Governmental Affairs Radar
March 22, 2023
Sign the Petition: Urge Spokane to Roll Back Devastating Impact Fees!
The Spokane City Council is having second thoughts about its new impact fees that will add over $25,000 to the price of a new home, and over $100,000 to the cost of a new fourplex.

"This is a devastating blow to home ownership and rental rates” said Spokane REALTORS® President Tom Hormel.

Spokane developers and housing builders say they will be shutting down more than 2,000 construction projects across the region in response to City Council's 10-fold increase in Impact Fees.

On March 27th, the council will reconsider these fees.
Builders alarmed about Spokane’s increased development fees. How do they compare?
On Monday [last week], the Spokane City Council voted to significantly raise fees for developers who help pay for improvements to water and sewer systems, as well as roads. The fees increased by different amounts depending on the area, with Latah Valley seeing the highest increases.

Developers and realtors balked, warning that the increase would cause new building to screech to a halt when Spokane is already facing a housing availability crisis.

In a Tuesday news release, the Spokane Association of Realtors warned that area builders would shut down 2,000 construction projects that had not yet been permitted, though a list of the projects was not provided.

“March 13th will forever be remembered as the day housing died in Spokane,” said Spokane Association of Realtors President Tom Hormel in the statement.

But how does Spokane’s development fees compare to other cities in the area and across the state?
WR Government Affairs
Legislative Session Update
March 2023
Washington REALTORS® Nathan Gorton (Government Affairs Director) and Bill Clarke (Director of Public Policy) talk about the legislative progress of the proposed housing bills for the 2023 session.

There's great news about the bills on the hill to address issues like Agency Law, Housing Supply, Leasebacks, Condos, and more!

The video runs 14-minutes:
WR Is Tracking
Over 30 Housing Bills!
House of Origin Cutoff was last week...this means that many bills have either moved on for further work in the Legislature or have officially died.

Fortunately, this is an impactful housing session with plenty of implications for REALTORS® and consumers.

Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Staff has been tracking over 30 housing bills (many good, some bad).

We've posted a comprehensive list of the housing bills (including REALTOR® Priority Legislation) on our Legislative Session updates page.
Last day of session (Sine Die): April 24, 2023.
Running for Office
Have you ever considered running for office?

Spokane REALTORS® will be hosting private candidate coaching sessions.

Contact Governmental Affairs Director Darin Watkins for more information.
RPAC Update
Did you know that over 70% of Spokane REALTOR® members now support the REALTOR® Party Action Committee?

This helps fund candidates we support and issues that we get behind.

Your auction items are needed for our special event April 1st – please contact RPAC Chair Keri McCombs for details.t Link