, the city
receives numerous one-time revenues such as impact fees, connection charges, permit fees, and a
boost in Sales Tax and REET revenue related to the construction and sale of new housing units.
In October 2023, the City Council repealed Port Orchard Municipal Code (POMC) Chapter 3.48,
eliminating the City's previously adopted MFTE program. This decision followed extended policy
review and deliberation, including ongoing discussions at the Land Use Committee and during the
City's Housing Action Plan (HAP) development.
In June 2023, the City adopted its Housing Action Plan, which included recommendations for
reestablishing a revised MFTE program tailored to local housing and affordability goals. The City's 2024
Comprehensive Plan, adopted after the repeal of Chapter 3.48, reaffirms support for MFTE as a policy
tool to address housing needs, directing staff to evaluate options for reimplementation.
The Land Use Committee revisited the topic in June 2025 and, recognizing the importance of aligning
any future program with Council priorities, requested that the full Council be briefed to provide staff
with guidance and direction regarding the potential re-establishment of an MFTE program.
Relationship to Comprenhensive Plan:
In June 2023, the City adopted its Housing Action Plan, which included recommendations for
reestablishing a revised MFTE program tailored to local housing and affordability goals. This plan is
referenced in the 2024 Comprehensive Plan. The City's 2024 Comprehensive Plan reaffirms support
for MFTE as a policy tool to address housing needs, directing staff to evaluate options for
reimplementation.
Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council discuss options for MFTE and provide
direction to staff.
Alternatives: Suggested alternatives are outlined in the attached presentation.
Attachments:
MFTE Presentation 071525.pptx
Commerce MFTE - FACTSHEET What is Tax Shift - 2023 0126.pdf
137
City Council Work Study
July 15, 2025
138
MFTE Types
•
•
8-YUdr ffLUPUL Ly 1d2S rIAUI1LPUlUii
• No strings attached.
• City can choose to impose eligibility requirements.
12 -Year Property Tax Exemption
• 20% of units must be affordable.
• City must adopt minimum density requirements.
• City defines affordability with some state parameters.
• Extensions now possible.
20 -Year Property Tax Exemption (new)
• 20% of units must be affordable for 99 years.
• Must be located near transit with 15 -minute service.
• City must adopt inclusionary zoning.
• All MFTE projects must be in urban center (to be defined by City)
139
MFTE - Basics
eveloper doh not pay property tax on v
property for residential units for 8, 12, or
years.
•Developer pays property tax based on pre -development
valuation plus value of any non-residential
development added to property.
•The savings to the developer is not lost revenue to
City or junior taxing districts. It is shifted to
the rest of the tax base proportionately based on
assessed valuation.
•The value of the new MFTE buildings is not captured
in annual 1% increase to property tax levy. This
increase is permanently lost until the value of the
building is added to tax rolls.
140
Previous MFTE
Affordabl
Projects :
• Overlook Apartments (The
Charleston (shown)) : 39
Units
• Sedgwick Apartments (Pottery
Creek Phase 2): 192 Units
• Salmonberry Apartments: 24
Units
• Plisko Apartments: 58 Units
Market Rate 8 -Year MFTE
Projects:
• Sedgwick Multifamily
(Pottery Creek Phase 1): 136
Units
• The Ramsey (In permitting):
99 Units
• Blueberry Apartments: 108
Units
Approvals
141
Case Study
Overlook Apartments (The Charleston) vs. Peyseno
Apartments
142
Overlook vs. Peysno
Apartments
PeterJ Boissonneau 2025 WEB TAX STATEMENT
Po County Treasurer
POO Boo 169 Printed:0710112025
Port Orchard, WA98366
Account Number
302402-3-062-2009
First Halt
Duo April 30th
$0.00
FAC PORT ORCHARD LLC
Second Half
$1,000.54
2302 N 77TH ST
Dee October 31st
SEATTLE, WA 96103
Total Due 2025
...a....o r... tea..
