﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><CertifiedBill type="pl" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><EnrollingCertificate xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document" type="hBill"><Table align="center" pubwidth="wide" width="504.0pt" fontFamily="Courier New"><Col width="252.0pt" /><Col width="228.0pt" /><TR><TDEnroll><Passage><PassedBy chamber="h"><PassedDate>February 11, 2026</PassedDate><Yeas>94</Yeas><Nays>1</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy><PassedBy chamber="s"><PassedDate>February 28, 2026</PassedDate><Yeas>48</Yeas><Nays>1</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy></Passage></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><Certificate><P><TextRun>I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is </TextRun><TextRun fontWeight="bold">SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1859</TextRun><TextRun> as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.</TextRun></P><Certifier /><CertifierPosition>Chief Clerk</CertifierPosition></Certificate></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><ApprovedDate /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><FiledDate /></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><Governor /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Secretary of State</TextRun></P><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold"> State of Washington</TextRun></P></TDEnroll></TR></Table></EnrollingCertificate><Bill type="bill" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><BillHeading><ShortBillId>2SHB 1859.PL</ShortBillId><LongBillId>SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1859</LongBillId><PLMessage><Message>Passed Legislature</Message><PLSession>2026 Regular Session</PLSession></PLMessage><Legislature>69th Legislature</Legislature><Session>2026 Regular Session</Session><Sponsors>House Finance (originally sponsored by Representatives Salahuddin, Peterson, Doglio, Parshley, Dufault, Leavitt, Reed, Gregerson, Nance, Street, Obras, Ormsby, Hill, Timmons, Duerr, and Callan)</Sponsors><BillHistory><ReadDate>READ FIRST TIME 02/03/26.</ReadDate></BillHistory><BriefDescription>Expanding opportunities for affordable housing developments on properties owned by religious organizations.</BriefDescription></BillHeading>

<BillBody>
<BillTitle>AN ACT Relating to expanding opportunities for affordable housing developments on properties owned by religious organizations; and amending RCW 35.63.280, 35A.63.300, and 36.70A.545.</BillTitle>
<EnactedClause />
<BillSection type="amendatory" action="amend">
<BillSectionHeader><BillSectionNumber><TextRun>Sec. </TextRun><Value>1</Value><TextRun>.  </TextRun></BillSectionNumber><SectionCite><TextRun>RCW </TextRun><TitleNumber>35</TitleNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><ChapterNumber>63</ChapterNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><SectionNumber>280</SectionNumber></SectionCite> and 2019 c 218 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:<Caption>Increased density bonus for affordable housing located on property owned by a religious organization.</Caption></BillSectionHeader>
<P>(1) A city planning under this chapter must allow an increased density bonus consistent with local needs for any affordable housing development of any single-family or multifamily residence located on real property owned or controlled by a religious organization provided that:</P>
<P indent="1">(a) <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">The</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i) At least 50 percent of the</TextRun> affordable housing development is set aside for or occupied exclusively by low-income households; <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1"><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii) At least 20 percent of the affordable housing development is set aside for or occupied exclusively by very low-income households;</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1">(b) The affordable housing development is part of a lease or other binding obligation that requires <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">the development to be used exclusively for affordable housing purposes</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">the affordability requirements and other conditions in this subsection (1) to be maintained</TextRun> for at least <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">fifty</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">50</TextRun> years, even if the religious organization no longer owns the property; and</P>
<P indent="1">(c) The affordable housing development does not discriminate against any person who qualifies as a member of a low-income household based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability; or otherwise act in violation of the federal fair housing amendments act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.).</P>
<P indent="1">(2) A city <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">may</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">must</TextRun> develop policies to implement this section if it receives a request from a religious organization for an increased density bonus for an affordable housing development. <TextRun amendingStyle="add">A city may establish policies to require an affordable housing development to set aside more residential dwelling units for low-income or very low-income households than is required under subsection (1) of this section to qualify for the increased density bonus.</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1">(3) The religious organization <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or an entity leasing the property for the purpose of</TextRun> developing the affordable housing development must pay all fees, mitigation costs, and other charges required through the development of the affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(4) If applicable, the religious organization developing the affordable housing development should work with the local transit agency to ensure appropriate transit services are provided to the affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(5) This section applies to any religious organization rehabilitating an existing affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(6) For purposes of this section:</P>
