Showing why housing in Washington ranks among the unaffordable in the nation, Governor Gary Locke’s office testified against HB1430, which is legislation requiring all state agencies to conduct a housing impact statement on all proposed regulations. It would force state government to consider the cost impact of a proposed regulation on housing before adopting any new rule.

The homebuilding industry in Washington is among the most heavily regulated and taxed in the nation, adding approximately 25 percent to the cost of an average home.

“The only way to keep sky-rocketing home prices under control is to keep unnecessary and costly regulations under control,” said Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) President Randy Gold. “Requiring agencies to conduct a housing impact statement on proposed regulations would force the issue of how that regulation will affect home prices into the open.”

Testimony before the House against the bill by Locke’s policy staff focused on the cost to state agencies.

“It seems Locke is more concerned with keeping it easy for his state agencies to pass rules and regulations than with keeping housing affordable for the state’s working families,” said Gold.