Grassroots Advocacy & Legislative Session Preview - December

The 2024 Legislative Session begins on January 9, 2024, which is just around the corner. We hope you are looking forward to joining our events and various calls to action to amplify the voice of small housing providers and support rental housing in Washington. 

This year we will undoubtedly see an onslaught of regulations targeting housing providers, many of which we have seen before. Ideas are already being discussed well before the opening day of the legislative session. Rent increase notice periods, late fees, and rent control are just a few examples of the policies we are preparing to take on. We will need your help now more than ever as we not only fight to stop these harmful regulations but also push for things that will help housing providers, such as electronic notices and statewide preemption. The solution to bad housing policy is to not only stop the harmful legislation but to promote and bolster legislation that will make it easier to provide housing. Improving a small housing provider's ability to run their business will reduce costs, make it easier to negotiate lease terms and encourage a more cooperative rental housing environment. The legislative problems we currently face can be solved with legislative solutions and RHAWA is always looking to find these solutions and spread their ideas. But, of course, our success with these goals is dependent on you joining us and sharing your voice.

GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY 
Grassroots advocacy is necessary to defend the rights of housing providers. As said by our President and Executive Director Sean Flynn, one member’s testimony is worth ten of our lobbyists, While some of you might be nervous about giving testimony or speaking to your lawmakers, we strive to make it as easy as possible, from one-click registration to speak, to having our staff, lobbyists and fellow housing providers provide advice and feedback to your testimony, it's never been easier to share your experience with the lawmakers. Learning how to effectively advocate on your own behalf during sessions will also help teach you the skills necessary to engage with local issues as well. It is difficult for us to provide prep sessions for every local issue that arises in city councils but learning how to interpret and present talking points during Legislative Session will ensure that you are fully prepared for anything that may come down the line in your local jurisdiction. Again, it is essential for these lawmakers to hear your lived experiences so they can truly understand the needs and struggles of small housing providers.

In addition to harnessing the voices of our members, we must ensure that all facets of the rental housing industry work together to create a robust and effective grassroots advocacy effort. 

RHAWA has brought together property managers, rental housing owners, manufactured housing owners, and industry professionals from across the state to form the Rental Housing Association Coalition (RHAC). Members of the coalition will be invited and included in our Legislative Session Preparation in order to present a united front in our advocacy efforts.
Coalition members include:

Legislative Events
Legislative Session Kickoff – Join RHAWA leadership and lobbyists to discuss the upcoming legislative session with lawmakers who work hard to support us on the hill. You can help drive the solutions to our challenges by advocating for policies that build a healthy housing economy for all, so don't miss this opportunity to learn how to get involved. Make your voice heard and join us in defending your rights as a housing provider. Join us on January 4, 2024, from 6-7:30 p.m. for our 2024 Legislative Session Kickoff. You can register for this event at: RHAwa.org/events/2024-legislative-session-kick-off.  

Please note: Registering for the kickoff event will automatically register you for all other Legislative Session events. 

Briefing Rooms – Staff and lobbyists will be available to consult with you two hours before any critical hearings in the Virtual Briefing Room throughout the session. They can assist you with signing up for your remote committee testimony and help you prepare your speaking points prior to your appointment.

Weekly Online Meet-Up – Hop into our Monday morning meet-up to learn what the most pressing bills are for the week. You will receive an event reminder with a join link prior to each meet-up.

Legislative Session Recap – This event will discuss the 2024 Legislative Session from start to finish. We will be going over our hardest fights, biggest opportunities, and key takeaways. Don't miss this opportunity to peek behind the curtain and figure out not just what happened, but why it happened. Learn what messaging is effective and how we can bolster our grassroots advocacy efforts. We will also be talking about what comes next, and how to prepare for the upcoming elections. 

Communications
Calls to Action – Watch your inbox for hearing announcements, upcoming events, and Calls to Action! Content from this coalition is developed and approved by our RHAC leadership advocacy team. All Calls to Action and advocacy updates will include a way to submit written testimony or a link that will grant you easy access to the sign-up process.

Advocacy Center – The Advocacy Center is your go-to resource to make sure you're ready to participate in our advocacy efforts. This page is continually updated with our most up-to-date campaign.