AN ACT Relating to incentivizing the development of commercial office space in cities with a population of greater than fifty thousand and located in a county with a population of less than one million five hundred thousand; adding a new section to chapter 82.14 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 35 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 84 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  (1) A governing authority of a city may adopt a local sales and use tax exemption program to incentivize the development of commercial office space in urban centers with access to transit, high capacity transportation systems, and other amenities.

(2) A governing authority of a city may adopt a local property tax exemption program to incentivize the development of commercial office space in urban centers with access to transit, high capacity transportation systems, and other amenities.

(1) Obtain written agreement for the use of the local sales and use tax exemption from any taxing authority that imposes a sales or use tax under chapter 82.14 RCW. The agreement must be authorized by the governing body of such participating taxing authorities. If a taxing authority does not provide written agreement, the sales and use tax for that taxing authority shall not be exempted. Other taxing authorities may proceed forward with exempting portions of the local sales and use tax where written agreement is provided;

(2) Hold a public hearing on the proposed use of the exemption.

(a) Notice of the hearing must be published in a legal newspaper of general circulation at least ten days before the public hearing and posted in at least six conspicuous public places located within one mile of the proposed location of a qualifying project.

(b) Notices must describe the qualifying project and estimate the amount of sales and use tax revenue exempted under this section.

(c) The public hearing may be held by the city legislative authority;

(3)(a) Establish criteria for a qualifying project exempted under section 6 of this act. Criteria must include:

(i) The estimated number of new family living wage jobs for location within the qualifying project; and

(ii) The physical characteristics, features, and amenities necessary for a qualifying project to be defined as commercial office space.

(b) Criteria may also include height, density, public benefit features, quality of amenities, number and size of proposed development, parking, employment targets, percent occupied, or other adopted requirements indicated necessary by the city; and

(4) Adopt an ordinance announcing the use of the sales and use tax exemption under section 6 of this act. The ordinance must:

(a) Describe the qualifying project, including a physical description of proposed building or buildings, a list of features and amenities, cost of construction, and length that the qualifying project will be under construction;

(b) Estimate the amount of local sales and use tax revenue that will be exempted under section 6 of this act;

(c) Provide the approximate date that the local sales and use tax revenue will be remitted to a taxpayer; and

(d) Certify the criteria under this section by which a qualifying project can later receive certification under section 6(3) of this act confirming that a taxpayer is eligible for the remittance.

(a) Establish the criteria under which property can qualify for the exemption under section 7 of this act. Criteria:

(i) Must include: (A) An estimated minimum number of new family living wage jobs for location within the qualifying project;

(B) The physical characteristics, features, and amenities necessary for a qualifying project to be defined as commercial office space;

(C) A location in a designated commercial office development targeted area; and

(ii) May also include height, density, public benefit features, quality of amenities, number and size of proposed development, parking, employment targets, percent occupied, or other adopted requirements indicated necessary by the city;

(b) Designate an area as a commercial office development targeted area. The following criteria must be met before an area may be designated as a commercial office development targeted area:

(i) The area must be within an urban center, as determined by the governing authority;

(ii) The area must lack, as determined by the governing authority, sufficient available, desirable, high-quality, and convenient commercial office space to provide jobs in the urban center, if the desirable, attractive, and convenient commercial office space was available;

(iii) The providing of additional commercial office space development opportunities in the area, as determined by the governing authority, will assist in achieving one or more of the stated purposes of this chapter; and

(iv) The use of the incentive in this chapter is not expected to be used for the purpose of relocating a business from outside of the commercial office development targeted area, but within the state, to within the commercial office development targeted area. The incentive may be used for the expansion of a business, including the development of additional offices or satellite facilities.

(2) For the purpose of designating a commercial office development targeted area or areas, the governing authority must adopt a resolution of intention to so designate an area as generally described in the resolution. The resolution must state the time and place of a hearing to be held by the governing authority to consider the designation of the area and must include, at a minimum, findings as to the number of commercial office buildings that will be newly constructed or rehabilitated within the proposed commercial office development targeted areas, estimated construction costs of the new construction or rehabilitation, estimated local taxes generated, and estimated family living wage jobs produced within the targeted area in a period of ten years from the date of the hearing, and may include such other information pertaining to the designation of the area as the governing authority determines to be appropriate to apprise the public of the action intended.

