Sign up for Online Participation in State Legislative Session!
Futurewise is our partner organization that works with our county council and the state legislature to update the Growth Management Act. Each year, members work to evolve this 30-year-old legislation to be relevant in the future plans for our county. This year, sponsored legislation will add an element for the largest counties to plan for sea level rise, wildfires, and other climate-related hazards.
In Pierce County last fall, Futurewise provided research about our counties development and reported on details that made it possible to remove the Bonus Density from being used in the county’s rural area. It prevented further urban sprawl in areas without government services and infrastructure. The planning jargon is for urban planners and people like you who want to preserve our rural creeks, lakes, forests and farms.
There are two ways to join into the fun to be had in Olympia. “Fun” is the correct word, because going to Olympia year after year, it’s the best party in town, meeting up with old friends who are there to help improve legislation to create a more livable state.
The entry level to participate in this party and meeting your legislators in your political party is to get involved with Lobby Day on February 5th, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.
You don’t need to join Futurewise to get involved. That step comes later, when you see how effective Futurewise is on the state level and when you learn what Futurewise has done for Pierce County to save our agricultural areas and prevent sprawl.
At Lobby Day, Futurewise’s organizer will set us appointments for you to speak directly with your legislators. RSVP early so Marcella Buser will sign you up for your meetings. Training for lobbying comes on January 29–contact Marcella for details.
The second way to influence legislation is by sending e-mails to your legislators. Marcella will notify you each week when legislation that you care about is coming to a committee. You sign up to support the bill or not by selecting “yes” or “no”, then write your legislator and tell them why the legislation is important to you.
This electronic contact works statewide–it’s amazing what we have already accomplished.
Here’s a link for emailing legislators and participating in committee meetings electronically:
https://futurewise.salsalabs.org/2025LegUpdates/index.html
Here’s a quick summary of the issues we’ll be working on this session:
- Rent stabilization by setting price caps on how much rent can be increased each year. This will keep rents predictable and allow more people to afford to stay in their homes.
- Transit-oriented development and allowing more homes to be built near transit so we are better connected to work, family, and more and make it easier to get around without a car in cities.
- Rural housing solutions that support more homes in rural areas, but still protect our farms, forests, and natural resources like water supplies.
For more information about these legislative priorities, contact Marcella, the State Organizer, with any questions at marcella@futurewise.org.
More Details About This Year’s Legislation
Every year, Futurewise organizes with people like you across Washington to advance priorities at the state legislature. Over the past five years, we’ve scored major victories including:
HB 1220 – Updating the housing element of the Growth Management Act to incorporate principles of racial equity and housing justice. Requires municipalities to plan for housing affordable at every income level, allow emergency and temporary housing, and begin to redress the impacts of historic racist segregation. SB 5042 – Closing the sprawl loophole of the Growth Management Act to protect farmland and wildlife habitat from sprawl (also known as the “vesting loophole”).
HB 1181 – Adding a climate element to the Growth Management Act. Washington’s largest counties will be required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, and all cities and counties will be required to plan for sea level rise, wildfires, and drought.
HB 1110 – Legalizing middle housing types statewide, like duplexes, fourplexes and sixplexes. Includes density bonuses for affordable units.
Our 2025 agenda builds on this work with two major legislative priorities:
Transit-Oriented Development – As our state grows and invests in our transportation system, we need to make sure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to live near transit. We’re working on legislation that will increase the zoning capacity around transit, especially the expanded Link light rail system. •
Advancing Housing Affordability in Rural Areas – In the 2024 session, we worked with many of you to protect rural areas from sprawl by defeating bills that would have allowed detached accessory dwelling units in rural areas without counting those units toward growth targets. In 2025, we’ll be working with rural legislators on housing solutions that prevent sprawl, protect our water resources, and promote housing affordability.
Want to get involved? Contact our State Organizer Marcella Buser: marcella@futurewise.org