ARCH’s 2026 Legislative Priorities
A key strategy in the 2024 ARCH Strategic Plan was to advance state and regional legislation to promote affordable housing through increasing funding and reducing barriers. This strategy is a continuation of ongoing ARCH work to align policy and funding strategies at the state level. To develop ARCH’s 2026 Legislative Priorities, ARCH staff requested meeting with all ARCH members and with several partner organizations. In those conversations, we heard about the importance of dedicated funding for affordable housing, the need to have time to implement previous state mandates, and the value of unlocking land for affordable housing.
During the September 11, 2025 ARCH Executive Board meeting, the Board reviewed and approved the following 2026 ARCH Legislative Priorities and Principles:
ARCH Priority 1: Increase funding for affordable housing at the state and local levels
1A: Provide local revenue options to support affordable housing (such as a graduated local Real Estate Excise Tax)
1B: Encourage state investments and provide funding incentives for local jurisdictions to promote affordable housing (such as expanding the HB 1406 state sales tax credit)
ARCH Priority 2: Continue to reduce barriers and support local efforts to build more affordable housing faster
2A: Establish development and tax incentives to support affordable rental and ownership housing on properties owned by religious organizations
2B: Support other policies that expand access to land for a range of affordable housing types (such as surplus property policies)
General Policy Principles
ARCH supports policies and continued state assistance that ensure strong local affordable housing projects, plans, and programs (such as the Multifamily Tax Exemption and inclusionary policies).
ARCH recognizes the importance of maintaining the existing stock of affordable housing in East King County and protecting prior investments.
ARCH encourages its members to consider these legislative priorities as they create their own legislative agendas.
Resource: ARCH legislative priorities and principles handout