$1,000.54
Past Due Amounts
$0.00
Properly Devxipfon:
cc. 50n.nsew r,u LandValue:
g229,2ao
mlo,oaA,si, erflG n Po[irloH CF LOTSCAxe o ociHE cm' of PoaTercHFRo 5HORl
arcoaoro uuoEa �u,snvcuuurrauonoasriu=rn.�meare.e,nouc nu uawoucrmr�niyso.rk
PUT rq. p6Tr0.s �31m5x-21
Hut5r0 Varue:
$8,341,560
Location Address: Multiple addresses relic
Personal Properly Value:
SO
Distribution of Your 2025 Taxes
Current Year (2025) Details
0.5% PUD
316.26
Taxable Value
$229,200
22% PORT
§4335
Tax CodeArea
0810
Levy Rate
8.721692
3.1% REGIONAL LIBRARY
962 y0
Gene'l Property Tax
$1,536.05
7.4% COUNTY
5148.46
VoterApproved Rate
23 16%
129% CITY
5257.60
VoterApproved Tax
$462.97
22.3% FIRE
y4550
Noxious Weed
$2.06
232% LOCAL SCHOOL
546200
Total 2025 Charges
$2,001.00
20.4% STATE GENERAL
$567.50
Past Due Unpaid Amounts
2023 $0.00 $0.00
To view details of each levy change 00 00 2022+ Poor $0.00 $0.00
su
Kit—pC CoBounty
Treasurer
Kitsap CovnTy Treasurer
PO Box 169
Port Orchard, WA98366
PAYSENO LANE II LLC
7563 CLOVER VALLEY RD SE
PORT ORCHARD, WA 90367
2025 WEB TAX STATEMENT
Printed: 07/0112025
Recountrrumner
312402-2-022-2009
First Halt
Dun April 301h
$0.00
Second Half
Due October 31st
$63,374.34
Total Due 2025
... r.�.4,x.nr ..m.aar.
$63,374.34
Past Due Amounts
$0.00
00045 cescription:ae'axrwrcnam sec eouxourrurcxoaustmxrescoeomuposawortoeunu: ue. Land Value:
5426 500
rr5p5,cx ono ns oloatxao
or sv..urascoueFn uuo Iar51W exuov 9
meo, a ury p5awror
Etding Value.
514.165840
cation Address, Mulllpk addressesmfle
Personal Property Value:
SO
Distribution of Your 2025 Taxes
Current Year (2025) Details
05%
PUD
304550
Taxable Value
$14,532,340
2.2%
PORT
32,03860
Tax CodeArea
0810
Levy Rate
8.721692
3.1%
REGIONAL LIBRARY
g3 gg7 g0
General Property Tax
$97,392.07
7.4%
COUNTY
39,409.70
VoterApproved Rate
23.16%
12.9%
CITY
$16,292.10
VoterApproved Tax
$29,354.51
22.3%
FIRE
$2024520
Noxious Weed
$2.10
23.2%
LOCAL SCHOOL
$29,345.50
Total 2025 Charges
$126,748.68
20.4%
STATE GENERAL
$35,982.90
Past Due Unpaid Amounts
To view details of each levy change, go to
12023 50.00 150.00 150.00 I
143
Overlook vs. Payseno
Apartments
• Overlook Apartments (12 -year MFTE):
• Total Units: 39
• Affordable Units: 8 Units with reduced rent
• Annual property tax bill: $2,001.08
• Estimated annual tax savings is $84,722. (prorated based on
Payseno tax bill per unit)
• Estimated 12 -year tax savings to developer is $1,016,665
• Estimated value of rent relief to qualified tenants is $17,280
annually ($2,160 per unit).
• Estimated 12 -year tax savings to qualified tenants is $207,360
($25,920 per unit)
• Payseno Apartments (no MFTE):
• Total Units: 57
• Annual property tax bill: $126,748.68
144
Is Port Orchard
Meeting Its
Housing Targets?
• Yes, Port Orchard has
residents of its 10,500 -
person target (2020-2044).
• Port Orchard has grown at
4.6-6.59% for the past 3
years. Growth would need to
slow to 1.6% over the next
19 years meet target.
• Port Orchard has added 1,856
housing between 2020 and
2025.
