Washington SB 6167: Concerning local government procurement rules.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to prohibiting homebuyers from receiving multiple 1
state-funded down payment assistance loans or grants; amending RCW 2
43.79.567, 43.185A.140, and 43.181.040; and creating a new section.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that 5
homeownership is a cornerstone of economic stability, family 6
security, and generational wealth. State-funded down payment 7
assistance programs exist to open the door to homeownership for 8
individuals and families who might not otherwise have that 9
opportunity. These programs are funded with limited public dollars, 10
and their success depends on ensuring that assistance is distributed 11
fairly, transparently, and in a manner that reaches as many qualified 12
first-time homebuyers as possible.13
(2) The legislature further finds that in recent years, instances 14
of "stacking" multiple state-funded down payment assistance programs 15
have reduced the overall reach of these investments. While each 16
program was created with good intentions, they were not designed to 17
provide multiple overlapping assistance to a single buyer. When one 18
homebuyer receives more assistance than needed to successfully 19
purchase a home, another family waiting for help is left without a 20
path forward.21
S-3689.1
SENATE BILL 6167
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Goehner and Gildon
p. 1 SB 6167

(3) It is the intent of the legislature to reaffirm the original 1
purpose of these programs: To expand access to homeownership, not 2
concentrate benefits. By limiting homebuyers to one state-funded down 3
payment assistance loan or grant, the state can responsibly stretch 4
limited resources, support a greater number of first-time homebuyers, 5
and uphold the public's trust in the integrity of these programs.6
Sec. 2. RCW 43.79.567 and 2025 c 424 s 952 are each amended to 7
read as follows:8
(1) The community reinvestment account is created in the state 9
treasury. Revenues to the account shall consist of appropriations and 10
transfers by the legislature and all other moneys directed for 11
deposit into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only 12
after appropriation.13
(2) Expenditures from the account may be used by the department 14
of commerce for:15
(a) Economic development, which includes addressing wealth 16
disparities to promote asset building such as homeownership and 17
expanding access to financial resources including, but not limited 18
to, grants and loans for small businesses and entrepreneurs, 19
financial literacy training, and other small business training and 20
support activities. However, a homebuyer is prohibited from receiving 21
multiple state-funded down payment assistance loans or grants from 22
any programs created under this section or RCW 43.185A.140 or 23
43.181.040. A homebuyer who applies for down payment assistance loans 24
or grants under multiple state-funded programs, or for multiple down 25
payment assistance loans or grants under one state-funded program, is 26
only eligible to accept one state-funded loan or grant offer;27
(b) Civil and criminal legal assistance to provide postconviction 28
relief and case assistance, including the expungement of criminal 29
records and vacation of criminal convictions;30
(c) Community-based violence intervention and prevention 31
services, which may include after-school programs focused on 32
providing education and mentorship to youths;33
(d) Reentry services to facilitate successful transitions for 34
persons formerly incarcerated in an adult correctional facility or 35
juvenile residential facility in Washington; and36
(e) Beginning July 1, 2025, agricultural and economic support and 37
services available to historically marginalized communities.38
p. 2 SB 6167

(3) The distribution of the grants under this section must be 1
done in collaboration with "by and for community organizations" as 2
defined by the department of commerce and the office of equity. For 3
the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, "by and for community organizations" 4
include, but are not limited to, those operated by and for Black, 5
Latino, Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 6
communities.7
Sec. 3. RCW 43.185A.140 and 2023 c 275 s 3 are each amended to 8
read as follows:9
(1) The department must use moneys from the housing trust fund 10
and other legislative appropriations to finance in whole or in part 11
any loan or grant projects that will provide affordable housing for 12
persons and families with special housing needs and who are low-13
income households.14
(2) At least thirty percent of these moneys used in any given 15
funding cycle must be for the benefit of projects located in rural 16
areas of the state as defined by the department. If the department 17
determines that it has not received an adequate number of suitable 18
applications for rural projects during any given funding cycle, th