Housing

I’m proud to have served as Chair of the Housing Committee in the Washington State House of Representatives from 2015 through 2018. I believe homeownership is a key part of the American Dream, and that everyone in our state deserves access to safe, affordable housing.

At the same time, we must protect renters. That’s why I supported legislation to cap rent increases at 7% per year—providing stability for working families. My opponent, Jesse Salomon, voted to allow rent hikes of up to 10% a year, a difference that could mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars more per year for renters!

In 2021, I introduced and helped pass HB 1070, a law that allows local governments to quickly purchase existing buildings and convert them into affordable housing. This created a faster, more efficient way to expand housing options without raising taxes.

In 2018, I introduced HB 2711 to increase housing supply by reducing development barriers, lowering costs, and encouraging faster construction in targeted areas.

I also introduced HB 1834 to expand access to homeownership, especially for first-time buyers. This bill helped lay the foundation for today’s down payment assistance programs and a stronger focus on helping families build wealth through homeownership.