For years, progressives have tried to fight the rising cost of living by instituting a kind of "rent control" – what proponents call "rent stabilization." Basically, a limit on how much the landlord can raise your rent.

It's a divisive issue, even in the Democratic party -- in fact for years, it was Democrats that kept killing attempts at rent limits. But this could be the year that rent stabilization actually comes to pass.

The same sponsor of a failed stabilization bill last year – then-Representative, now-Senator Emily Alvarado – is taking another shot at this.

Engrossed House Bill 1217 passed out of the House this week. That’s as far as earlier versions of this bill got last year -- and there’s buzz this year that the Senate could let this version of the bill safely parachute onto the Governor’s desk.

To hear more about the divide around this bill, Sound Politics hosts Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone were joined by State Senator Emily Alvarado, the prime sponsor of HB 1217, and Emily Thompson, a partner with GMD Development, which specializes in affordable housing.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/politics.

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabriel Spitzer. Our producer this week is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkmann.

For years, progressives have tried to fight the rising cost of living by instituting a kind of "rent control" &ndash; what proponents call "rent stabilization." Basically, a limit on how much the landlord can raise your rent.
It's a divisive issue, even in the Democratic party -- in fact for years, it was Democrats that kept killing attempts at rent limits. But this could be the year that rent stabilization actually comes to pass.
The same sponsor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/rent-control-bill-claws-its-way-back-in-olympia" data-stringify-link="https://www.kuow.org/stories/rent-control-bill-claws-its-way-back-in-olympia" data-sk="tooltip_parent">a failed stabilization bill last year</a>&nbsp;&ndash; then-Representative, now-Senator Emily Alvarado &ndash; is taking another shot at this.
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1217&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" data-stringify-link="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1217&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Engrossed House Bill 1217 </a>passed out of the House<a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/rent-cap-proposal-clears-first-hurdle-in-wa-house/" data-stringify-link="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/rent-cap-proposal-clears-first-hurdle-in-wa-house/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">&nbsp;this week.</a>&nbsp;That&rsquo;s as far as earlier versions of this bill got last year -- and there&rsquo;s buzz this year that the Senate could let this version of the bill safely parachute onto the Governor&rsquo;s desk.
To hear more about the divide around this bill, Sound Politics hosts Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone were joined by State Senator Emily Alvarado, the prime sponsor of HB 1217, and Emily Thompson, a partner with GMD Development, which specializes in affordable housing.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/politics" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/politics" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/politics</a>.
Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Gabriel Spitzer. Our producer this week is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkmann.

A podcast about the candidates, policies, and perspectives shaping the Pacific Northwest. Produced by KUOW in Seattle.  

There’s a lot to wade through when it comes to Washington State politics. The drama, the facts, the money, and the movers and shakers. In Sound Politics KUOW host Libby Denkmann and politics reporter Scott Greenstone go beyond the ballot to guide you through what’s happening in local politics, why it matters, and how you can use your vote to make a difference.  

New episodes every week.  

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes. 

Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producers are Noel Gasca and Sarah Leibovitz. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

A podcast about the candidates, policies, and perspectives shaping the Pacific Northwest. Produced by <a href="http://www.kuow.org">KUOW</a> in Seattle.  
There’s a lot to wade through when it comes to Washington State politics. The drama, the facts, the money, and the movers and shakers. In Sound Politics KUOW host Libby Denkmann and politics reporter Scott Greenstone go beyond the ballot to guide you through what’s happening in local politics, why it matters, and how you can use your vote to make a difference.  
New episodes every week.  
<hr>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes">kuow.org/donate/soundpoliticsnotes</a>. Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producers are Noel Gasca and Sarah Leibovitz. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.

A podcast about the candidates, policies, and perspectives shaping the Pacific Northwest. Produced by KUOW in Seattle.

Sound Politics

For years, progressives have tried to fight the rising cost of living by instituting a kind of "rent control" – what proponents call "rent stabilization." There’s buzz this year that a rent stabilization bill could safely parachute onto the Governor’s desk. 

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