• Port Orchard has been
especially good at building
housing for households
>120%AMI 998
100-120%AMI x.1676
80-100%AMI 507
50-80%AMI 540
30-50% AMI 619�-
Totals
0-30% AMI, non-PSH 288 Current Supply:
0-30% AMI, PSH 8,610 Housing Units*
New Supply Needed:
Emergency Temporary Housing 19 3,704 Housing Units
-500 500 1,500 2,500
Baseline Supply (2020) Built 2020-2024 • Remaining New Supply Needed (2024-2044)
145
Has Increasing
Housing Supply
Stabilized
Housing
Prices/Rents?
146
City
Stabilized Vacancy U Arlington
10.00%
8.00%
6.0095
a
4.00%
2.00%
❑ Auburn
❑ Bainbridge Island AJ ❑ Battle G round
fl Bellevue
❑ Bellingham
❑ Black Diamond
❑ Blaine
❑ Bonney Lake
❑ Bothell
❑ Bremerton
❑ Buckley
❑ Burien
❑ Burlington
❑ Camas
❑ Carnation
❑ Centralia
❑ Chehalis
❑ Chelan
❑ Cheney
❑ Chewelah
❑ Cie Elum
❑ College Place
❑ Colville
N m t .--i N m t - N m t - N m t - N CV] V - N m a .-i N m a .-i N m a .--i N m a .--i N m V .--i N m a .--i
a a a a Cr a a a a a a a a cfa a a 0000000 a a 00000 a a a 0000000000
City(StabilizedVacancy) •O O 4 O O O 4 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 4 O O O 4 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N Port Orchard
Tohi—,r Prdhlir
i 4--, ,- nch-
147
Average Rent
city
Average Rent
fl Pacific
❑ Pasco
❑ Port Angeles
Q Port Orchard
$2,00O ❑ Port Townsend
❑J Poulsbo
❑ Prosser
❑ Pullman
❑ Puyallup
5:.5C0fl Quincy
❑ Rainier
❑ Raymond
C
❑ Redmond
❑ Renton
- $1,00O
❑ Richland
❑ Ridgefield
❑ Roy
❑ Royal City
5500 ❑ Ruston
City (Average Rent)
• Bainbridge Island
•
Bremerton
$O• Gig Harbor
cv m cv m T .H iv m v 1 v m 't ,1 N m (NJ m T .H (NJ m 'r .H (NJ m T 1 N m 't ,H N m T .H N m ■ Port Orchard
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
P
148
Median House Price
51,400,004
51,200,004
51,000,000
$800,004
$600,000
$400,Oa4
$200,000
$0
N M t rl N m 0 ri N M C N m 0 H N m 0 H N m 0 ri N m 0 ri N M 0 ri N m 0 ri N M 0 m 0 N
C 0 0 C C C C C C C C C CrCY C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C Cr C C C C C 0 0 C C C C C C
V a UI UI UI UI m UI CO UI n r n r 03 00 00 03 rn rn CO m o 0 0 0 - - - - N N N N - m CO CO t 31
.H .H .H .H .H .H .H .H .H .H .H .H .H . .H .H .H .H .H .H .H . .H N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
- View on Tableau Public
City P
U Cie Elum
❑ College Place
❑ Colville
❑ Connell
❑ Coulee City
❑ Coupeville
❑ Covington
❑ Dayton
❑ Deer Park
❑ Des Moines
❑ DuPont
❑ Duvall
❑ East Wenatchee
❑ Eatonville
❑ Edgewood
❑ Edmonds
❑ Ellensburg
❑ Enumclaw
❑ Ephrata
City(Median House Price)
• Bainbridge Island
•
Bremerton • Gig Harbor
• Port Orchard
•
Poulsbo • Seattle
+ I C,7. a Share
149
Which
building
types are
IIInot
being
developed?
• Middle Housing (except McCormick Village)
• Small Scale <12 units
• Mixed Use Shopfront Buildings
• 429 Bay Street (waterfront)
• Ramsey Apartments (in permitting, has MFTE)
• Affordable Ownership Units
• Riverstone - Housing Kitsap
• Apartments with underground parking
• Apartments taller than 3 -stories
• Downtown/Redevelopment
150
III Which
being
building types are
developed?
