Bill > HB2266

This bill aims to address the housing shortage and homelessness crisis in Washington state by encouraging the development of permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters. It mandates that cities and counties must allow these types of housing in zones where residential units or hotels are already permitted, and prohibits them from being exclusively zoned for industrial use. The bill also requires that these housing types be subject to the same development standards and permit review processes as other residential or lodging developments, with limited exceptions for objective health and safety regulations. For indoor emergency shelters and housing, specific certification requirements are outlined for sponsors, and provisions are made for good faith negotiations regarding proximity to other shelters or schools, with exceptions for housing for minors, families, or domestic violence victims. The bill also clarifies definitions for various housing types and establishes a timeline for local governments to adopt these new requirements into their regulations, stating that these provisions supersede any conflicting local laws.