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City briefs PLUSH on affordable housing strategy update: Priorities, preservation, & next steps
City briefs PLUSH on affordable housing strategy update: Priorities, preservation, & next steps

On Tuesday, February 17, City of Bellevue housing staff briefed the Chamber’s Permitting, Land Use, Sustainability, and Housing (PLUSH) committee on the City’s draft Affordable Housing Strategy update and key takeaways from recent Council discussion. Continue Reading

Date posted02/17/2026


2026 Legislative Update: Week 5
2026 Legislative Update: Week 5

It was a whirlwind weekend in the Washington State Legislature, as fiscal committees heard testimony and voted on bills ahead of the Monday, February 9 deadline for measures to advance out of those committees. That cutoff marked a critical juncture in the session, further winnowing down the... Continue Reading

Postedby Lyset Cadena
Date posted02/15/2026


2026 Legislative Update: Week 4
2026 Legislative Update: Week 4

The Washington State Legislature has now passed the first major cutoff of the session, the deadline by which bills must be voted out of their respective policy committees in their house of origin. Legislation that failed to advance by this point is generally considered stalled, while bills that... Continue Reading

Postedby Lyset Cadena
Date posted02/8/2026


Policy Council takes formal position on proposed state income tax
Policy Council takes formal position on proposed state income tax

The Bellevue Chamber’s Policy Council convened this week to take a formal position on the proposed state income tax legislation, SB 6346. Read for yourself below. Continue Reading

Date posted02/5/2026


Sound Transit briefs Chamber on cross-lake opening, enterprise initiative
Sound Transit briefs Chamber on cross-lake opening, enterprise initiative

At the Chamber’s Transportation Committee meeting on February 5, Sound Transit previewed the March 28 launch of Link light rail’s cross-lake connection. Continue Reading

Date posted02/5/2026


Joint Statement: Chamber, business partners raise concerns on tax legislation
Joint Statement: Chamber, business partners raise concerns on tax legislation

The Bellevue Chamber, Washington Roundtable, Association of Washington Business, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Spokane Inc. issued the following joint statement in response to an income tax measure introduced in the Legislature today: “As leaders representing... Continue Reading

Date posted02/3/2026


Washington's Long Sordid Saga With Income Taxes
Washington's Long Sordid Saga With Income Taxes

Washington State has one of the richest histories in the nation when it comes to passing an income tax. Continue Reading

Postedby Joe Fain
Date posted02/3/2026


Housing strategy front & center in PLUSH Committee letter to Council
Housing strategy front & center in PLUSH Committee letter to Council

The Bellevue Chamber’s PLUSH Committee recently submitted the following letter to the Bellevue City Council ahead of its February 3 meeting. Take a look below! Continue Reading

Date posted02/2/2026


FAQ - Washington's Millionaire's Tax Explained
FAQ - Washington's Millionaire's Tax Explained

Washington's latest attempt to impose a statewide income tax is moving fast. Find out what's in the bill and what comes next with our FAQ. Continue Reading

Postedby Joe Fain
Date posted02/2/2026


2026 Legislative Update: Week 3
2026 Legislative Update: Week 3

The third week of the 2026 Washington State Legislative Session marked a transition in the legislative process, as committees began moving beyond the preliminary stage of holding public hearings on newly introduced bills. This period, known as the “executive session” phase, is a... Continue Reading

Postedby Lyset Cadena
Date posted02/1/2026


BelRed code update advances with HOMA, parking, & housing policy at PLUSH
BelRed code update advances with HOMA, parking, & housing policy at PLUSH

At our January 27, 2026 PLUSH meeting, the City of Bellevue shared a preview of a working draft for the BelRed Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA), alongside near term updates related to HOMA, parking reform, and changes to the Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program. Continue Reading

Date posted01/27/2026


PLUSH letter to Planning Commission: Making HOMA work for housing & jobs
PLUSH letter to Planning Commission: Making HOMA work for housing & jobs

The Bellevue Chamber’s PLUSH Committee submitted the following letter to the Bellevue Planning Commission regarding the City’s Housing Opportunities in Mixed-use Areas (HOMA) code update. Continue Reading

Date posted01/26/2026