“Today, I speak with a heavy heart on behalf of the thousands of Washingtonians who are holding on by a thread—our elders, our youth, our working families—who asked for one thing: stability. The Senate’s changes to the Rent Stabilization bill fail to deliver that.
By allowing rent increases of 10% plus inflation—potentially 12 to 15% in a single year—and carving out protections for those living in single-family homes, we have weakened the very safety net this bill was designed to provide. These changes are not just policy disagreements. They are decisions that will have real and immediate consequences for the people we represent.
We are not legislating in theory—we are legislating in the midst of one of the most economically volatile times in recent memory. Families are navigating the compounded weight of inflation, housing scarcity, and looming cuts to childcare, health care, and disability services. They deserve to know they will not lose their home tomorrow because rent suddenly jumped hundreds of dollars overnight.
This bill has never been about punishing property owners. In fact, we’ve provided tools, resources, and incentives to support housing development and maintenance. We’ve worked to remove barriers and build more homes. But we must be clear: Rent stabilization is a tool for survival—not a threat. If developers choose to walk away from Washington during a housing crisis, it will not be because of this bill. It will be because they chose profits over people.
Washington’s families are sitting at kitchen tables tonight with calculators and grocery receipts, trying to make rent. They’ve stood by us—now we must stand firm for them.
I will continue fighting to ensure that all Washingtonians have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing—because no one should live in fear of losing their home. Not here. Not on our watch.”