OLYMPIA, Wash. — Only a few days into the legislative session, Washington lawmakers are making their priorities known. House Bill 1217, a shot at rent stabilization, quickly passed out of the House housing committee on Monday with a due-pass recommendation.
“Excessive rent increases harms the very fabric and well being of our communities. This bill is about basic fairness,” said the bill’s main sponsor, Democratic Representative Emily Alvarado of West Seattle.
The legislation, if passed, would limit annual rent increases to 7% and bar landlords from raising rent in the first year of a lease…