The treaty seeks to rebalance hydropower needs, while also addressing flood control and environmental concerns. The existing treaty has been in place since the 1960s.
The state has made progress over past decade on building more homes, but homeownership remains out of reach for many residents and homelessness is still rising.
The tightened fire protection rules were scheduled to take effect March 15, but after lawmakers approved a bill to limit them, regulators cast the codes aside.
“Modest at best,” is how Lt. Gov. Denny Heck characterized the Legislature’s progress on housing policy this year. It’s a far cry from 2023, which lawmakers dubbed the “Year of Housing” as they cleared the way for more “middle housing” throughout the state and put a record $400 million into the state’s fund for building affordable housing.