HB 1552
SignedHouse
Real estate broker fee
Extending the fee on real estate broker licenses to fund the Washington center for real estate research and adjusting the fee to account for inflation.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
HB 1552 doubles the real estate broker license fee from $10 to $20 and extends the fee and related research programs through 2035, directing all proceeds to fund the Washington Center for Real Estate Research. The center will conduct housing and real estate research, support education, and assist regulators.
- Increases the real estate broker license fee from $10 to $20 for both original licenses and renewals (including inactive licenses).
- Extends the expiration of the broker fee law from September 30, 2025 to September 30, 2035.
- Creates the Washington Real Estate Research Account in the state treasury to collect and manage fee revenue, with spending limited to research activities under RCW 18.85.471.
- Expands the mission of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research to include affordable housing studies, economic research, education, and support for regulatory functions.
- Requires the center’s director to partner with a state university or higher education institution to host the center.
- Extends the expiration of the research center law from September 30, 2025 to September 30, 2035.
Who is affected
- Real estate licensees — Real estate brokers and managing brokers in Washington must pay a $20 fee for original licenses and renewals (including inactive licenses), which is higher than the previous $10 fee.
- Washington Center for Real Estate Research and affiliated institution — The Washington Center for Real Estate Research (to be hosted at a state university) will receive funding to conduct housing and real estate research, provide education, and support regulatory functions.
- Real estate consumers and public agencies — Real estate consumers, licensees, and public agencies benefit from increased access to research, education, and data on housing affordability and market trends.
- State government / Washington State Treasury — The state treasury gains dedicated revenue from the broker fee, and the legislature gains authority to appropriate funds for research and related activities.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Dedicates new and sustained funding to research on affordable housing strategies and vacancy standards for low-income housing, which could directly inform policy solutions to Washington’s housing crisis and benefit low- and moderate-income households.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 2(1), Sec. 3(1)(a)Strengthens regulatory oversight by providing research and educational support to the Real Estate Commission, potentially improving market transparency, reducing consumer fraud, and enhancing licensing standards — benefits that accrue broadly to homebuyers, renters, and communities.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 3(1)(d), (e), (g)Expands the research center’s mission to include economic studies of economically isolated communities, dissemination of findings to the public and state agencies, and statutory reform recommendations — supporting evidence-based policy development and public understanding of housing and land-use dynamics.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 3(1)(b), (c), (h), (i)
Potential Concerns (2)
Increases the cost of obtaining or maintaining a real estate broker license by 100% (from $10 to $20), which may disproportionately affect part-time, low-income, or newly licensed brokers who operate on thin margins.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 1(1)The fee increase and extension to 2035 lock in a dedicated revenue stream for state-level research, reducing legislative discretion over the appropriation of these funds and potentially limiting future flexibility to redirect resources in response to emerging fiscal needs.
Local GovernmentIndustryRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2(2), Sec. 3(3)
Who Is Most Affected
Real estate licensees face a doubled licensing cost, which may strain part-time or low-income brokers; however, they may benefit indirectly from improved market data and professional development resources.
Low- and moderate-income households benefit from targeted research on affordable housing and vacancy standards, potentially leading to more effective housing policies and rental assistance programs.
Homebuyers and renters benefit from improved consumer education, regulatory oversight, and data transparency, reducing information asymmetry and potential fraud in real estate transactions.
State universities hosting the research center gain institutional capacity and research funding, but must commit resources to maintain the center — a net positive if research output aligns with state priorities.
State agencies (e.g., Department of Housing, Real Estate Commission) gain access to high-quality research and analysis to support regulatory and policy functions, improving decision-making capacity.