LEGISLATIVE SESSION: Thank You for Showing Up & Being Involved

As we continue our fight in the 2025 Legislative Session, I wanted to highlight that our members have demonstrated an unprecedented level of engagement and advocacy. This year, the Rental Housing Association Coalition (RHAC) has had some of its highest participation across multiple channels, underscoring the dedication and passion of our members in shaping policy. From record-setting email outreach through our Advocacy Center to a remarkable turnout at the rent control hearing, our members have made their voices heard in an extraordinary way.

EXCELLENT TURNOUT AT THE RENT CONTROL HEARING

One of the most significant moments of this Legislative Session was the great attendance at the first rent control hearing. Well over a hundred members showed up, filling the hearing room and overflowing into adjacent spaces. Our presence sent a powerful message to lawmakers who were likely not expecting us in such significant numbers on the very first day of session. Not only was the turnout significant in size, but the level of enthusiasm was inspiring, nearly the entire line was dressed in “NO CAP” shirts created by the RHAC to communicate the message without even needing to say a word.

This turnout was the result of quick organizing and grassroots mobilization efforts. Through our outreach channels, including social media campaigns and targeted emails, we were able to galvanize support and encourage participation. Despite the delays in the hearing getting started and the lack of time for everyone to testify, members kept their spirits up as we recapped during the follow-up meeting.

The proponents of rent control likely thought they would stifle our engagement efforts with the short notice and significant delays. The strength and dedication of our in-person attendees – as well as several hundred members who shared their perspectives by signing in on the leg.wa website – showed the legislature that they cannot push poor policy through without strong opposition

THE ADVOCACY CENTER REACHES ALL-TIME HIGH

Another major highlight of this Legislative Session has been the use of our Advocacy Center. Our email system has been a valuable tool for member engagement for several years, but in 2025, we witnessed an all-time high in its utilization. Members sent thousands of emails to legislators, urging them to oppose rent control and support alternative policies. The sheer volume of communication underscored the collective strength and commitment of our membership.

Several factors contributed to this surge in engagement. First, we refreshed the Advocacy Center to make it more user-friendly and efficient, allowing members to send personalized messages with greater ease. Additionally, we worked through these stories on briefing room calls to help members craft compelling messages that effectively conveyed their perspectives. 

The impact of this email advocacy cannot be overstated. Lawmakers took notice of the influx of messages and many were compelled to respond to the concerns of our members. Your involvement was so significant this year that our 2025 average attendance is close to our highest one-day number from the entire 2024 session. This level of engagement not only influenced policy discussions but also strengthened our credibility as the leading force in housing issues in Washington State.

BRIEFING ROOM ATTENDANCE

Briefing room attendance has also been higher than in years past. Every year we have successfully hosted more and more members in both our Monday call as well as the calls we host two hours before any hearing. On the first day of session, we had some of our highest attendance in a hearing to date, which fostered great discussion and sharing of different perspectives on the impact of rent control. Throughout the session, members demonstrated a keen interest in staying informed, asking insightful questions, and holding elected officials accountable. 

Our attempts to streamline the process while also sending enough emails that members notice is a unique balance to attempt to maintain, but I am happy to say our Government Affairs team rose to the occasion and made sure our systems were easy to use while also responding to feedback quickly.

LEGISLATIVE DAY ON THE HILL

We hosted the highest number of members at the 2025 Legislative Day on the Hill since before COVID-19 disrupted our ability to host in-person activism. Legislative Day on the Hill allowed members to come down to Olympia in person and engage with policymakers directly. Sharing your stories with these lawmakers makes a huge impact on their perspectives on rental housing policy generally. It’s easy to push forward policy when you don’t have any understanding of how the policy will truly impact members of the community, and that is why Legislative Day on the Hill is so crucial to our fight against harmful policies

Members who attended our event got to meet both their constituent lawmakers as well as several other lawmakers who attended our catered lunch. It always proves to be a unique experience that is informative while also being a lot of fun. Our Government Affairs team always looks forward to hosting this event as we get to show members around the Capitol campus, engage in meaningful discussion, and provide insight into how we do what we do

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THE FUTURE OF RHAC ADVOCACY

As we look ahead, it is clear that the momentum generated during the 2025 Legislative Session must be sustained. The unprecedented engagement we witnessed this year sets a new standard for advocacy within our organization. Building on this success, we will continue to refine our strategies, expand our outreach efforts, and strengthen our relationships with legislators.

One key focus moving forward will be utilizing the feedback from our membership to further enhance engagement. The refinement of our process this year will allow us to explore other methods of getting our members engaged as well. Some of these methods include expanding our presence on social media, developing interactive policy briefings, and providing members with more opportunities to engage in virtual and in-person discussions with lawmakers. 

Additionally, we will continue to prioritize issue-based organizing to ensure that members remain informed and motivated to take action. By providing timely updates on policy developments, hosting briefing rooms, and facilitating direct interactions with policymakers, we will empower our members to remain active participants in the advocacy process.

THANK YOU! LET’S KEEP IT UP

The 2025 Legislative Session has been a landmark period for member engagement. The extraordinary turnout at the rent control hearing, record-breaking participation in the Advocacy Center, and great attendance at Legislative Day on the Hill demonstrate the strength and commitment of our community.
 

Our members have shown that when they come together, they can drive meaningful change and influence lawmakers. This year’s successes reaffirm the importance of grassroots advocacy and the power of collective action. As we continue to build on this momentum throughout the rest of the session, we remain committed to promoting deeper engagement and ensuring that our members' voices continue to be heard. This success would not be possible without each individual member who decided to give some of their time to help us fight against the harmful policies that we battle every year. Keep it up, session isn’t over yet, and we must continue being involved until the very end.