SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1890
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Housing, February 16, 2024
Title: An act relating to housing authorities.
Brief Description: Concerning housing authorities.
Sponsors: Representatives Alvarado, Klicker, Peterson, Bateman, Connors, Macri, Corry, Barkis, Berry, Morgan, Leavitt, Tharinger, Reed, Ormsby, Barnard, Street, Gregerson, Reeves and Chopp.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/6/24, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Housing: 2/16/24 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows a joint housing authority to be formed by two or more city governments without county legislative authority authorization.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Kuderer, Chair; Fortunato, Ranking Member; Braun, Cleveland, Gildon, Saldaña, Shewmake, Trudeau and Wilson, J..
Staff: Melissa Van Gorkom (786-7491)
Background:

The state?s Housing Authority Law authorizes the establishment of local public housing authorities (PHA) in every city and county within the state.  A PHA must be activated by a resolution of the governing body of a city or county, and a PHA's boundaries are coextensive with the creating city or county, unless established as a joint housing authority.

The legislative authorities of one or more counties and the legislative authorities of any city or cities within one or more counties may authorize a joint housing authority by ordinance.  The ordinances creating a joint housing authority must prescribe:

  • the number of commissioners, length of terms, and method for their appointment, election of officers, and removal of commissioners; and
  • the allocation of all costs of the joint housing authority and other matters necessary for its operation.

 

The area of operation of a joint housing authority is the combined areas of the housing authorities created in each city and county authorizing the joint housing authority.

PHAs primarily serve as a conduit for federally funded housing programs, such as tenant-based vouchers and publicly owned housing. PHAs also own and operate other rental housing, such as emergency and transitional housing, senior housing, and properties funded through low-income housing tax credits.  The PHAs have no taxing authority.
Summary of Bill:

Legislative authorities that have created housing authorities may form a joint housing authority with two or more city governments without county legislative authority authorization.  The ordinances creating a joint housing authority must provide:

  • for the creation of a new public body corporate and politic; or
  • that a housing authority created and previously activated by resolution of one of the legislative authorities creating the joint housing authority will be converted to and operate as a joint housing authority.

 

Unless a delayed date is specified in the ordinances, the creation of, or conversion to, a joint housing authority will take effect upon the latest effective date of the ordinances providing for its creation.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying:

N/A
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying:

N/A