Dear friends and neighbors,
Happy new year! The 2024 legislative session kicked off this week, and I’m excited to move forward on legislation that prioritizes issues in our district like healthcare, equitable wages, and addressing the housing crisis. Washingtonians deserve access to affordable housing now, whether they are homeowners or renters. Last year was a big win for affordable housing in our state, but there’s more to do.
About the bill: HB 2113
Our state is facing a housing crisis. We know that a lack of affordable housing units has put home ownership out of reach for many Washingtonians. If cities and counties make it more difficult to build affordable housing, the housing crisis is going to get worse – which is why I introduced House Bill 2113 this session.
The bill gives the Department of Commerce the authority to determine if a city or county is in compliance with their affordable housing requirements under the housing element established by the Growth Management Act, and make sure new housing is being built at all levels of affordability.
HB 2113 scheduled to be heard in the House Housing Committee at 1:30PM on January 15, with executive session scheduled for 8:00AM on January 18 in the same committee. You can watch these hearings here or by tuning into www.tvw.org.
You can also use the handy bill tracker to follow the status of HB 2113 as it moves through the legislative process.
Engaging in your democracy
Getting involved in the legislative process is easy and is the best way to ensure that your government represents you. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Stay up to date on which bills are being passed this session (https://app.leg.wa.gov/bi/)
- Attend committee hearings and testify to make your voice heard (https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi)
- Participate in various activities on the Capitol campus (https://apps.des.wa.gov/CampusEvents/default.aspx)
It is an honor to represent you here at the Capitol. Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime. For more frequent updates, you can always follow my legislative Facebook page.
Best wishes,
