Rent Stabilization Passes Both Chambers In Washington Legislature

HERSTORY BABY

On the very last day of the 69th legislative session, Washington State lawmakers finally passed a long-awaited, hotly-contested rent stabilization bill. After the Governor’s signature, the new law will limit rental hikes to 7% plus inflation a year, not to exceed a hard boundary of 10%, for buildings older than 12 years, giving renters much needed stability in a state historically ruled by landlords.

The fight for rent control or stabilization has waged on for decades and dominated this year’s legislative conversation from the very first day of the session. Democrats characterized the policy as an important step in racial and economic justice, while Republicans parroted the real estate industry's tired talking point that one man's stability, represented a loss in profits for developers. The policy, opponents argued, would slow development and make housing even more expensive.

Earlier this session, the House passed a rental cap of 7% with a 10 year exemption for new buildings. Then, a handful of conservative Democrats in the Senate colluded with Republicans to raise the cap to 10% plus inflation, exclude single-family homes, and lengthen the new building exemption period to 15 years. 

Then, a conference committee brokered a compromise policy that capped increases at the lesser of 7% plus inflation or 10%. The compromise also struck the exemption for single family homes and returned the new building exemption period to 12 years. 

The Senate attempted to vote on the compromise Friday evening, but Senate Republican leader John Braun hit his political enemies with some good old fashion bureaucratic violence to delay the vote. Democrats went into overdrive to fix the technical error Braun exposed, so that both chambers could pass it in the final hours of the session. 

The Senate passed the bill 27-20, earning the support from many of the Democrats who betrayed the party and passed the policy-killing amendments. But Sens. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) and Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver) voted no. 

But the Senate represented the higher hurdle as they bargained for a more landlord-friendly version. The House passed 54-44 about 30 minutes later. A few Democrats voted no: Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-Lakewood), Mari Leavitt (D-University Place), Adison Richards (D-Gig Harbor), Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-Seattle), Amy Walen (D-Kirkland).

But let's hold off on cutting the celebratory cake: The bill still needs the Governor's signature and he does not have a very good record of working with Democrats in the Legislature.