Bill > SB5729

This bill aims to encourage the construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process. It introduces a new definition for "licensed professional" to include individuals licensed in Washington State for professions like engineering, land surveying, and architecture, and also defines "submittal materials" as documents related to a project permit application prepared by such a professional. Crucially, the bill amends existing law to prohibit local governments from charging applicants for third-party peer review of submittal materials that have already been reviewed by a licensed professional on the government's staff, unless there's a dispute between the staff and the applicant, thereby reducing costs and delays in the permitting process for housing projects.