Update on Homeowner's Bill of Rights: SB 6385 moving towards floor of Senate

A key consumer protection bill - the first part of a broader Homeowner's Bill of Rights - has passed out of committee and is moving towards the Senate floor, according to our Legislative Advocacy bill tracker:

• Action 07 - January 28, 2008 - Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
• Action 06 - January 28, 2008 - Minority; without recommendation.
• Action 05 - January 28, 2008 - Minority; do not pass.
• Action 04 - January 28, 2008 - CPH - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
• Action 03 - January 25, 2008 - Executive action in the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection & Housing at 8:30 AM

Senate Bill 6385 allows Washingtonians to recover repair costs in court if their homes are damaged by negligent construction. It is now before the Senate Rules Committee and will likely be heading to the floor soon for a vote.

Last Thursday, our Outreach & Advocacy Director (Rick Hegdahl) testified in support of the bill before the Senate Consumer Protection & Housing Committee.

You can help pass this bill by contacting your state senator and urging their support of SB 6385 and the Homeowner's Bill of Rights. The vote on SB 5550 last year (home warranties, another part of the Homeowners' Bill of Rights) was 30-19. The roll call from that vote was as follows:

Voting Yea: Senators Berkey, Brown, Eide, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, Hatfield, Haugen, Hobbs, Jacobsen, Kastama, Kauffman, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Marr, McAuliffe, Murray, Oemig, Poulsen, Prentice, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Rockefeller, Shin, Spanel, Tom, and Weinstein

Voting Nay: Senators Benton, Brandland, Carrell, Clements, Delvin, Hewitt, Holmquist, Honeyford, Kilmer, McCaslin, Morton, Parlette, Pflug, Roach, Schoesler, Sheldon, Stevens, Swecker, and Zarelli

Even if your Senator voted against SB 5550 last year, it is still very important to let them know there is popular support for this idea. Call the legislative hotline at 1.800.562.6000 and ask to be connected to your state senator. Or, find your lawmaker using the legislative directory and send an e-mail/fax.