(3) The governing authority must give notice of a hearing held under this chapter by publication of the notice once each week for two consecutive weeks, not less than seven days, nor more than thirty days before the date of the hearing in a paper having a general circulation in the city where the proposed commercial office development targeted area is located. The notice must state the time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing and generally identify the area proposed to be designated as a commercial office development targeted area.

(4) Following the hearing, the governing authority may designate all or a portion of the area described in the resolution of intent as a commercial office development targeted area if it finds, in its sole discretion, that the criteria in subsections (1) and (2) of this section have been met.

(5) After designation of a commercial office development targeted area, the governing authority must adopt and implement standards and guidelines to be utilized in considering applications and making the determinations required under section 10 of this act. The standards and guidelines must establish basic requirements for both new construction and rehabilitation, which must include:

(a) Application process and procedures;

(b) Building requirements that may include elements addressing parking, height, density, environmental impact, and compatibility with the existing surrounding property and such other amenities as will attract and keep commercial tenants and that will properly enhance the commercial office development targeted area in which they are to be located; and

(c) Guidelines regarding individual units that are part of a qualifying project that may meet the requirements of the exemption in chapter 84.-- RCW (the new chapter created in section 21 of this act).

(1) "City" means a city with a population of greater than fifty thousand and located in a county with a population of less than one million five hundred thousand.

(2) "Commercial office development targeted area" means an area within an urban center that has been designated by the governing authority as a commercial office development targeted area in accordance with this chapter.

(3) "Commercial office space" means among the most competitive and highest quality building or buildings in the local market, as determined by a city's governing authority. High quality must be reflected in the finishes, construction, and infrastructure of the project building. The building or buildings must be at least fifty thousand square feet, and at least three stories. The building must be centrally located in a city, provide close access to public transportation and freeways, be managed professionally, and offer amenities and advanced technology options to tenants.

(4) "County" means a county with a population of less than one million five hundred thousand.

(5) "Family living wage job" means a job with a wage that is sufficient for raising a family. A family living wage job must have an average wage of eighteen dollars an hour or more, working two thousand eighty hours per year, as adjusted annually by the consumer price index. The family living wage may be increased by the local authority based on regional factors and wage conditions.

(6) "Governing authority" means the local legislative authority of a city having jurisdiction over the property for which an exemption may be applied for under this chapter.

(7) "Mixed use" means any building or buildings containing a combination of residential and commercial units, whether title to the entire property is held in single or undivided ownership or title to individual units is held by owners who also, directly or indirectly through an association, own real property in common with the other unit owners.

(8) "Qualifying project" means new construction or rehabilitation of a building or group of buildings intended for use as commercial office space, as defined in this section. Projects may include mixed use buildings, not solely intended to be used as office space, but does not include any portion of a project intended for residential use.

(9) "Rehabilitation" means modifications to an existing building or buildings made to achieve substantial improvements such that the building or buildings can be categorized as commercial office space, as defined in this section.

(10) "Rehabilitation improvements" means modifications to an existing building or buildings made to achieve substantial improvements in quality, features, or amenities, such that the building or buildings can be categorized as commercial office space, as defined in this section.

(11) "Relocating a business" means the closing of a business and the reopening of that business, or the opening of a new business that engages in the same activities as the previous business, in a different location within a one-year period, when an individual or entity has an ownership interest in the business at the time of closure and at the time of opening or reopening. "Relocating a business" does not include the closing and reopening of a business in a new location where the business has been acquired and is under entirely new ownership at the new location, or the closing and reopening of a business in a new location as a result of the exercise of the power of eminent domain.

(12) "Urban center" means a compact identifiable district where urban residents may obtain a variety of products and services. An urban center must contain:

(a) Several existing or previous, or both, business establishments that may include but are not limited to shops, offices, banks, restaurants, and governmental agencies;

(b) Adequate public facilities including streets, sidewalks, lighting transit, domestic water, and sanitary sewer systems; and

(c) A mixture of uses and activities that may include housing, recreation, and cultural activities in association with either commercial or office use, or both commercial and office use.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 82.14 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the requirements of this section and section 3 of this act, a project is eligible for an exemption from the taxes imposed under the authority of this chapter on:

(a) The sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to construction or rehabilitation of a qualifying project located in a city; and

(b) The sales or use of tangible personal property that will be incorporated as an ingredient or component of a qualifying project located in a city during the course of the constructing or rehabilitating.

