AN ACT Relating to prohibiting real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to an exclusive group of prospective buyers or real estate brokers, unless the residential property is also concurrently marketed to the general public and other real estate brokers, except as reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant;
Summary
SB 6091 amends Washington’s real estate brokerage laws to prohibit brokers from marketing residential property to a limited or exclusive group of prospective buyers or brokers unless the property is also being marketed concurrently to the general public and all other brokers. The bill creates a new section in chapter 18.86 RCW and clarifies that public marketing does not require an owner to grant access into the home or onto the property. An exception is preserved when limiting access is reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant.
The bill also revises the required real estate brokerage pamphlet and related statutory references so the consumer-facing materials reflect the new marketing rule and the broader duties of brokers. The pamphlet is reformatted for readability and continues to explain agency relationships, broker duties, compensation, and short sales. The legislation is aimed at ensuring residential listings are broadly available rather than being marketed only within restricted networks, while still allowing safety-based limitations on physical access.
Impact
The bill changes Washington real estate law by adding a direct prohibition on exclusive or limited-group marketing of residential property and by tying violations to existing broker conduct rules under chapter 18.86 RCW. It affects real estate brokers, firms, designated brokers, and managing brokers by imposing a statewide marketing standard for residential listings and by requiring updates to the statutory pamphlet used to inform buyers and sellers of brokerage relationships and duties. It also reinforces disclosure and compensation rules in the brokerage framework, especially as they relate to residential transactions and short sales.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the legislative process. It passed the Senate committee unanimously, cleared the Senate floor with no opposing votes, passed the House Consumer Protection & Business Committee unanimously, and then passed the House floor by a wide margin with only one no vote. That voting pattern suggests general agreement that the bill addresses a consumer-protection issue in residential real estate marketing.
Contention
The main policy issue is the restriction on brokers marketing homes to exclusive or limited buyer groups, which may be viewed by some as limiting broker discretion or specialized marketing strategies. Supporters appear to favor the measure as a fairness and transparency requirement that expands access to listings for the general public. The bill also preserves a narrow safety exception, indicating that any concern about owner or occupant privacy and security was addressed by allowing restricted access when reasonably necessary to protect health or safety.
Crossfiled
AN ACT Relating to prohibiting real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to an exclusive group of prospective buyers or real estate brokers, unless the residential property is also concurrently marketed to the general public and other real estate brokers, except as reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant;
AN ACT Relating to prohibiting health carriers, facilities, and providers from making any public statements of any potential or planned contract terminations unless it satisfies a legal obligation;
Requires timely public advertising or marketing of listed residential properties on platforms accessible to the general public; permits non-public marketing only where the seller gives informed, written direction after receiving a standardized state disclosure that clearly explains the risks and tradeoffs of withholding a listing from public marketing.