The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

OLYMPIA—Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill on Monday, initially sponsored by Representatives Klicker, Leavitt, Barkis, Jacobsen, Waters, Chapman, Reed, and Graham, increasing affordable housing options in the state.

House Bill 1293 streamlines the permitting process and regulations for developing houses in urban growth areas.

The bill requires cities and counties to plan under the Growth Management Act to ensure their design review process is clear and objective.

“I’m pleased to see this bill pass because it addresses one of our state’s biggest issues,” said Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, the ran...