2025 Advocacy Update
In 2025, CCAR in collaboration with BIA and other local organizations, joined an effort along with cities in Clark County and successfully advocated for an agricultural lands study, as a part of the Comprehensive Plan Update process, in accordance with the Growth Management Act. This study will allow our community to identify commercially viable agricultural land to preserve, while also identifying parcels unsuitable for agriculture and better suited for housing and employment centers. The data from this study will be essential, from 2020-2025 Clark County has added an average of 7,817 new residents each year. CCAR and its coalition partners will continue to press on the Comprehensive Plan Update so Clark County and its policy makers plan for more for sale housing, rather than multifamily rentals. This will help ensure we have the land capacity to build housing like townhomes and single-family homes, so our members can continue to help folks achieve the American Dream of Homeownership!
Affordable Housing
At the Washington State Legislature CCAR’s advocacy efforts were integral in the passage and adoption of House Bill 1403, which will make it easier for developers to build smaller condominium projects throughout the State of Washington. CCAR understands condominiums can provide more affordable and diverse homeownership options. The association will continue this advocacy so we can see more condominiums built in Clark County, and not just in Seattle. During CCAR’s 2025 annual Hill Day in Olympia, over fifty CCAR members attended and were able to meet with local legislators, advocating for housing reform, affordability, and REALTOR® priorities to help your clients and your business make home happen.
Tax Policies
WASHINGTON REALTORS® PAC is one of the largest in the state.
- CCAR along with Washington REALTORS® will continue to advocate for our members by defeating bills trying to eliminate your independent contractor status,
- defeating proposed increases in the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)
- and property tax, like beating back Senate Bill 5798. This bill would have allowed cities and counties to raise property taxes up to 3% plus the local population growth rate. If this bill was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, the Clark County Council could have raised property taxes over 4% annually. Washingtonians don’t need additional property tax burden when we are in the midst of a housing crisis, impacting renters and homeowners alike, especially young people, families, and those on fixed incomes.
Rentals
CCAR lobbied the Vancouver City Council to halt the proposed city-wide residential rental registry program. CCAR vehemently opposed the program, citing better ways to track available rental housing stock and unit livability. While the initial program was adopted by the council, the unit inspection side of the program has not. Our lobbying efforts helped educate councilors on the increased costs associated with rental registration and inspection. In 2026, CCAR will strive to eliminate the inspection side of the program, inspections that the majority of housing providers and property management firms already provide. Preserving pathways to generational wealth through real estate investment and stopping unnecessary policies that will increase the cost of rental housing in Vancouver is essential.
Growth Management
CCAR defeated two climate action point of sale requirements in Clark County that were proposed as part of recently adopted Growth Management Act legislation, House Bill 1181 . CCAR will continue to monitor and defeat policies that would restrict access to homeownership and make transactions for our members more difficult.
Influence
CCAR has the largest business PAC at the local level. From 2022-2024, 80% of CCAR endorsed candidates were elected to public office. This helps us move the needle in key swing races when it comes to election time. Helping elect Pro-REALTOR® candidates has allowed us to do the following things for the community:
- Reform condo liability laws to allow more affordable condominiums
- Encourage city councils to adopt middle housing zoning laws
- Eliminate local rental restrictions and requirements
- Become a key player on the vacant buildable lands model that will dictate Clark County’s comprehensive plan and land capacity moving forward.
- Responsible density reform including, but not limited to, ADUs, condos, and small multifamily projects.
Involvement and Education
CCAR members are the voice of real estate in Clark County. Our members are the first to know about policy proposals impacting real property in Washington State and Clark County and are routinely quoted in The Columbian, other publications, and serve on multiple committees and boards influencing housing policy in Clark County and its cities. Many of these members are involved in our Government Affairs Committee and REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC). All members are allowed to attend our government affairs committee meetings where we host experts to discuss issues and opportunities in our community. These presentations are recorded and available to you any time as part of your CCAR membership.