(2)(a) The exemption in this section is in the form of a remittance. A qualifying project owner claiming an exemption under this section must pay all applicable state and local sales and use taxes imposed or authorized under RCW 82.08.020, 82.12.020, and this chapter on all purchases and uses qualifying for the exemption.

(b) The amount of the exemption is one hundred percent of the local sales and use taxes paid under an ordinance or resolution enacted under the authority of this chapter for purchases or uses qualifying under subsection (1) of this section, if the taxing authorities imposing taxes under the authority of this chapter have authorized the use of the exemption to the governing authority of a city as provided under section 3(1) of this act.

(3)(a) After the qualifying project has been operationally complete for four years, but not later than five years after all local sales and use taxes for purchases and uses qualifying under subsection (1) of this section have been paid, a qualifying project owner who submits an application for a building permit for that qualifying project prior to July 1, 2027, may apply to the department for a remittance of local sales and use taxes.

(b) A qualifying project owner requesting a remittance under this section must obtain certification from the governing authority of a city verifying that the qualifying project has satisfied the criteria in section 3 of this act.

(c) The qualifying project owner must specify the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying purchases or uses for which the exemption is claimed. The qualifying project owner must retain, in adequate detail, records to enable the department to determine whether the qualifying project owner is entitled to an exemption under this section, including invoices, proof of tax paid, and construction contracts.

(d) The department must determine eligibility under this section based on information provided by the qualifying project owner, which is subject to audit verification by the department.

(4)(a) A person otherwise eligible for a remittance under this section that transfers the ownership of the qualifying project before the requirements in subsection (3) of this section are met may assign the right to the remittance under this section to the subsequent owner of the qualifying project.

(b) Persons applying for the remittance as an assignee must provide the department the following documentation in a form and manner as provided by the department:

(i) The agreement that transfers the right to the remittance to the assignee;

(ii) Proof of payment of sales and use tax on the qualifying project; and

(iii) Any other documentation the department requires.

(5) The definitions in section 5 of this act apply to this section.

(2)(a) The exemption in this section does not apply to any county share of property tax unless the legislative authority of the county adopts a resolution and notifies the governing authority, that has established a tax exempt program under section 4 of this act, of its intent to allow the property to be exempt.

(b) Upon approval by a county legislative authority, the value of new construction and rehabilitation improvements of real property qualifying under this chapter is exempt from the county share of ad valorem property taxation for a period of ten successive years beginning January 1st of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which a certificate of tax exemption is filed with the county assessor in accordance with section 13 of this act.

(3) The exemptions provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not include the value of land or improvements not qualifying under this chapter.

(4) When a city adopts guidelines pursuant to section 4 of this act and includes conditions that must be satisfied with respect to individual commercial units, rather than with respect to the qualifying project as a whole or some minimum portion thereof, the exemption may, at the local government's discretion, be limited to the value of the improvements allocable to those individual commercial units that meet the local guidelines.

(5) In the case of rehabilitation of existing buildings, the exemption does not include the value of improvements constructed prior to the submission of the application required under this chapter.

(6) This chapter does not apply to increases in assessed valuation made by the assessor on nonqualifying portions of building and value of land nor to increases made by lawful order of a county board of equalization, the department of revenue, or a county to a class of property throughout the county or specific area of the county to achieve the uniformity of assessment or appraisal required by law.

(7) At the conclusion of the exemption period, the new or rehabilitated property must be considered new construction for the purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW.

(8) The incentive provided by this chapter is in addition to any other incentives, tax credits, grants, or other incentives provided by law.

(1) The qualifying project must be located in an urban center as designated by a city;

(2) The qualifying project must meet criteria as adopted by the governing authority under section 4 of this act that may include height, density, public benefit features, quality of amenities, number and size of proposed development, parking, and other adopted requirements indicated necessary by the city. The required amenities should be relative to the size of the project and tax benefit to be obtained;

(3) New construction or rehabilitation of a qualifying project must be completed within three years from the date of approval of the application;

(4) The applicant must enter into a contract with the city approved by the governing authority, or an administrative official or commission authorized by the governing authority, under which the applicant has agreed to the implementation of the development on terms and conditions satisfactory to the governing authority.

