Proposed Senate Bill Could Help Hurting Newspapers in Washington

On Thursday the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5818, which would promote housing construction by amending the state’s growth management act. The Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee also heard testimony Thursday, on Senate Bill 5541, which would exempt Washington newspapers (like the Auburn Examiner) from the state business & occupation tax.

SB 5818

Bill information: SB 5818 – Promoting housing construction in cities through amendments to and limiting appeals under the state environmental policy act and growth management act. Bill Information Page (link)
Sponsors: Salomon, Liias, Kuderer, Saldaña, Short
Status: Public hearing held in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government Jan. 20th.

Brief Summary of Bill
From bill analysis (link)

Exempts a fully planning city’s mandatory housing element actions and adopted housing action plan strategies, and permanently exempts optional residential building capacity actions, from review and appeal under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
Exempts a fully planning city’s adopted housing action plan strategies, and permanently exempts optional residential building capacity actions, from review and legal challenge under the Growth Management Act.
Exempts certain project actions from appeal under SEPA on the basis of or impacts to the aesthetics element of the environment if the project is subject to design review at the local government level.
Directs the Department of Ecology to modify maximum thresholds in certain SEPA categorical exemptions through expedited rulemaking.

SB 5541

Bill Information: SB 5541 – Exempting newspapers from business and occupation tax. Bill Information Page (Link)
Sponsors: Mullet, Gildon, Keiser, Liias, Lovick
Status: Public hearing held in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade on January 20th