Repartions

/

Two commenters on the above Tweet take issue with it, claiming that is has nothing to do with race. Here’s a link to the actual bill: you decide for yourself.

25HB 1696

…Finance programs. …special purpose credit programs created under this section to black, indigenous, and people of color and other historically marginalized communities in Washington state,

Sec. 1. RCW 43.181.040 and 2023 c 340 s are each amended to read as follows: (1) As part of the covenant homeownership program, the department shall contract with the commission to design, develop, implement, and evaluate one or more special purpose credit programs to reduce racial disparities in homeownership in the state by providing down payment and closing cost assistance. The contract must authorize the commission to use the contract funding as follows:

….

(4) To be eligible to receive down payment and closing cost assistance through a special purpose credit program authorized under this section, a special purpose credit program applicant must:

  • Have a household income at or below ((100)) 120 percent of the area median income for the county where the home is located;

  • Be a first-time homebuyer; and

  • Be a Washington state resident who:

  • (A) Was a Washington state resident on or before the enactment of the federal fair housing act (Title VIII of the civil rights act of 1968; April 11, 1968, and was or would have been excluded [go ahead and prove that one — Ed] from homeownership in Washington state by a racially restrictive real estate covenant on or before April 11, 1968; or

  • Is a descendant of a person who meets the criteria in (c)(i)(A) of this subsection;