HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2992

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title:  An act relating to transportation‑related impact fees for residential construction.

Brief Description:  Concerning the collection of transportation‑related impact fees for residential construction.

Sponsors:  Representatives Kirby, O'Brien, Reardon, Jarrett, Lovick, Armstrong, Morell and Hatfield.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/26/02, 2/27/02 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

$Authorizes cities and counties to assess impact fees for residential construction only after the project is completed or occupied.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 20 members: Representatives Fisher, Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Armstrong, Ericksen, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Holmquist, Jackley, Jarrett, Mielke, Morell, Reardon, Rockefeller, Schindler, Skinner, Sullivan and Woods.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Cooper, Vice Chair; Edwards, Murray, Ogden, Romero, Simpson and Wood.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786‑7303).

Background:

Impact fees to mitigate the costs of public facilities made necessary by development may be assessed on project developers.  These assessments include transportation‑related assessments on housing units, to compensate public agencies for the cost of mitigating the impact of increased trips made to those developments.  In most cases the payment for the costs of mitigation must be made up front before a development permit will be issued.

Summary of Bill:

Cities and counties may only assess transportation‑related impact fees for residential construction at:  a) The time of title transfer to the occupant; b) 12 months after the building permit is issued; c) at the time of final inspection of the residence; or d) at the time the certificate of occupancy is issued.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Allowing builders to pay transportation-related impact fees when properties are sold should help reduce the costs of housing.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support) Representative Kirby, prime sponsor; and Bob Camp, homebuilder from Pierce County.

(With concerns) Ashley Probart, Association of Washington Cities.