NAIOPWA State Legislative Update - April 25

by: Krystelle Purkey & Ehren Flygare
Category: NAIOP News
Tags
Apr
25

NAIOPWA Legislative Session Report - Week 15

Krystelle Purkey and Ehren Flygare, State Lobbyists

With just two days left of the 2025 regular legislative session, there is speculation that we may be headed into a special session if lawmakers are unable to agree on a budget by sine die.

Rent Caps Bill Gets Another Round of Changes in Conference Committee

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives declined to concur with the Senate-made changes to EHB 1217, the rent caps bill, and instead requested a conference with the Senate to negotiate an agreement on the legislation's provisions.
 
Six lawmakers were appointed to the conference committee, including Strom Peterson (D-21), Nicole Macri (D-43), and Sam Low (R-39) from the House and Emily Alvarado (D-34), Jessica Bateman (D-22), and Keith Goehner (R-12) from the Senate.
 
In a party-line vote on Thursday evening, the conference committee adopted a striking amendment that made substantial changes to the bill, most notable of which was revising the cap from 10% + CPI to 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less, as well as a lowered new construction exemption of 12 years.
 

Revenue Proposals: A Race to the Finish Line
The most current Democrat tax suite projects a revenue of approximately $12.2 billion over the four-year outlook.

Major tax bills still in play include an excise tax on zero-emissions vehicle credits, an expansion of the capital gains and estate taxes, a B&O tax on high-grossing businesses, sales tax on certain services, tax preference repeals, and a possible watered-down wealth tax poised to test the constitutionality of the policy. Governor Ferguson has signaled his opposition to the original wealth tax proposal that hoped to raised an estimated $2-4 billion over the next biennium.

To read the full legislative update using your NAIOPWA member profile, click here. 
Share this post: