Yasmin Trudeau — Senator Alvarado was asked to call the next panel of testifiers.
Yasmin Trudeau — Sponsored proposed substitute B for Senate Bill 6018.
Yasmin Trudeau — Senator Trudeau was involved in the substitute amendment process: the substitute was moved for adoption, and Trudeau explained that it clarifies legislative intent and ensures the bill does not affect commercial bank mortgage-loan spaces.
SB6054 — The committee begins discussion of SB 6054 concerning restrictions on wildfire home-hardening practices in common interest communities.
SB6054 — Staff introduces the bill and begins explaining its background.
SB6054 — Staff continues explaining how the bill updates multiple CIC-related statutes.
Yasmin Trudeau — Senator Victoria Hunt introduces herself and presents her bill aimed at allowing homeowners more flexibility to use wildfire-resistant roofing and building materials, especially in areas with urban-wildland interface and wildfire risk. She explains that the issue is personal and district-relevant, citing a constituent conversation and her own experience with HOA restrictions on metal roofs. In response to questions, she clarifies that the bill would still allow HOAs to maintain aesthetic rules, but compliant materials should not be made prohibitively expensive, referencing a similar Colorado standard. She closes by inviting questions and reiterating support for the bill, with a final note acknowledging her connection to the speaker’s home district.
SB6015 — SB 6015 is introduced as a bill concerning permit-ready residential building plans and factory-built housing. The discussion notes that a fiscal note is available, and speakers commend the bill as a positive step to prepare for growth in the prefabricated housing industry. A witness testifies in favor of the bill and describes it as a good bill supporting pre-approved plans, while also requesting an amendment to preserve the bill’s intent and allow site-built middle housing plans.
SB6015 — SB 6015 is discussed as a bill supported by Sightline Institute that would help scale factory-built housing by establishing permit-ready designs for cities across Washington.
SB6015 — The witness explained that SB 6015 would establish state-approved permit-ready plans accepted statewide, giving manufacturers more predictability and helping standardize operations. They emphasized that the bill would not bypass local oversight, since jurisdictions would still review site plans, foundations, and local conditions, but it would eliminate duplicate review. The testimony concluded with a respectful request for support for SB 6015 as part of broader housing production goals.
Jeff Anderson — Jeff Anderson is introduced as part of the in-person panel and then provides testimony in support of the bill. He identifies himself as chair of a livability and affordability committee for the American Institute of Architects in Washington State, says the bill could help by enabling standardized, code-compliant housing plans, and notes concerns about liability if pre-approved plans are altered. He adds that site permits would still be required, shares observations from a trip to Scotland with ModX to study manufactured housing, and concludes that the bill could help Washington’s housing industry grow while advancing related legislative housing initiatives such as the Scalable Starter Home Production Plan and the Covenant Home Ownership Act.
Deb Fleggan — Deb Fleggan is identified as part of the in-person panel, then formally introduces herself as Vice President of Hayden Homes and testifies in support of SB 6015. She goes on to describe Hayden Homes’ more than 30-year history and its production of middle housing in Washington.
Tammy Fellin — Tammy Fellin is named as part of the next panel of testifiers alongside Curtis Steiner.
Tammy Fellin — Tammy Fellin, speaking for the Department of Labor and Industry, testified that L&I cannot formally support bills not included in the governor’s budget, but it supports the concept behind the proposal. She explained that L&I already reviews plans for code compliance and approves them as master plans, which are then reused until code changes require updates. She said making approved plans available seems like a good idea, but the bill language needs clarification, especially because L&I does not typically work with local governments to address local design standards and related community needs.
Curtis Steiner — Curtis Steiner is named as part of the next panel of testifiers alongside Tammy Fellin.
Curtis Steiner — Curtis Steiner is introduced as part of the upcoming panel and then testifies in support of Senate Bill 5470 on behalf of the Washington State Association of Counties and the State Association of County and Regional Planning Directors.
Curtis Steiner — Curtis Steiner, speaking for county associations, testified in opposition to Senate Bill 5729. He argued that the bill’s strict permitting timelines and limits on requests for additional information would undermine completeness review, make the process less efficient, and potentially increase costs and delays. He added that counties support efforts to address housing, but want time to evaluate the recently implemented permitting timelines before any further reforms.
Jeff — The chair calls on Jeff to proceed, likely the next witness.
Curtis Steinhauer — Testified that L&I wants to be involved in factory-assembled structures but not stick-built plan development.
Curtis Steinhower — Testified for county organizations in support of pre-approved plans but raised concerns about a statewide mandate.
Mishon Preston — Introduced as CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Washington State and testified in support of Senate Bill 6015.
SB6015 — Senate Bill 6015 receives supportive testimony and endorsement from Habitat for Humanity, with speakers explaining that the bill would provide needed consistency, streamline the permitting process for construction, and help Habitat affiliates build faster.
SB6015 — The speaker strongly supports Senate Bill 6015, describing it as a needed solution to inconsistent and duplicative local review processes that delay factory-built housing. They explain that a home design approved in one jurisdiction can face weeks or months of additional review in another even when building code compliance has not changed.
Joshua Schoff — Joshua Schoff, representing a Washington factory-built housing manufacturer, testified in strong support of Senate Bill 6015. He explained that factory-built housing offers advantages such as controlled production environments, less material waste, faster build times, and lower costs, but that manufacturers face a patchwork of local approval processes that require repeated review and make it difficult to predict where designs will be accepted or to scale production. He argued that the bill would preserve local review of site-specific issues while eliminating duplicate review of certified building elements, allowing homes to be produced faster and more affordably while also supporting safer, better jobs. He reinforced the point with manufacturing analogies, comparing homes to products like cars and electronics, and said that standardized production is necessary to reach price points people can afford. He concluded by offering to answer questions.
Caitlin Sullivan — Caitlin Sullivan testified in support of the bill, identifying herself as a real estate agent focused on infill development. She explained that streamlined permitting and predictability would help infill builders who rely on high-interest hard money loans by reducing costs and making homes more affordable to build and sell. She also said the bill would benefit homeowners and local jurisdictions that lack the staffing and resources to create their own pre-approved plan programs. Finally, she urged expanding the bill to include both on-site assembled kits and stick-built plans to increase flexibility and broaden its positive impact on housing statewide.
SB5470 — The committee opened the public hearing on Senate Bill 5470, which would establish limitations on detached accessory dwelling units outside the urban growth area, and then staff introduced a proposed substitute and began providing background on the bill.
SB5470 — Senate Bill 5470 is discussed as a rural ADU bill that would give homeowners the option of either attached or detached accessory dwelling units, with some mention of helping rural homeowners access financing. Speakers generally support it as a modest but meaningful step toward expanding housing options and affordability, and one later speaker voices opposition, noting concerns about changes in the House version.
Ben — Ben is called back to present on the new bill and provides staff background on the proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5470.
Roger Goodman — Speaker thanked Ben for clearly spelling out the intent of the legislation; the transcript also includes a reference to 'Senator Gaynor,' which appears to be a transcription error or uncertain name.
Alex Hur — Alex Hur is introduced as part of the upcoming mixed panel of testifiers and then testifies on behalf of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties in support of the bill.
Alex Hur — Alex Hur, speaking for the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, testified in support of the substitute version of Senate Bill 5729. He explained that the substitute reflects feedback from cities, counties, and builders and is intended to reduce permitting timelines by eliminating redundant reviews and creating more certainty in the process. He also described Section 5, which would prevent local governments from passing third-party peer review costs on to applicants when a qualified professional has already completed the review, arguing that duplicate review costs add unnecessary burden.
Katie Gould — Katie Gould was introduced as part of the upcoming mixed panel and then testified in support of the bill. She opened with a personal story about her grandmother and concluded by urging the committee to move the legislation forward.
HB1345 — Referenced as another rural ADU bill moving through the House and hoped to come over to the Senate.
Bryce Aiden — Bryce Aiden testified on behalf of FeatureWise in opposition to Senate Bill 5470. After his remarks, the committee thanked him and moved on to introduce the next panel of witnesses.
Bill Clark — Bill Clark is introduced as part of the next panel and then begins testimony on behalf of Washington Realtors and Kitsap County. He says he supports the bill and explains that it would provide clarity for counties regarding detached ADUs.
Andrea Smiley — Andrea Smiley is introduced as part of the next panel and then testifies on behalf of the Building Industry Association in strong support of the bill. She continues by emphasizing the importance of the measure for younger generations, especially millennials, and discusses housing options and preferences, including the appeal of detached living arrangements for parents and families.
Andrea Smiley — Spoke in support of the bill on behalf of the Building Industry Association of Washington and emphasized that procedural completeness is not approval.
Ron Perkiroich — Named as part of the next panel of testifiers.
Ron Perkirovich — Ron Perkirovich testifies remotely from Kitsap County and describes his background in inspection, permit services, and community development.
Ben Ombal — Staff member Ben Ombal introduces the proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5729 and explains the bill.
SB5729 — Senate Bill 5729 is discussed throughout a sustained hearing segment, beginning with the introduction of a proposed substitute and support for the substitute version aimed at speeding up permitting. The discussion then shifts to opposition testimony, with county representatives and other witnesses arguing that the bill conflicts with existing project permit review timelines, circumvents those timelines, imposes a problematic three-request limit on additional information, and prematurely attempts to fix parts of the process before it has been fully evaluated. Another witness later testifies in opposition on behalf of Teacher-Wise, continuing the same debate over the bill’s impact on review cycles and permit approval.
Chris Gildon — Senator Gildon is called on to speak about the new version of the bill.
Chris Gildon — Appears to have been preparing to speak or react, but no substantive comment is captured.
Chris Gildon — Asked whether limiting review cycles would actually facilitate more communication between developers and municipalities.
Chris Gildon — Suggested that a three-cycle limit would force more communication between the municipality and the developer.
Chris Gildon — Referenced as asking about the effect of review cycles on permit approvals.
Chris Gildon — Corrected the interpretation that after three reviews the permit is deemed approved; said the packet is deemed complete to start the timeline.
Chris Gildon — Responded that if the bill's intent is to deem the packet complete after three attempts, the conversation would be different.
Chris Gildon — Not mentioned in this section.
Chris Gildon — Thanked by Anthony Mixer for bringing the bill forward.