Tag Archives: Keith Wagoner

Wagoner bill to help veterans moves to House

Today the Senate unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Keith Wagoner that would expand the number of available long-term care beds for veterans, simultaneously helping to address Washington’s homelessness crisis while also alleviating the pressure on the medical foster home system.

“So many of our nation’s men and women in uniform serve and sacrifice for this nation, only to come home and find that as they age, they are left behind – without support and too often left to face serious physical or mental health challenges on the streets, without the comfort, security and dignity of a home,” said Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley.

“This is an important bill for helping make sure that our veterans are able to age with dignity in place. At the same time, it also relieves the pressure on resources for other people who are not veterans. This is a federal program, administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, that has been proven to be successful.”

Under Wagoner’s Senate Bill 5200, the state would grant an exemption from the Washington adult family home (AFH) licensure requirements to a medical foster home (MFH) that is under the oversight and annually reviewed by the VA, and when care is provided exclusively to three or fewer veterans.

The bill also requires that the operator of the care facility and its caregivers comply with state laws, including any required training, certification, and background checks. Veterans admitted under this measure would also be added to the state list of vulnerable adults.

Wagoner thanked his colleagues for their unanimous support for his bill, and said that the measure, when approved, will create a win-win for Washington’s veterans and the state, as well as reducing the pressure to find MFH beds and the duplication of state regulatory efforts.

“I think there’re about 140 of these types of homes across the nation in over a dozen states,” said Wagoner. “Providing these waivers will help ensure that we are not doubling up on work and effort at the Department of Health.

“Our primary concern is making sure our aging veterans get the best care possible, with caregivers that meet the most thorough and vigorous standards. Unfortunately, there are several rules in place that actually make it harder to take care of our homeless veterans. This measure will remove some of those barriers and provide another tool in the box to make sure that veterans get the high standard of care that they have earned and deserve in their later years.”

SB 5200 now heads to the House of Representatives for its consideration.

Senate backs Wagoner’s affordable-housing bill

Tax credit would promote residential construction in  smaller cities across state

Sen. Keith Wagoner’s effort to address a shortage of affordable housing won strong bipartisan support  today from the state Senate. Senate Bill 6347 would encourage development of multi-family dwellings; Wagoner said his proposal should be especially helpful in areas along the Interstate 5 corridor, including the communities he serves in the 39th Legislative District.

The bill would promote housing development by allowing developers in cities and towns across Washington take advantage of a tax credit for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings. That incentive is now available only in cities with at least 15,000 people.

As the economy booms in areas like Wagoner’s legislative district, employers are looking for attractive places where employees can live.

“Communities like Sedro-Woolley and Sultan would benefit from this tax exemption. I have met with several groups this year all discussing the need for jobs and housing and I believe that this bill will provide for both,” said Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley.

“I’m very pleased that this sensible bipartisan approach continues to move forward,” Wagoner added. “This bill would level the playing field and provide developers with the tools necessary to bring much needed housing to many of our rural communities.

“The fact that it’s the first of my bills to win the full Senate’s approval is right in line with my priority on families and improving the quality of life in our area.”

The first-year senator also sees his bill as a way to add housing to buildings in smaller downtown areas throughout the state. Wagoner adds, “This will help re-invigorate our downtown areas and preserve historically important architecture.”

His measure would basically suspend, for two years, the population-based restriction on the property-tax exemption related to multi-family housing.

SB 6347 now moves to the House of Representatives. This year’s 60-day legislative session ends March 8.

Wagoner bill aimed at housing crunch, especially along I-5 corridor

Lawmaker says property-tax reform would help families, developers across state

Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, has introduced a bill that would let developers in cities and towns across Washington take advantage of a tax credit now available only in cities with at least 15,000 people.

“It’s a tax incentive to allow multi-family housing to be built,” Wagoner adds, “and save some money on their taxes while they invest in the community” Senate Bill 6347 would end the population-based restriction on a property-tax exemption for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings. It has attracted bipartisan sponsorship and been referred to the Senate Economic Development and International Trade Committee, of which Wagoner is a member.

As the economy booms in areas like the 39th District, which Wagoner serves, employers are looking for attractive places where employees can live.

“There is a housing crunch all up the Interstate 5 corridor,” said Wagoner. “I think it makes sense that we allow this tax relief for developers in all of our municipalities.”

The first-year senator also sees his bill as a way to add housing to buildings in smaller downtown areas throughout the state.

“These buildings are historic, they’re beautiful, but they’re also very expensive to bring up to current codes – safety and fire and things like that. This would allow developers a little bit of financial relief so they can make those investments and keep our downtowns alive.”