The latest from Salem
As expected, the pace of Oregon’s 2024 legislative short session has been fast and furious. It’s also delivered an encouraging message from lawmakers that our advocacy matters!
Here’s an update on the housing production bills that have been front and center this session. For those who appreciate more perspective, we also share some of the news and analysis we're reading.
Good Housing Policy: Updates on key housing bills
SB 1537
After hundreds of people submitted comments and testimony that pushed for improvements to Governor Kotek’s housing production bill that would better uphold Oregon’s land use laws, lawmakers showed us that they are taking our concerns seriously.
The Senate Committee on Housing and Development introduced and adopted an amendment to SB 1537 that reduced the large Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion provisions by one-third.
As originally written, SB 1537 would have allowed for UGB expansions of 75 acres for cities with a population of less than 25,000 and 150 acres for cities with a population of 25,000 or greater. The adopted amendment narrowed this down to 50 acres and 100 acres, respectively. To be eligible to use this tool, cities must demonstrate a need for both housing and land.
Some of the key elements of SB 1537 that we strongly support - including infrastructure funding for affordable and middle housing - were moved to another bill, SB 1530 (more on this below). The ‘Revolving Loan Fund’ remains in SB 1537, with $75M allocated to help finance the production of affordable housing and moderate-income housing projects - and we strongly support this portion of the bill. These two bills are now moving in tandem as the “Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package.”
SB 1530
Oregonians from every walk of life and communities large and small are all impacted by our housing crisis - and in many different ways. The multi-pronged approach in this bill will help meet a wide array of housing-related needs, from unhoused community members, to those struggling with unstable housing and high utility bills, to people seeking affordable and middle housing.
Senate Bill 1530 makes significant additional investments directed at immediate needs for Oregonians, including funding ongoing operations of homeless shelters, rental assistance, and keeping families in safe homes during extreme weather events. It also includes $100M for affordable and middle housing infrastructure projects that are shovel ready within existing Urban Growth Boundaries - a key way to jump start production of much needed housing where it is needed most.
What’s Next
Both bills have now moved on to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and we expect those bills to see some action next week. We’ll let you know if there are any key opportunities to make your voice heard and keep these bills moving in the right direction.
Together, we are ensuring that our elected officials know we are paying attention, and that one of the best, most effective ways to address our housing shortfall is to focus on infrastructure funding.
WHAT WE’RE READING
The Great Compression | The New York Times
This national story highlights Redmond resident Robert Lanter and local builder Hayden Homes. It discusses how, in an era of soaring housing prices, 400-square-foot subdivision houses offer a path to homeownership for more people. It also highlights how hundreds of new bills across the country have made it easier for builders to erect smaller units at greater densities. Photo: Ivan McClellan for the New York Times
Why State Land Use Reform Should Be a Priority Climate Lever for America | Rocky Mountain Institute
A new analysis from RMI finds that by encouraging better-located, less car-dependent communities, we can effectively tackle the nationwide housing shortage and our climate crisis. Photo: RMI