House passes amended bill expanding uses of local sales tax for affordable housing after debate over rental assistance
March 05, 2026 | Legislative Sessions, Washington
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The House advanced and then passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 60-27, an act to modify funding and exemptions tied to providing and maintaining affordable housing and related services, after adopting a finance committee amendment and rejecting a scope amendment. The chair declared the measure passed after a roll-call vote of 61 yays, 34 nays and 3 excused.
The debate focused on an amendment (No. 2407) that would have clarified that sales-and-use-tax proceeds could be used for rental assistance. Representative Orcutt, who moved the amendment, said the change would let local governments use the revenue for rental assistance and argued that “it would allow it to be used for rental assistance” as a mechanism to help people move into homeownership over time. Opponents, including Representative Berg, urged rejection, arguing rental assistance can preserve renters’ stability and is part of the housing ecosystem; Berg said, “I’m asking for a no on this amendment because rental assistance does allow for homeownership.”
Supporters of the amendment countered that rental assistance can stabilize rents by increasing vacancy rates and that the broader bill expands flexibility to address housing needs. Opponents cautioned that spending on rental assistance could distort markets and divert funds from supply-side efforts such as refurbishment or new housing construction.
After floor debate, the House rejected amendment 2407 and then approved the finance committee amendment. Representative Macri urged colleagues to vote yes on final passage, describing the bill as beneficial to local governments and communities seeking to retain and expand affordable housing. The clerk recorded the final tally and the chair declared the bill passed.
The next procedural step is enrollment and transmission as required for enacted legislation. The transcript does not specify enactment date or subsequent administrative steps.
The debate focused on an amendment (No. 2407) that would have clarified that sales-and-use-tax proceeds could be used for rental assistance. Representative Orcutt, who moved the amendment, said the change would let local governments use the revenue for rental assistance and argued that “it would allow it to be used for rental assistance” as a mechanism to help people move into homeownership over time. Opponents, including Representative Berg, urged rejection, arguing rental assistance can preserve renters’ stability and is part of the housing ecosystem; Berg said, “I’m asking for a no on this amendment because rental assistance does allow for homeownership.”
Supporters of the amendment countered that rental assistance can stabilize rents by increasing vacancy rates and that the broader bill expands flexibility to address housing needs. Opponents cautioned that spending on rental assistance could distort markets and divert funds from supply-side efforts such as refurbishment or new housing construction.
After floor debate, the House rejected amendment 2407 and then approved the finance committee amendment. Representative Macri urged colleagues to vote yes on final passage, describing the bill as beneficial to local governments and communities seeking to retain and expand affordable housing. The clerk recorded the final tally and the chair declared the bill passed.
The next procedural step is enrollment and transmission as required for enacted legislation. The transcript does not specify enactment date or subsequent administrative steps.
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