The Senate Passed an Important Rent Stabilization Bill, but has Proposed Harmful Amendments

HB 1217 is an exciting and historic bill that would expand protections for renters - including limiting rent increases and requiring increased notice of rent and fee increases, among other policies - and assist with renter housing stability. This bill passed from the Senate recently and will soon make its way to the House. Now more than ever, renters needs these common sense protections to prevent excessive rent increases from forcing them out of their homes. However, the Senate included two amendments that greatly weaken the bill:

One amendment by Senator Shewmake would raise the annual cap on rent increases to 10% + the Consumer Price Index (CPI), meaning on years with high inflation, landlords could impose rent increases far greater than 10%. A rent increase of 10% is already more than renters can afford, so this amendment greatly weakens the rent stabilization protections of SB 1217. A second amendment by Senator Liias would exempt non-corporate owned single family homes from rent increase caps. Single family homes are often rented by families with children, who cannot afford excessive rent increases and deserve the same rent stabilization protection as everyone else.

With skyrocketing rent prices and an unstable fiscal environment, rent stabilization is needed now more than ever. Use the link below to access an action from the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, and tell your representatives: Support HB 1217, and oppose the proposed harmful amendments!

Additionally, join the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance in Olympia on Friday, April 18 from 11am – 1pm in the legislative building for a rally to continue pressuring lawmakers to pass HB 1217 without harmful amendments.

Tell the House to support strong renter protections [[link removed]]

RSVP for Friday's rally at the Capitol [[link removed]]

There's Still Time to Ask the House and Senate to Support Progressive Revenue

You've heard this message from us before: our state is facing a revenue shortfall over the next four years. Instead of balancing the budget on the backs of Washingtonians living on a low income like we did during the Great Recession, the House and Senate have released budget proposals that ask our state’s wealthiest residents to pay their fair share.

When families face difficult times financially, they don't just tighten their belts, they look for new opportunities for income. Washington has a clear opportunity - with progressive revenue, we can meet this budget shortfall and maintain funding for vital programs that support our state's most vulnerable residents.

The House and Senate have both heard revenue bills which ask the ultra-wealthy and large corporations to pay their fair share. As lawmakers face difficult decisions about the budget in the weeks ahead, the choice to support these progressive revenue options is an easy one . Instead of making drastic cuts that would hurt families already struggling to make ends meet, these revenue options ask our state’s wealthiest to see a small blip on their balance sheet.

Lawmakers need to hear overwhelming public support for progressive revenue. Even if you've already emailed, reaching out again helps lawmakers argue for the policies that their constituents need. Tell your lawmakers: Ask those who can afford it to balance our state’s budget this session. Support progressive revenue!

Read more about the House Proposed Revenue Package [[link removed]]
Read more about the Senate Proposed Revenue Package [[link removed]]
Tell your lawmakers: WA needs progressive revenue! [[link removed]]


Statewide Poverty Action Network
1501 N 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
United States
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