Funding for more police officers, parking requirements for new housing and penalties for littering. These are just a few of the issues covered by 333 new Washington state laws that took effect July 27.
The so-called “big, beautiful bill” is expected to blow a multibillion-dollar hole into the state’s budget, and kick hundreds of thousands of residents off their insurance if they don’t prove they meet new requirements.
The bill squeaked through the House by a single vote, with only Republicans in support. Washington state's two Republicans, U.S. Reps. Michael Baumgartner Dan Newhouse, of Sunnyside, both voted for it. Both their districts have the highest proportion of Medicaid enrollees in Washington.
Effective immediately, the law caps residential rent hikes during a 12-month period at 7% plus inflation, or 10%, whichever is lower. The limit will last 15 years. The bill also restricts manufactured home rent increases to 5% with no expiration date.