A bill that was stalled before heading to its chamber floor for a vote last session is back with a hearing scheduled for the third day of session. SB 5730, sponsored by Sen. Phil Fortunato (R–Auburn), intends to address the Seattle v. Long case that a vehicle being used as a primary residence constitutes a homestead.

The substitute proposal, overall, aligns with many of the recommendations from a 2022 budget proviso work group that included AWC as a stakeholder. The bill would:

• Allow for a notice period for those living in an illegally parked vehicle to notify law enforcement before towing.
• Provide for a funding source to create more safe parking areas.
• Provides court procedures to address those residing in vehicles who do not legally own the vehicle a process to claim it.
• Provides the abandoned recreational vehicle account as a source of funding to reimburse towing operators if the court finds the vehicle resident is indigent and unable to pay full the storage or towing costs.

The bill also would remove vehicles used as a residence that are illegally parked in the public right-of-way or on public property from the definition of a homestead under RCW 6.13.010.

Dates to remember

SB 5730 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing on Wednesday, January 10 at 10:30 am.