• Detached Houses
• Does not qualify for MFTE
• Garden Apartments
• 656 Units with MFTE
• 889 Units constructed or under construction without MFTE
• 423 Units Permitted without MFTE but not moving forward or on
hold.
• McCormick Village Mixed Housing Rentals (Detached House,
ADU, 4-plex, 8-plex)
• Not in MFTE eligible area.
• Special overlay district and subarea plan.
151
Pros and Cons of MFTE
•Increases housing supply helps to help prevent rent increases.
•12 -year exemption provides modest rent relief to tenants.
•Helps City achieve goals (development in centers, downtown redevelopment, etc.)
•Some projects do not pencil without MFTE (423 units permitted by not moving
forward). MFTE could help these projects pencil.
•Tax Shift - Tax burden for these units shifted to other property owners in Port
Orchard.
•High administrative cost for affordable units
•Annual reporting
•Annual auditing
•Annual calculation of utility allowance
•Contract administration
•Application processing
152
Are Existing
Units Worth
Affordable MFTE
the Tax Shift?
HUD Fair Market Rent and Maximum Rents Includinc Utility Allowance 2025
Efficiency/Studio
One -Bedroom
Two -Bedroom
Three -Bedroom
Four -Bedroom
10O Below Fair Market Rent
3 1,269.90
$ 1411.20
1.851.30
$ 2.416.50
$ 2.781.00
Maximum Rent Charged After
Subtracting Utilty Allowance
S 1,058.90
S 1,188.20
S 1,598.30
S 2,132.50
S 2,465.00
Income Limits by Family Size and
Unit Type 2025
FamilySize
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
40% Median Income Studio/Efficiency
$ 34,807.50
$ 39,780.00
$ 44,752.50
$ 49,725.00
$ 53,703.00
$ 57,681.00
$ 61,659.00
$ 65,637.00
65°Io Median Income 1 -Bedroom
$ 56,562.19
$ 64,642.50
$ 72,722.81
$ 80,803.13
$ 87,267.38
$ 93,731.63
$ 100,195.88
$ 106,660.13
75% Median Income 2 -Bedroom
$ 60,913.13
$ 69,615.00
$ 78,316.88
$ 87,018.75
$ 93,980.25
$ 100,941.75
$ 107,903.25
$ 114,864.75
80% Median Income 3 -Bedroom
$ 69,650.00
$ 79,600.00
$ 89,550.00
$ 99,450.00
$ 107,450.00
$ 115,400.00
$ 123,350.00
$ 131,300.00
153
Recommendations
MFTE
8 -Year
• Mixed -Use Shopfront Buildings jEspecially downtown redevelopment
and in other designated centers).
• Apartments with underground parking or minimum density requirement
(50 units per acre).
• Increase property tax per acre after 8 years and reduce
stormwater impacts.
• Small scale middle housing redevelopment projects (12 or fewer
units)
• Small scale infill projects don't have the same economies of
scale compared to large projects and increase assessed valuation
per acre.
• Projects where units are for sale (condos, townhomes).
• Creates home ownership opportunities for low- and moderate -
income households.
• Projects taller than 3 -stories.
• Buildings 4 -stories and taller are more expensive to build,
result in higher valuation/acre.
154
Recommendatio
ns for 12 -
and 20 -Year
MFTE
Efficiency/Stu
dio
FY 2025 HUD Fair Market $
Rent Including Utilities 1,411.00
10% Below Fair Market $
Rent 1,269.90
20% Below Fair Market $
Rent 1,128.80
25% Below Fair Market $
Rent 1,058.25
Total Utility Allowance 211.00
• Staffing Implications - Housing
Coordinator
• Auditing and Reporting
• Improve benefits to tenants
• Increase savings from 10% below
market rent to 20% or 25% below
market rent.
One -Bedroom
1,568.00
1,411.20
1,254.40
1,176.00
223.00
Two -Bedroom Three -Bedroom Four -Bedroom
$
$
$
2,057.00
2,685.00
3,090.00
$
$
$
1,851.30
2,416.50
2,781.00
$
$
$
1,645.60
2,148.00
2,472.00
$
$
$
1,542.75
2,013.75
2,317.50
$
$
$
253.00
284.00
316.00
155
•Easy to administer compared to 12 -year program.