<P indent="1">(a) "Affordable housing development" means a proposed or existing structure in which <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">one hundred</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">50</TextRun> percent of all single-family or multifamily residential dwelling units within the development are set aside for or are occupied by low-income households <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">at a sales price or rent amount that may not exceed thirty percent of the income limit for the low-income housing unit</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or 20 percent of all single-family or multifamily residential dwelling units within the development are set aside for or occupied by very low-income households, whose monthly housing costs, including utilities other than telephone, do not exceed 30 percent of the household's monthly income</TextRun>;</P>
<P indent="1">(b) "Low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">less than eighty</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">at or below 80</TextRun> percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the affordable housing development is located<TextRun amendingStyle="add">, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development</TextRun>; <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">and</TextRun></P>
<P>(c) "Religious organization" has the same meaning as in RCW 35.21.915<TextRun amendingStyle="add">; and</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(d) "Very low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below 50 percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the affordable housing development is located, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development</TextRun>.</P>
<History>2019 c 218 s 1.</History>
</BillSection>
<BillSection type="amendatory" action="amend">
<BillSectionHeader><BillSectionNumber><TextRun>Sec. </TextRun><Value>2</Value><TextRun>.  </TextRun></BillSectionNumber><SectionCite><TextRun>RCW </TextRun><TitleNumber>35A</TitleNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><ChapterNumber>63</ChapterNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><SectionNumber>300</SectionNumber></SectionCite> and 2019 c 218 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:<Caption>Increased density bonus for affordable housing located on property owned by a religious organization.</Caption></BillSectionHeader>
<P>(1) A city planning under this chapter must allow an increased density bonus consistent with local needs for any affordable housing development of any single-family or multifamily residence located on real property owned or controlled by a religious organization provided that:</P>
<P indent="1">(a) <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">The</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i) At least 50 percent of the</TextRun> affordable housing development is set aside for or occupied exclusively by low-income households; <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii) At least 20 percent of the affordable housing development is set aside for or occupied exclusively by very low-income households;</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1">(b) The affordable housing development is part of a lease or other binding obligation that requires <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">the development to be used exclusively for affordable housing purposes</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">the affordability requirements and other conditions in this subsection (1) to be maintained</TextRun> for at least <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">fifty</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">50</TextRun> years, even if the religious organization no longer owns the property; and</P>
<P indent="1">(c) The affordable housing development does not discriminate against any person who qualifies as a member of a low-income household based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability; or otherwise act in violation of the federal fair housing amendments act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.).</P>
<P indent="1">(2) A city <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">may</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">must</TextRun> develop policies to implement this section if it receives a request from a religious organization for an increased density bonus for an affordable housing development. <TextRun amendingStyle="add">A city may establish policies to require an affordable housing development to set aside more residential dwelling units for low-income or very low-income households than is required under subsection (1) of this section to qualify for the increased density bonus.</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1">(3) The religious organization <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or an entity leasing the property for the purpose of</TextRun> developing the affordable housing development must pay all fees, mitigation costs, and other charges required through the development of the affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(4) If applicable, the religious organization developing the affordable housing development should work with the local transit agency to ensure appropriate transit services are provided to the affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(5) This section applies to any religious organization rehabilitating an existing affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(6) For purposes of this section:</P>
<P indent="1">(a) "Affordable housing development" means a proposed or existing structure in which <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">one hundred</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">50</TextRun> percent of all single-family or multifamily residential dwelling units within the development are set aside for or are occupied by low-income households <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">at a sales price or rent amount that may not exceed thirty percent of the income limit for the low-income housing unit</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or 20 percent of all single-family or multifamily residential dwelling units within the development are set aside for or occupied by very low-income households, whose monthly housing costs, including utilities other than telephone, do not exceed 30 percent of the household's monthly income</TextRun>;</P>
<P indent="1">(b) "Low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">less than eighty</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">at or below 80</TextRun> percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the affordable housing development is located<TextRun amendingStyle="add">, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development</TextRun>; <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">and</TextRun></P>
