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The BIA is an active participant in the community and represents the interests of the building industry through three main areas. The goal of these activities is to create a public environment where the interests and benefits of the residential construction industry are recognized, respected, and incorporated throughout the policy making process.
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Legislative Advocacy
The primary objective of BIA Legislative Advocacy is to provide issue advocacy before local governments on behalf of the building industry. The Government Affairs Committee directs the operations of the department.
Legislative advocacy includes reacting to rules and regulations pushed by local governments as well as sponsoring BIA policy initiatives. The amount of public policy that affects the building industry is tremendous; the key to successful advocacy is member involvement
The BIA represents the industry’s perspective before local government on a host of tax and regulatory issues. Below is a listing of the top legislative issues affecting the building industry.
- Growth Management - The BIA supports responsible implementation of the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) through the adoption of a balanced Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan should set Urban Growth Boundaries to include a 20-year supply of buildable land to ensure affordable housing and economic growth
- Environmental Regulations - The BIA supports environmental regulations that are based on proven; relevant science and that are balanced against their economic impacts.
- Affordable Housing - The BIA supports market driven pricing of homes to provide affordable housing to homebuyers at all income levels
- Taxes and Fees - Each new home includes $71,000 or more in taxes and fees.* For this reason, the BIA believes that it is imperative to review all proposed tax and fee increases to ensure that they provide true benefit to the homebuyer and do not unnecessarily increase the cost of housing.
*University of Washington 2007 Study on Median House Prices. |
Political Action
 The BIA’s political affairs are conducted by the Building Industry Group (BIG), the association’s separate, official political action committee established in 2002. The primary objective of the BIG is to get building friendly candidates elected to local office. The BIG is financially independent of the BIA, fundraising its revenue from BIA members. The BIG supports pro-business candidates and local ballot measures, such as school bonds, through monetary and in-kind contributions, campaign advisement, and voter education. The BIG is governed by a Board of Trustees who meet monthly for official business.
More information
 Build The Vote - Build the Vote is an industry-wide voter mobilization program designed to inform and activate our voters for upcoming elections. The program is supported by a large computer database of building industry voters that is designed to improve voter turnout. The goal of this program is to ensure that our industry’s voice is heard loud and clear every election.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Mike at 694-0933 or send e-mail to mbomar@biaofclarkcounty.org.
Click the image above for a printable voter registration form!
- Join the Building Industry Group
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Community Affairs
BIA Scholarship Fund
Community Service Projects
Building Futures Foundation
Consumer Outreach
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