•Will help city achieve goals for downtown and other targeted areas.
•Can increase city's property tax revenue by delivering high value projects compared to typical non-MFTE
•Additional staffing resources supported by application fee.
•Greater rent savings for tenants (at least 20% below HUD fair market rent).
•A more clearly defined rental allowance framework.
•Could require more stringent affordability requirements, 20% below HUD fair market rent.
•Could require more units in the complex be made affordable, minimum of 20% of units.
Staff Recommendation
156
HI Questions
157
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
SHORT GUIDE FOR COUNCILS AND STAKEHOLDERS
What is Tax Shift?
MFTE (Multifamily Housing Tax Exemption) programs can be
an effective way of incentivizing market -rate and affordable
housing options. To understand how it works stakeholders
often ask, "Where does the money come from to pay for the
exemption?"
This question can be hard to answer because of how property
taxes work in Washington State. When making decisions about
an MFTE program, it is important to consider possible tax and
revenue impacts.
Generally, these impacts can be distributed in two ways:
o Foregone tax revenues that are not collected, which reduce
total revenues for a city and other taxing districts (e.g., the
port, county, school district, state, etc.).
O A shift of tax obligations to all other payers of property
taxes in these districts, where there is an increase in taxes
collected to offset the losses from the exemption.
How these costs are distributed depends on two things:
O Levy limits provided under RCW 84.55.010 mean that
property tax levies are restricted to no more than a 1%
increase in revenue from the assessed value from the
previous year. This restricts how much cities and other
districts can raise property taxes on these properties to
make up this difference and can mean that deferred taxes
will be foregone revenue for these jurisdictions.
O However, projects that receive MFTEs could still increase
that total levy. Under WAC 458-12-342, county assessors
must assess building value during construction and add it
to these levy limits, which may not be removed from the
total levy amount before the final certificate for exemption
is received and the exemption begins.
The amount of tax shift versus deferred revenue depends in
part on the practices of the county assessor. However, there
are currently no requirements for assessors to consider MFTE
in these levy limits. If cities do not consider these effects, an
MFTE can shift most or even all of the exempted tax
obligations to other properties.
Washington State
Department of
!j Commerce
Tax Shift Considerations
If an MFTE is supported through tax shifts, there are
some important policy considerations:
O Communities may be less likely to support
incentives for market -rate development that use
property tax increases, especially for high -end
projects that do not seem to provide public
benefits.
O Shifted tax obligations are not usually calculated,
meaning that the full impacts of this program may
not be transparent, especially to affected property
owners.
O Depending on the popularity of the program, the
total increases in property taxes could be
equivalent in magnitude to affordable housing
levies that would require voter approval and have
tighter requirements (ROW 84.55.150).
Foregone Revenue Considerations
On the other hand, if a city foregoes tax revenue to
support MFTEs, there may be other policy concerns:
O Communities will have reduced long-term tax
revenues from the MFTE program, especially if
they will be foregoing most or all of the exempted
tax revenue. This can have a significant fiscal
impact on local budgets.
O Other taxing districts may be impacted by tax
exemptions but are not in a position under the
statute to object to a community's MFTE program
This can have some significant effects on special
districts that cannot make up for this lost revenue
in other ways.
O The total budget impacts may be more
unpredictable, especially without limitations on
the number of exemptions issued by the
community. However, placing limits on the
number and value of exemptions could affect the
ability of the MFTE program to meet housing
goals.
Under typical situations, total property tax levies will
increase by 1 % over the previous year (plus new
development):
New construction is added to the
total tax base by the assessor... Total Tax Levy Amount
El
Encreaseiyea
r
2
a ...increasing the value
o f of the tax base.
a
as°oB oo°o°uoo ` g°og°og°ooa
Year
If new construction value is added to the levy limit but
exempted from property taxes through the MFTE,
property tax obligations will be shifted to the rest of
the tax base:
Tax exempted properties add to the
property tax levy limit...
2
...but these tax obligations will be
covered by non-exempt properties.
