Lawmakers in Washington State are considering two bills – House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961 – that would, if passed, discourage housing investment in the Evergreen State. Supporters say that these bills are meant to “prevent excessive rent increases” by capping them at 5% annually. But as housing providers have pointed out, decades of research show that rent caps lead to reductions in the rental housing supply and to increased evictions. Nonetheless, dozens of supporters gathered at the state capitol in Olympia for a protest, rallying in support of legislation that would ultimately hurt the state’s renters. – KOMO News
