Legislative Rent Control Update

Legislative Rent Control Update From the WLA PAC

Dear WLA Members:

In the 2024 60-Day legislative session, all nine (9) Rent Control bills DIED. The focus was on:

SB 5961 || Dies in the Senate Housing Committee by 1 VOTE || 5%

HB 2114 || Dies in the Senate Ways and Means Committee || 7%

In addition to Rent Control:

Would allow a tenant to sue a landlord for treble damages (3 times the determined finding of damage) under the State Consumer Protection Act, which also includes attorney fees and costs.

Would allow the State Attorney General’s office to publish model lease provisions regarding rent and rent increases i.e. create Landlord and Tenant tenancy agreement.

Thanks to Sen. Annette Cleveland as she voted against SB 5961 and killed the bill.

SUPPORT OF RENT CONTROL || SB 5961 *

1. Senator Yasmin Trudeau, Prime Sponsor;

2. Sharon Pevey, Association of Manufactured Home Owner (AMHO) director;

3. Christa Lenssen, City of Olympia;

4. Leslie Walt, Kloshe Illahee Homeowners Association;

5. Jazmine Smith, The Washington Bus;

6. City of La Center Mayor Thomas Strobehn;

7. Shannon Corrick, UFCW 3000;

8. Bryce Yadon, Futurewise;

9. Nicole Casanova, WA Physicians for Social Responsibility;

10. Cliff Cawfton, Seattle, King, Kittitas Habitat For Humanity;

11. Senaida Villegas, Community to Community;

12. Michael Whalen, UFCW 367;

13. Ann Dorn, Tacoma 4 All;

14. Paul Benz, Quaker Voice;

*SOURCE || SB 5961 SENATE BILL REPORT

Contact Sen. Annette Cleveland at annette.cleveland@leg.wa.gov or at 360.786.7696 and voice

your “Thank You!” for Opposing Rent Control!

Sen. Annette Cleveland was awarded the “Golden Gavel Legislature of the Year Award” on

behalf of the Washington Landlord Association (WLA) and the Clark County Rental

Association (CCRA) on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in front of about

70 CCRA members in Vancouver.

The CCRA leadership team/attorney, WLA Lobbyist, Mark Gjurasic, were part of the

presentation. Also, thank you Chester Baldwin, WLA Lobbyist/Attorney in organizing meetings

with lawmakers during session and lobbying against the bill.

We thank all of you who contacted your lawmakers against SB 5961 and HB 2114 (Rent

Control) as we know these bills will be reintroduced in the 2025 legislative session.

The fight will continue to Oppose Rent Control.

Please Note: WLA is non-partisan. We support any candidate who supports our industry regardless of their political standing.