IoIoIIoI
Year
However, if exempted value is taken out of the levy
limit in some way, the tax levy amount will decrease.
This will reduce tax revenue, but note that this is not
usually done by assessors in practice.
Tax exempted properties that do not
contribute to the levy lid...
X
Q ... would not shift tax obligations
o but will result in foregone revenue.
Q o 0 0 0 0 0 0
Year
159
Ong City of Port Orchard
ORCHARD 216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
1.. (360) 876-4407 • FAX (360) 895-9029
Agenda Staff Report
Discussion Items: Downtown Revitalization Grant Program (Mayor/Archer)
Estimated Discussion Time: 10 minutes
Meeting Date: July 15, 2025
Prepared By: Charli Archer, City Attorney
Presenter: Charli Archer, City Attorney
Summary and Background: The City Council directed the Mayor to investigate the operational and
legal issues regarding establishing a potential grant program to provide funds to local businesses for
aesthetic and other building improvements as part of the downtown revitalization efforts.
The City Attorney, Mayor, and Finance Department reviewed similar programs offered by other
agencies and provided a summarizing memoranda that describes these programs, as well as the legal
parameters surrounding the adoption and implementation of such a grant program.
Generally, Washington cities generally have broad authority to promote economic development and
community revitalization through various loan and grant programs funded by sources such as state or
federal grants, or through partnerships with local nonprofit groups or, in some instances, with private
entities.
Relationship to Comprenhensive Plan: Chapter 6 - Economic Development
Recommendation: The City Council requested a discussion item regarding the potential establishment
of a grant program to provide funds to local businesses for aesthetic and other building improvements
as part of the downtown revitalization efforts.
Alternatives: Do not discuss and provide alternative direction.
Attachments:
Memo re Downtown Revitalization Grant Program.pdf
160
INSLEE
®BEST
TO: City of Port Orchard City Council
CC: Mayor Putaansuu
FROM: City Attorney's Office
DATE: July 10, 2025
RE: Legal Issues For Potential Downtown Revitalization Grant Program for Local
Businesses
I. Question Posed and Short Answer
The City Council identified the revitalization of the City's downtown as a policy priority.
In furtherance of that goal, the Council has requested a legal analysis regarding the following issue:
Can the City establish a grant program to provide funds to local businesses for
aesthetic and other building improvements as part of the downtown revitalization
efforts?
Yes. Washington cities generally have broad authority to promote economic development
and community revitalization through various loan and grant programs funded by sources
such as state or federal grants, or through partnerships with local nonprofit groups or, in
some instances, with private entities. However, the expenditure of public funds is subject
to evaluation against the prohibition on the gift of public funds set forth in the Washington
state Constitution, which requires certain safeguards are utilized for these types of grant
programs to prevent municipalities from `gifting' their money for the sole benefit of private
businesses.
II. Authority and Analysis
A. Statutory Authority for Local Grant Programs for Businesses
Multiple provisions in Washington law grant cities and code cities broad authority to
support local welfare by establishing funding programs. This includes RCW 35.21.010 and
35A.11.020, which grant and vest authority to support funding improvements in cities and code
cities alike, RCW 35.21.703, which promotes engagement in economic development programs,
RCW 35.21.278, which permits contracts with community service organizations for public
improvements, and Chapters 39.89 and 39.104, which authorize municipalities to finance
community and local revitalization programs. Thus, there is a legal foundation in Washington law
that supports the implementation of municipal grant programs.
11076748.1 -366922- 0001
Inslee Best Doezie & Ryder P.S. Main: 425.455.1234 Fax: 425.635.7720 insleebest.com
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B. Navigating the Prohibition on the Gift of Public Funds
Although there is a mutual benefit derived from a healthy relationship between a local
government and the for-profit businesses operating within its jurisdiction, local grant programs
that provide local funds to assist such businesses implicate Article 8, Section 7 of the Washington
State Constitution, commonly known as the Public Gift of Funds doctrine. This doctrine prohibits
local governments from gifting public funds to private businesses except in "necessary support of
the poor and infirm." Additionally, funding is allowed when the expenditure accomplishes a
fundamental government purpose or is supported by adequate legal value that the city receives in
exchange. While courts will recognize some activities as fundamental government purposes
(including police community caretaking functions), giving monetary assistance to private, for-
profit businesses has never been classified as such an activity.