(1) In the case of rehabilitation or where demolition is required, the owner must secure from the governing authority or duly authorized representative, before commencement of rehabilitation improvements or new construction, verification of property noncompliance with applicable building codes;

(2) In the case of new construction or rehabilitation of a qualifying project, the owner must apply to the city on forms adopted by the governing authority. The application must contain the following:

(a) Information setting forth the grounds supporting the requested exemption including information indicated on the application form or in the guidelines;

(b) A statement of the expected number of new family living wage jobs to be created;

(c) A description of the project and site plan; and

(d) A statement that the applicant is aware of the potential tax liability involved when the property ceases to be eligible for the incentive provided under this chapter;

(3) The applicant must verify the application by oath or affirmation; and

(4) The application may be accompanied by the application fee, if any, required under section 12 of this act. The governing authority may permit the applicant to revise an application before final action by the governing authority.

(1) The proposed qualifying project meets the criteria as defined by the city in section 4 of this act, including the estimated minimum number of new family living wage jobs to be created for permanent location in the qualifying project within one year of building occupancy;

(2) The proposed project is or will be, at the time of completion, in conformance with all local plans and regulations that apply at the time the application is approved;

(3) The owner has complied with all standards and guidelines adopted by the city under section 4 of this act; and

(4) The site is located in a commercial office development targeted area of an urban center that has been designated by the governing authority in accordance with procedures and guidelines indicated under section 4 of this act.

(2) If the application is approved, the city must issue the owner of the property a conditional certificate of acceptance of tax exemption. The certificate must contain a statement by a duly authorized administrative official of the governing authority that the property has complied with the required findings indicated in section 10 of this act.

(3) If the application is denied by the authorized administrative official or commission authorized by the governing authority, the deciding administrative official or commission must state in writing the reasons for denial and send the notice to the applicant at the applicant's last known address within ten days of the denial.

(4) Upon denial by a duly authorized administrative official or commission, an applicant may appeal the denial to the governing authority within thirty days after receipt of the denial. The appeal before the governing authority must be based upon the record made before the administrative official with the burden of proof on the applicant to show that there was no substantial evidence to support the administrative official's decision. The decision of the governing body in denying or approving the application is final.

(a) A statement of the amount of rehabilitation or construction expenditures made;

(b) A statement of the estimated new family living wage jobs to be created for location at the qualifying project;

(c) A description of the work that has been completed and a statement that the rehabilitation improvements or new construction on the owner's property qualify the property for limited exemption under this chapter;

(d) If applicable, a statement that the project meets the local requirements as described in section 8 of this act; and

(e) A statement that the work has been completed within three years of the issuance of the conditional certificate of tax exemption.

(2) Within thirty days after receipt of the statements required under subsection (1) of this section, the authorized representative of the city must determine whether the work completed, and the affordability of the units, is consistent with the application and the contract approved by the city and is qualified for a limited tax exemption under this chapter. The city must also determine which specific improvements completed meet the requirements and required findings.

(3) If the rehabilitation or new construction is completed within three years of the date the application for a limited tax exemption is filed under this chapter, or within an authorized extension of this time limit, and the authorized representative of the city determines that improvements were constructed consistent with the application and other applicable requirements, and the owner's property is qualified for a limited tax exemption under this chapter, the city must file the certificate of tax exemption with the county assessor within ten days of the expiration of the thirty-day period provided under subsection (2) of this section.

(4) The authorized representative of the city must notify the applicant that a certificate of tax exemption is not going to be filed if the authorized representative determines that:

(a) The rehabilitation or new construction was not completed within three years of the application date, or within any authorized extension of the time limit;

(b) The rehabilitation or new construction is not constructed consistent with the application or other applicable requirements;

(c) If applicable, the additional criteria related to a qualifying project under section 4 of this act were not met; or

(d) The owner's property is otherwise not qualified for limited exemption under this chapter.

(5) If the authorized representative of the city finds that construction or rehabilitation of a qualifying project was not completed within the required time period due to circumstances beyond the control of the owner and that the owner has been acting and could reasonably be expected to act in good faith and with due diligence, the governing authority or the city official authorized by the governing authority may extend the deadline for completion of construction or rehabilitation for a period not to exceed twenty-four consecutive months.

(6) The governing authority may provide by ordinance for an appeal of a decision by the deciding officer or authority that an owner is not entitled to a certificate of tax exemption to the governing authority, a hearing examiner, or other city officer authorized by the governing authority to hear the appeal in accordance with such reasonable procedures and time periods as provided by ordinance of the governing authority. The owner may appeal a decision by the deciding officer or authority that is not subject to local appeal or a decision by the local appeal authority that the owner is not entitled to a certificate of tax exemption in superior court under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598, if the appeal is filed within thirty days of notification by the city to the owner of the decision being challenged.

