The House has passed a bill aimed at identifying and removing unlawful deed restrictions, including racial discrimination covenants.

HB 1335 continues to maintain the goal of removing racial deed restrictions, but no longer mandates that cities and counties shoulder the burden to locate relevant records and notify property owners. The substitute version as passed the House would:

• Subject to appropriations, require the University of Washington and Eastern Washington University to review existing deeds and covenants for unlawful racial or other discriminatory restrictions and provide notice to property owners and county auditors. This section expires on July 1, 2027.
• Amend the seller disclosure statement on the sale of real property to require a notice to the buyer that covenant or deed restrictions based on race or other protected classes are unlawful and provide the methods by which such restrictions can be struck.
• Provide a process for striking and removing unlawful provisions from the record and chain of title after a property owner files an action in superior court. The original document containing the unlawful restrictions may be preserved for historical or archival purposes.

AWC appreciates the more streamlined and less administratively burdensome means to achieve the noble goals of the bill.

Date to remember

HB 1335 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee on Thursday, March 18 at 8 am.