<P>(c) "Religious organization" has the same meaning as in RCW 35A.21.360<TextRun amendingStyle="add">; and</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(d) "Very low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below 50 percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the affordable housing development is located, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development</TextRun>.</P>
<History>2019 c 218 s 2.</History>
</BillSection>
<BillSection type="amendatory" action="amend">
<BillSectionHeader><BillSectionNumber><TextRun>Sec. </TextRun><Value>3</Value><TextRun>.  </TextRun></BillSectionNumber><SectionCite><TextRun>RCW </TextRun><TitleNumber>36</TitleNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><ChapterNumber>70A</ChapterNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><SectionNumber>545</SectionNumber></SectionCite> and 2019 c 218 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:<Caption>Increased density bonus for affordable housing located on property owned by a religious organization.</Caption></BillSectionHeader>
<P>(1) Any city or county fully planning under this chapter must allow an increased density bonus consistent with local needs for any affordable housing development of any single-family or multifamily residence located on real property owned or controlled by a religious organization provided that:</P>
<P indent="1">(a) <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">The</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i) At least 50 percent of the</TextRun> affordable housing development is set aside for or occupied exclusively by low-income households; <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1"><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii) At least 20 percent of the affordable housing development is set aside for or occupied exclusively by very low-income households;</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1">(b) The affordable housing development is part of a lease or other binding obligation that requires <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">the development to be used exclusively for affordable housing purposes</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">the affordability requirements and other conditions in this subsection (1) to be maintained</TextRun> for at least <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">fifty</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">50</TextRun> years, even if the religious organization no longer owns the property; and</P>
<P indent="1">(c) The affordable housing development does not discriminate against any person who qualifies as a member of a low-income household based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability; or otherwise act in violation of the federal fair housing amendments act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.).</P>
<P indent="1">(2) A city or county <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">may</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">must</TextRun> develop policies to implement this section if it receives a request from a religious organization for an increased density bonus for an affordable housing development. <TextRun amendingStyle="add">A city or county may establish policies to require an affordable housing development to set aside more residential dwelling units for low-income or very low-income households than is required under subsection (1) of this section to qualify for the increased density bonus.</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1">(3) An affordable housing development created by a religious institution within a city or county fully planning under RCW 36.70A.040 must be located within an urban growth area as defined in RCW 36.70A.110.</P>
<P indent="1">(4) The religious organization <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or an entity leasing the property for the purpose of</TextRun> developing the affordable housing development must pay all fees, mitigation costs, and other charges required through the development of the affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(5) If applicable, the religious organization developing the affordable housing development should work with the local transit agency to ensure appropriate transit services are provided to the affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(6) This section applies to any religious organization rehabilitating an existing affordable housing development.</P>
<P indent="1">(7) For purposes of this section:</P>
<P indent="1">(a) "Affordable housing development" means a proposed or existing structure in which <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">one hundred</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">50</TextRun> percent of all single-family or multifamily residential dwelling units within the development are set aside for or are occupied by low-income households <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">at a sales price or rent amount that may not exceed thirty percent of the income limit for the low-income housing unit</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">or 20 percent of all single-family or multifamily residential dwelling units within the development are set aside for or occupied by very low-income households, whose monthly housing costs, including utilities other than telephone, do not exceed 30 percent of the household's monthly income</TextRun>;</P>
<P indent="1">(b) "Low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">less than eighty</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">at or below 80</TextRun> percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the affordable housing development is located<TextRun amendingStyle="add">, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development</TextRun>; <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">and</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1">(c) "Religious organization" has the same meaning as in RCW 36.01.290<TextRun amendingStyle="add">; and</TextRun></P>
<P indent="1"><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(d) "Very low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is at or below 50 percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the affordable housing development is located, as reported by the United States department of housing and urban development</TextRun>.</P>
<History>2019 c 218 s 3.</History>
</BillSection>
</BillBody>
</Bill></CertifiedBill>