WLA Action Alert: HB 2520, HB 2453 & SHB 2069

 Dear WLA Members: 

Please notice that the bills that we oppose (HB 2520 & HB 2453) are scheduled for Executive Session (vote out of committee) on Friday, January 31 at 10:00 a.m. in the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee in the John L. O’Brien Building Room A. Our members should contact the committee to oppose these bills. Provided in the following is a link to the contact info of the committee members: http://leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/CRJ/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

1. HB 2520 - Addressing documentation and processes governing landlords' claims for damage to residential premises. OPPOSE
2. HB 2453 - Providing protections to residential tenants. OPPOSE
3. SHB 2069 - Concerning a property owner's or tenant's liability for delinquent and unpaid utility service charges. SUPPORT

1.     HB 2453/SB 6379 – Statewide Just Cause – Further Statewide Tenancy Restrictions.
Creates statewide Just Cause restrictions similar to the City of Seattle:

• Ends fixed term lease agreements--ostensibly creates a perpetual lease agreement.
• The bill will make it much harder for small landlords to protect the health, safety, and welfare of other tenants in their community.
• Makes it practically impossible for a small landlord to remove a tenant who is dangerous or disruptive to their community.

Sponsors:  Representatives Macri, Thai, Lekanoff, Gregerson, Robinson, Ryu, Frame, Kloba, Peterson, Santos, Bergquist, Johnson, J., Davis, Pollet; Senators Kuderer, Darneille, Das, Keiser, Lovelett, Saldaña

STATUS HB:      House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee
                            Executive Session: Friday, January 31 at 10:00 a.m. – JLOB Rm A
STATUS SB:       Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee
       
2.     HB 2520 – Requires Excessive Documentation to Withhold from a Deposit.
This legislation would make it unreasonably difficult for a landlord to withhold legitimate damage from a tenant’s security deposit:

• Makes it much more difficult for a landlord to withhold legitimate damage from a tenant’s Security Deposits.
• Requires massive and detailed documentation including, the age of all fixtures, equipment, and furnishings, the time since their installment or replacement, and their useful life for every tenancy in order to charge.
• Limits the time to bring an action for recovery of damages exceeding the deposit to within one year of the termination of the rental agreement.

Sponsors:  Representatives Thai, Macri, Doglio, Morgan, Entenman, Pollet, Ryu, Robinson

STATUS:             House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee
                            Executive Session: Friday, January 31 at 10:00 a.m. – JLOB Rm A
 
If you need anything else, please let me know.
Thank you in advance.
Many thanks.
                                                                                     
Mark Gjurasic
Public Affairs of Washington, LLC
mgjurasic@comcast.net
(360) 481-6000