Forty MBAKS members and staff traveled to Olympia Thursday, January 29 for our Annual Hill Day where we met with elected leaders to advocate for housing. The event was timed strategically just before the first policy committee cutoff, ensuring that industry voices were heard at a pivotal time for our priority bills.

MBAKS took part in 43 meetings with legislators from King and Snohomish counties, as well as the Governor’s office and Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, to elevate our housing priorities.

“This year marks the highest number of face-to-face meetings ever held on one of our Hill Days,” said Dylan Sluder, MBAKS’s state government affairs manager. “Many thanks to our MBAKS members who showed up, shared their expertise, and helped make the day such a success!”

Read MBAKS’s 2026 State Legislative Priorities to learn more about the bills members highlighted in conversations with state leaders.

In addition to meetings with legislators, MBAKS had the opportunity to participate in a legislative hearing on one of our priority bills to modernize and streamline state subdivision laws, SB 5633. The bill was heard by the Senate Local Government Committee on January 29.

Special thanks to MBAKS members Mark Villwock of DR Horton and Ian Faulds of Core Design for joining MBAKS General Counsel Brian Holtzclaw in testifying on behalf of this priority legislation.

Hill Day is MBAKS’s most important advocacy event of the year. It’s an opportunity for members to engage directly with Washington state legislators and share real-world perspectives on how state policies affect housing supply, affordability, and our ability to deliver homes in our communities.

Read our latest Legislative Session Update.

By Everett Herald

Brief: The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties was honored by the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers program with an award for Demonstrating Remodeling Excellence in the Public Relations and Promotion category.

Event part of MBAKS’ ongoing engagement on HB 1110 & HB 1337 implementation

MBAKS recently hosted a Middle Housing Forum focusing on state law changes now being implemented that could transform the housing landscape in our region and state.

The March 25 learn-at-lunch style event drew nearly 100 attendees. It was designed to help MBAKS members navigate the coming changes related to middle housing and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) following the adoption of HB 1110 and HB 1337 in 2023.

Panelists included Lilith Vespier, Infill Housing Manager with the Department of Commerce; Adam Weinstein, Director of Planning & Building for the City of Kirkland; and Ryan Gillis, Founder and CEO of Gillis Real Estate. 

In case you missed it, members can find a copy of the presenters’ PowerPoint slides on our Middle Housing & ADU Resources page, which is part of the Resource Library on MBAKS Connect.

Following panel presentations, attendees also heard brief updates from a handful of other city representatives in attendance from Bellevue, Bothell, Kent, and Lynnwood. Many cities in our two counties are in the process of updating local codes to comply with the new middle housing and ADU state laws. Local jurisdictions have until June 30, 2025 to update their codes.

The forum ended with audience Q&A time. During this open discussion, some members reiterated a point Ryan Gillis made during his presentation--the importance of flexibility in local codes so that builders can better respond to market demand. Another member stressed the importance of ensuring floor area ratios and building heights are properly set so that more project types are feasible to build. 

Members also expressed concerns about affordable housing fees that some jurisdictions are adopting alongside middle housing codes, as they will create unnecessary barriers to adding more housing choices.

MBAKS Executive Director Jerry Hall closed by sharing MBAKS’ overarching suggestion for cities implementing middle housing and ADU changes – “keep it simple.” The easier and more cost-effective it is to build middle housing, the more likely it is to be built, and the more attainable it will be for those looking for a place to call home.

Thanks to all who attended the Middle Housing Forum! To keep up with our advocacy work and changes related to middle housing and ADUs, MBAKS members are encouraged to engage with our Builders Councils.