Near the end of the 2004 session, the Washington State Legislature passed major changes to landlord-tenant law to protect victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. On March 15, 2004 Governor Gary Locke signed into law 2EHB1645 sponsored by Representative Lynn Kessler of Hoquiam. The bill had widespread bi-partisan support with Senate support lead by Senator Don Benton of Vancouver.

The new law amending RCW 59.18 does the following:

• Prohibits discrimination against domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking victims within the context of residential housing.
• Provides a mechanism by which victims of these violent crimes can end their rental leases early without financial penalty to permit them to move to avoid future violence.
• Provides an affirmative defense in an eviction proceeding for victims faced with eviction because of the violent acts of the perpetrator.

The Northwest Women’s Law Center took the lead in drafting the legislation and worked with a number of victim advocacy groups and legal service providers including Columbia Legal Services, the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs to help pass the legislation. The advocate coalition collaborated with landlord and apartment association groups throughout Washington State to ensure that the concerns of their members were adequately addressed and balanced with the rights of survivors and their families.