(a) A statement of the family living wage jobs at the qualifying project as of the anniversary date;

(b) A certification by the owner that the property has not changed use and, if applicable, that the property has been in compliance with all criteria under sections 4 and 9 of this act since the date of the certificate approved by the city;

(c) A description of changes or improvements constructed after issuance of the certificate of tax exemption; and

(d) Any additional information requested by the city in regards to the units receiving a tax exemption.

(2) All cities, which issue certificates of tax exemption for qualifying projects that conform to the requirements of this chapter, must publish on the city's web site, or in another format that is easily available to the public, annually by December 31st of each year, beginning in 2018, the following information:

(a) The number of tax exemption certificates granted;

(b) A description of the new construction and rehabilitation improvements of any qualifying projects;

(c) The value of the tax exemption for each project receiving a tax exemption and the total value of tax exemptions granted;

(d) The number of family living wage jobs located at the qualifying project; and

(e) A comparison of the data required in this section with the data included in the findings developed when the commercial office development targeted area was established.

(a) Additional real property tax must be imposed upon the value of the nonqualifying improvements in the amount that would normally be imposed, plus a penalty must be imposed amounting to twenty percent. This additional tax is calculated based upon the difference between the property tax paid and the property tax that would have been paid if it had included the value of the nonqualifying improvements dated back to the date that the improvements were converted to a use that no longer qualifies them for the exemption;

(b) The tax must include interest upon the amounts of the additional tax at the same statutory rate charged on delinquent property taxes from the dates on which the additional tax could have been paid without penalty if the improvements had been assessed at a value without regard to this chapter; and

(c) The additional tax owed together with interest and penalty must become a lien on the land and attach at the time that the property or portion of the property no longer qualifies for the exemption, and has priority to and must be fully paid and satisfied before a recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation, or responsibility to or with which the land may become charged or liable. The lien may be foreclosed upon expiration of the same period after delinquency and in the same manner provided by law for foreclosure of liens for delinquent real property taxes. An additional tax unpaid on its due date is delinquent. From the date of delinquency until paid, interest must be charged at the same rate applied by law to delinquent ad valorem property taxes.

(2) Upon a determination that a tax exemption is to be canceled for a reason stated in this section, the governing authority or authorized representative must notify the record owner of the property as shown by the tax rolls by mail, return receipt requested, of the determination to cancel the exemption. The owner may appeal the determination to the governing authority or authorized representative, within thirty days by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the governing authority, which notice must specify the factual and legal basis on which the determination of cancellation is alleged to be erroneous. The governing authority or a hearing examiner or other official authorized by the governing authority may hear the appeal. At the hearing, all affected parties may be heard and all competent evidence received. After the hearing, the deciding body or officer must either affirm, modify, or repeal the decision of cancellation of exemption based on the evidence received. An aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the deciding body or officer to the superior court under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598.

(3) Upon determination by the governing authority or authorized representative to cancel an exemption, the county officials having possession of the assessment and tax rolls must correct the rolls in the manner provided for omitted property under RCW 84.40.080. The county assessor must make such a valuation of the property and improvements as is necessary to permit the correction of the rolls. The value of the new construction and rehabilitation improvements added to the rolls is considered as new construction for the purposes of chapter 84.55 RCW. The owner may appeal the valuation to the county board of equalization under chapter 84.48 RCW and according to the provisions of RCW 84.40.038. If there has been a failure to comply with this chapter, the property must be listed as an omitted assessment for assessment years beginning January 1st of the calendar year in which the noncompliance first occurred, but the listing as an omitted assessment may not be for a period more than three calendar years preceding the year in which the failure to comply was discovered.

(2) The exemption is limited to ten successive years, beginning the January 1st immediately following the calendar year in which a certificate of tax exemption is filed by the city with the county assessor in accordance with section 13 of this act.

(2) The study must include, but is not limited to, an assessment of the local sales and use tax exemption and the property tax exemption programs authorized under this chapter and an evaluation of:

(a) The availability of quality office space;

(b) The effects on affordable housing;

(c) The effects on transportation, traffic congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions; and

(d) Job creation.

(3) By October 1, 2025, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department of commerce must submit to the appropriate committees of the legislature a final study with findings and recommendations.

(4) This section expires December 31, 2025.

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