VIDEO | Rep. Joshua Penner: Don’t let regional transit authorities ignore property rights (speech to Amendment 2193 on Senate Bill 6309)

March 6, 2026

Rep. Joshua Penner, R-Orting, delivered a floor speech in support of Amendment 2193 to Senate Bill 6309. The amendment would have required regional transit authorities to obtain written consent from abutting property owners before reducing property line setbacks in development agreements.

Penner argued that setbacks are essential for fire protection and first responder access, ensuring a safe distance between structures and property lines. He questioned why any organization should be granted the power to bypass growth management and zoning laws that apply to all other landowners in Washington. Penner emphasized that it is fundamentally unfair for a single entity to rewrite rules without at least providing the courtesy of notification to those directly affected by the changes. Despite these concerns, the amendment was not adopted.