Seattle City Council unanimously approves interlocal to fund Social Housing Developer and passes SEPA/land-use updates
February 11, 2026 | Seattle, King County, Washington
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Seattle’s City Council on Feb. 10 unanimously passed legislation that will let the city begin transferring proceeds from the voter-approved social housing tax to the designated Social Housing Developer and approved companion land-use code updates intended to streamline environmental review for certain projects.
The council adopted three items by roll call vote: council bill 121153 (finance committee) authorizing an interlocal agreement to implement the social housing tax and transfer funds to the Social Housing Developer; council bill 121093 (Land Use & Sustainability) revising SEPA threshold exemptions and related provisions; and council bill 121135, a companion update to transportation-impact-analysis, transportation management plans and construction management plans. Each bill passed on unanimous 7–0 votes.
On council bill 121153, Councilmember K. Foster, a cosponsor, described the measure as a technical but necessary step to allow the city’s Finance & Administrative Services (FAS) to transfer collected tax proceeds to the Social Housing Developer. Foster noted the council had previously advanced a $2,000,000 loan to the developer to support staffing and early work and said the developer is scheduled to appear before the Housing, Arts and Civil Rights committee for a progress update. "This is a technical yet important, first step," Foster said.
Councilmember Sara Lynn, chairing the Land Use & Sustainability committee, explained that bills 121093 and 121135 are companion measures intended to update codes so environmental impacts are addressed through targeted code sections—such as construction management and transportation plans—rather than through project-level SEPA reviews. Lynn said a previously circulated amendment would not be advanced at this time and recommended support.
Roll-call results: Councilmembers Rivera, Saka, Foster, Kettle, Lynn, Rink and President Hollingsworth all voted yes on each measure; there were no votes recorded in opposition or abstentions. Following each passage the chair directed the clerk to affix the council president’s signature to the legislation.
What happens next: Passage authorizes the mayor’s designee and FAS to enter the interlocal agreement and begin transferring funds under the social housing tax. Councilmembers said the Social Housing Developer will report to committee on progress, staffing and planned work.
The council adopted three items by roll call vote: council bill 121153 (finance committee) authorizing an interlocal agreement to implement the social housing tax and transfer funds to the Social Housing Developer; council bill 121093 (Land Use & Sustainability) revising SEPA threshold exemptions and related provisions; and council bill 121135, a companion update to transportation-impact-analysis, transportation management plans and construction management plans. Each bill passed on unanimous 7–0 votes.
On council bill 121153, Councilmember K. Foster, a cosponsor, described the measure as a technical but necessary step to allow the city’s Finance & Administrative Services (FAS) to transfer collected tax proceeds to the Social Housing Developer. Foster noted the council had previously advanced a $2,000,000 loan to the developer to support staffing and early work and said the developer is scheduled to appear before the Housing, Arts and Civil Rights committee for a progress update. "This is a technical yet important, first step," Foster said.
Councilmember Sara Lynn, chairing the Land Use & Sustainability committee, explained that bills 121093 and 121135 are companion measures intended to update codes so environmental impacts are addressed through targeted code sections—such as construction management and transportation plans—rather than through project-level SEPA reviews. Lynn said a previously circulated amendment would not be advanced at this time and recommended support.
Roll-call results: Councilmembers Rivera, Saka, Foster, Kettle, Lynn, Rink and President Hollingsworth all voted yes on each measure; there were no votes recorded in opposition or abstentions. Following each passage the chair directed the clerk to affix the council president’s signature to the legislation.
What happens next: Passage authorizes the mayor’s designee and FAS to enter the interlocal agreement and begin transferring funds under the social housing tax. Councilmembers said the Social Housing Developer will report to committee on progress, staffing and planned work.
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