June 2025

June 30, 2025

Seattle bans landlords from using rent-setting software like RealPage — The City Council approved the measure 7–0, citing concerns over algorithmic price fixing and its impact on housing affordability.

June 23, 2025

Mayor Harrell proposes $2 million bridge loan to sustain social housing developer until tax revenue arrives — Seattle’s voter-created public housing agency faces a funding gap until 2026; short-term city loan aims to keep operations and acquisitions moving.

June 16, 2025

Mayor proposes sweeping design review overhaul to speed up housing  — Plan includes interim pause, fewer required meetings, and permanent reforms aligned with state law.

June 9, 2025

Judge blocks restrictions on King County housing and transit funds — Court halts Trump administration’s ban on diversity, abortion, immigration and transgender program requirements.

The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed new interim zoning rules that dramatically reshape what can be built in residential neighborhoods across the city. The legislation, passed this week, brings Seattle into compliance with recent state mandates to allow more ‘middle housing’ and will ...

May 2025

May 12, 2025

Ferguson signs rent cap bill into law, limiting increases to 7% plus inflation — The new law applies to most rental homes statewide, including single-family units, and makes Washington one of the few states with rent control protections.

President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a 2026 budget proposal that would slash non-defense discretionary spending by $163 billion — a 22% cut from current levels — while boosting defense and homeland security budgets by more than $375 billion combined. The plan calls for major reductions a...

April 2025

The Washington Legislature passed a bill this week to cap most annual rent increases at 7% plus inflation, or 10%, whichever is lower. The measure cleared both chambers over the weekend and now awaits the governor’s signature. If enacted, the new caps would take effect in 2026 and apply to both...