Session Begins Next Month, Are You Ready?

With the Legislative Session almost upon us, let us take a few minutes to give you a full breakdown of everything you need to know to involve yourself in RHAWA’s efforts this year. This article can serve as your guide to know exactly how and when you can make a difference for housing providers across the entire state. Keep in mind, Legislative Session is a dynamic and fast-paced environment, so it is always crucial to check our website and emails in order to make sure you have up-to-date information on events and bill information.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKOFF

January 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM (Online Only)
Join the RHAWA government affairs team and lobbyist, Chester Baldwin, to discuss the upcoming legislative session with lawmakers who work hard to support us on the hill. You can help drive the solutions to our challenges by advocating for policies that build a healthy housing economy for all, so don't miss this opportunity to learn how to get involved. Make your voice heard and join us in defending your rights as a housing provider. Join us on January 6, 2025, from 6-7:30 pm for our 2025 Legislative Session Kickoff. You can register for this event NOW on our website.

Please note: Registering for the kickoff event will automatically register you for all other Legislative Session briefing rooms.

RENT CONTROL HEARING

Estimated: The second week of Legislative Session January 20 – 24
While we do not have an exact date on when the first rent control hearing will be held, it is incredibly likely that it will be proposed in the first three weeks of the legislative session. We are providing you with advance notice of this estimated date so you know what to expect when we hit the ground running. RHAWA Government Affairs Team will inform you as quickly as possible when we have a confirmed date for this hearing. We will also produce transportation to Olympia, lunch, and shirts carrying our messaging.

LEGISLATIVE DAY ON THE HILL

Estimated: February, Check RHAWA’s Website for the Exact Date and Registration
This year we are welcoming our membership to come down to Olympia and meet with their lawmakers at the RHAWA Legislative Day on the Hill. Once you register on our website, our Government Affairs team will identify your lawmakers and set up a day of conversation and engagement for you to participate in Olympia in person.

Make sure your information in your member profile is fully up to date, which allows the government affairs team to accurately identify your relevant lawmakers for both your voting district and the districts where you own rental properties. This is an incredible opportunity to meet face-to-face with lawmakers who decide policy in your district.

This opportunity may seem intimidating, but you need not worry. Our team will prepare information and handouts to allow you to communicate effectively and make an impact in each and every one of your meetings.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECAP

Estimated: Last Week of April
This event will discuss the 2025 Legislative Session from start to finish. We will be going over our hardest fights, biggest opportunities, and key takeaways. Don't miss this opportunity to peek behind the curtain and figure out not just what happened, but why it happened. Learn what messaging is effective and how we can bolster our grassroots advocacy efforts. We will also be talking about what comes next, and how to prepare for the upcoming elections.

If you have involved yourself in RHAWA’s recent events such as ENGAGE 24 or have kept up to date on our recent issues of CURRENT, then you may already be familiar with our legislative priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session. RHAWA Government Affairs and leadership team worked hard to develop these priorities and communicate with lawmakers in order to present a proactive and well-planned approach in this upcoming legislative session. We look forward to seeing you in Olympia and in our virtual briefing rooms already familiar with our goals and strategies for this year's Legislative Session.

RENT CONTROL — NO!

A competitive rental market provides efficient and cost-effective housing to the vast majority of the population. RHAWA opposes rent control. Rent control distorts the allocation of housing resources, discourages investment and upkeep, induces unfair rent discrimination, and creates expensive and intrusive bureaucracy. RHAWA has long championed rental assistance for low-income persons needing housing. Assistance offers an effective, efficient program for providing market-rate housing to those who can't otherwise afford it. RHAWA believes rental assistance should be a significant part of any low-income housing program.

TENANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP)

Rental assistance provided to struggling families fosters a strong partnership between tenants, housing providers, and the State of Washington.

• Short-term rental assistance for seniors, fixed-income, low-income, veterans, and others facing acute economic stress and/or facing potential eviction situations.
• Prevents evictions, preserves affordable housing, ensures family stability, and has helped prevent homelessness.
• Provides short-term gap funding for the difference between what the tenant owes and what they can afford to pay.

PREDATORY RENT INCREASES

Bad actors can sometimes raise rent or collect fees in a way that is sudden, drastic, and is intended to force a tenant out. This often occurs when a low-rent building is sold or needs major rehabilitation because it’s at the end of its useful life. Establishing rules can help stabilize housing.

HARMONIZATION ACT

Washington state needs a consistent set of rules for all Washington cities across the state. This will alleviate confusion, create confidence and compliance, and foster a more harmonized rental housing market landscape for both tenants & housing providers.

• Benefits to tenants and housing providers by providing certainty and consistency regarding their legal obligations.

TENANT SAFETY ACT (TSA)

Currently, families are being forced to live next door to abusive and sometimes dangerous tenants before eviction, regardless of their behavior.

• Streamlines the process of evicting residents engaged in dangerous activity.
• Protects tenants who report dangerous or illegal activity.
• Creates an expedited process for dangerous and unruly tenants
• Collaborates with law enforcement for swift removal of dangerous residents.
• Prevents manipulation or intentional delays of the system.

PRE-HEARING BRIEFING ROOMS

Government affairs staff and lobbyists will be available to consult with you two hours before any critical hearings in the Virtual Briefing Room throughout the session. They can assist you with signing up for your remote committee testimony and help you prepare your speaking points prior to your appointment.

WEEKLY ONLINE MEET-UP

January 13, 2025 – April 21, 2025
Hop into our 11 AM Monday morning meet-up to learn what the most pressing bills are for the week. You will receive an event reminder with a join link prior to each meet-up. Legislative Session begins January 13, and our first weekly meet-up will coincide with the start of Legislative Session.

CALLS TO ACTION

Watch your inbox for hearing announcements, upcoming events, and Calls to Action! Content from this coalition is developed and approved by our Rental Housing Association Coalition (RHAC) leadership advocacy team. All Calls to Action and advocacy updates will include a way to submit written testimony or a link that will grant you easy access to the sign-up process.

ADVOCACY CENTER

The Advocacy Center is your go-to resource to make sure you're ready to participate in our advocacy efforts. This page is continually updated with our most up-to-date campaigns. The Advocacy Center allows you to message lawmakers with ease, providing summaries, talking points, and pre-written messages for every bill we will engage with. Please keep in mind that adding your personal story to these pre-written messages is the most effective way to communicate with your lawmakers. It was mentioned earlier that one member's testimony is worth ten of our lobbyists; this concept applies to the Advocacy Center messages as well. The Advocacy Center also provides you with resources to find your lawmakers and keep up with every bill RHAC is currently tracking in real time.