The bill aims to address Washington's housing shortage by establishing a state-approved program for permit-ready residential building plans. It recognizes the need for over 1,000,000 new homes by 2044 and highlights the challenges posed by complex local permitting processes, which can delay housing development and increase costs. To streamline this process, the bill mandates the Department of Labor and Industries to create and publish permit-ready plans for various housing types, including single-family homes and multi-unit structures. These plans must comply with state building and energy codes and will be made available on a public-facing website. Additionally, the bill provides legal protections against civil liability for those involved in creating these plans, except in cases of bad faith or willful misconduct.

Furthermore, the bill requires counties and cities that plan under the relevant chapters to approve land-use applications that utilize these permit-ready plans, provided the lots meet specific criteria, such as being within urban growth areas and zoned for residential use. It exempts these plans from local plan review for code compliance, allowing for a more efficient approval process. Local governments are also encouraged to adopt model ordinances developed by the department to facilitate the implementation of these plans. The legislation aims to enhance housing production and predictability while supporting small builders and diverse housing types.