The legal question at issue is whether "revitalizing downtown businesses" or "enhanced
business goodwill" are definitive enough to show legal consideration. Court cases have established
that some local government payments to private entities are not unlawful but, since private
businesses generally do not have a legal claim for certain disruptive government activities or for
alleged violations of legal duties owed to the entire community, payments to businesses to resolve
complaints may be legally invalid gifts.'
Despite this prohibition in the state Constitution, a longstanding opinion from the
Washington Attorney General creates room for federal funds to be distributed by a local
municipality to private entities. The opinion concludes that the state constitution's gifting
prohibition did not apply to a city's lawful use of a federal grant of funds to the city, reasoning that
the gifting prohibition in Article 7 only forbids a local government from improperly giving its own
money and that local governments act "only as a conduit" when receiving and disbursing federal
grant funds.2 As a result, many successful downtown facade improvement programs, based on a
mix of grant and loan programs, have been implemented across the state, using HUD Community
Development Block Grants (CDBG) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.3
C. Community Grant and Loan Programs in Other Jurisdictions
1 See, Eugster v. City of Spokane, 139 Wn. App. 21, 156 P.3d 912 (2007) (upholding a settlement between
the City and a developer, finding the settlement was not a gift of public funds); Warburton v. Tacoma School Dist.
No. 10, (1960) (City's settlement of claim against school district was a valid compromise but the Court left the question
of whether the settlement was a gift of public funds unanswered while the dissent supported reversal under the gift of
funds doctrine).
2 AGO 1970, No. 24 (Nov. 5, 1970).
3 ARPA funds were made available to state and local governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These funds were required to be obligated by December 31, 2024, with requirements to expend those obligations by
December 31, 2026.
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A number of Washington cities and counties have implemented downtown revitalization
programs aimed at providing funding to local businesses to improve building facades, repair
damage, and otherwise assist with improving the overall look of local businesses. The programs
are a mix of grant and loan programs and are implemented by the municipality or through
partnerships with local organizations.
• Port Angeles Facade and Sign Improvement Program: Established in 2009, this program
uses CDBG funds to provide matching funds to business and property owners for
renovations, enhancements, and building improvements along the commercial corridors in
the City. Applicants can request a 50% match of project costs from the City, with a
maximum of $10,000 for facade improvements and/or $1,000 for signage improvements.
• Auburn Facade Improvement Grant Program: Since 2015, the Auburn City Council has
allocated $100,000 per year to be awarded to owners of buildings and/or businesses in the
downtown Auburn business improvement area
• Richland Commercial Facade Improvement Program. Provides local businesses up to
$20,000 matching reimbursement to fund exterior building improvements.
• Yakima Facade Improvement Program: Administered by the Downtown Association of
Yakima since 2015. Grant is a 50/50 matching grand with funds disbursed upon completion
of the project.
• Centralia Facade Improvement Grant Program: Administered by the Centralia
Downtown Association, offers 50% match of improvement costs up to $5,000
• Washington Main Street Program: State assistance with communities that are part of the
Program; available to communities who have an independent 501(c)(3) or (c)(6) nonprofit
organization dedicated solely to downtown revitalization. The Port Orchard Bay Street
Association (POBSA) is a 501(c)(6) that may qualify for this program.
Additional Small Business Funding ptions:
In addition to the programs above, which primarily deal with structural and facade
improvements, the Department of Commerce provides multiple grants and loan programs for small
businesses to encourage growth and to support ongoing operations. These programs include the
Small Business Flex Fund and the Owner -Occupied Commercial Real -Estate Loan Program
(CRE).
In conclusion, while the direct gifting to private businesses from the City's general fund is
likely to face a legal challenge, funds made available to the City from federal grant programs, or
through participation in partnerships such as the Main Street Program (partnering with POBSA)
would allow the City to distribute funds through a local grant program for building improvements
and facade updates in the furtherance of revitalizing downtown Port Orchard.
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