Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Washington State 2024 legislative session officially adjourned on March 7 and I am happy to be home with my family and back with community!
This week I’m excited to share how the legislature built upon our extraordinary achievements in the 2023 session to expand housing access and keep people in their homes. While I am deeply disappointed that urgent priorities to end excessive rent increases (HB 2114) and expand housing around rail and bus rapid transit stops (HB 2160) failed to pass the Senate, I am laser-focused on getting these across the finish line next year. 💔💪
A bright spot on the housing front was the unprecedented budget investments we made including a total of $415 MILLION to combat homelessness and build more affordable housing in our state. 🏘️🏗️
$230 MILLION from the operating budget will support:
- low and moderate-income clean energy assistance;
- increased need for local homeless services;
- support to existing local housing programs; and
- housing vulnerable populations, supporting tenants’ rights and homeownership.
$185 MILLION from the capital budget will support:
- projects helping people exit homelessness;
- housing for our neighbors with intellectual and development disabilities;
- promoting homeownership for all Washingtonians; and
- multifamily energy efficiency grants.
We also passed innovative housing policies that adapt to the changing nature of how people live, work, and play like:
- paving the way for co-living housing, a flexible and efficient housing model that is especially important for young adults, seniors and those seeking both privacy and social interaction (HB 1998);
- removing hurdles to convert vacant existing commercial structures into housing (SB 6175); and
- creating a Workforce Housing Accelerator Program to speed up the construction of affordable workforce housing across the state (HB 1892).
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March is Women’s History Month!
Let’s celebrate that more than half of the House Democratic Caucus are women! 👩🧕👩💼
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As always, reach out anytime to my Legislative Assistant Sam Tinsley or email me. It’s an honor to serve you in Olympia.
Best wishes,
State Representative Liz Berry
36th Legislative District