LOC News
2024 Session Starts Monday, February 5
Oregon’s 2024 short legislative session will start Monday, February 5 with a new level of unpredictability following a ruling this week by the Oregon Supreme Court. The court ruled that Measure 113 was constitutional, and therefore, Senate Republicans who have exceeded 10 unexcused absences cannot run for reelection. There are eight Republicans and two Independents who fall into this category. Five of them planned to run in 2024 will not be allowed to, and three planned to run in 2026, and now will not be allowed to proceed with their campaigns. The remaining Republicans planned to step away from their state Senate seats at the end of their current terms. There are 17 Senate Democrats, and for the Senate to proceed with floor sessions, they need 20 Senators on the floor, effectively three Republicans, to meet their quorum standard. For tax bills to proceed in the Senate, a three-fifths standard is required, meaning at least 18 Senators are needed to support a tax vote.
LOC Priorities for the Short Session
Infrastructure – Ariel Nelson, anelson@orcities.org
Infrastructure funding remains the LOC’s top priority heading into the short legislative session. As the Legislature continues to prioritize housing production, there is encouraging support for funding local infrastructure needs, particularly where water, sewer, stormwater, and transportation costs delay or prevent housing development around the state. A recent survey the LOC conducted at the request of the Legislature informs these efforts. Nearly 90 cities responded to the survey, providing more than 230 individual infrastructure projects and cost estimates exceeding $800 million, as well as delivering more than 45,000 new homes across Oregon.
Housing and Homelessness
Additional Housing Production Concepts – Ariel Nelson, anelson@orcities.org
The LOC has primarily been focused on seeking improvements to SB 1537, the governor’s housing production package. The League is also responding to several other housing proposals, including: a moderate-income housing revolving loan fund; and a tool that would give a city the option to defer SDC collection and have the state take on the risk and collections obligations if the SDC is not paid. The LOC also supports several technical fix concepts to clarify the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (HB 2001) that passed in 2023 and begins rulemaking and implementation this year.
Shelter Funding – Ariel Nelson, anelson@orcities.org
While the 2023 Legislature made record investments to expand emergency shelters, there are an estimated 86 shelters with 3,669 shelter beds at risk of closing, including shelters that were set up with local ARPA funds. The LOC is part of a broad coalition supporting the governor’s request for $65 million this session to keep these shelters open.
Measure 110 Reforms – Scott Winkels, swinkels@orcities.org
The LOC has been engaged with a public safety coalition that prepared a pre-session set of recommendations for improving transparency and accountability with drug addiction programs. It's clear from statewide polling that the Legislature must create a more accountable Measure 110. If not, Measure 110 is at serious risk of being repealed and replaced by a ballot initiative in the 2024 general election.
Recreational Immunity – Scott Winkels, swinkels@orcities.org
Due to an adverse court ruling related to public beach access from a community trail, the LOC will seek legislative clarity to provide the courts with improved direction on evaluating public access to recreational sites across Oregon.
Industrial Land Funding – Lindsay Tenes, ltenes@orcities.org
The LOC is advocating for the extension of the state’s Regionally Significant Industrial Sites (RSIS) program and $40 million to capitalize the Industrial Land Loan Fund to help cities with the upfront infrastructure costs to support commercial development and traded-sector job growth.
What You Can Do!
- The most important value members provide will be staying engaged with their state legislators.
- Watch out for legislative alerts. Short sessions are an all-out sprint, so stay connected.
- Join us for Friday statewide Zoom meetings to provide you with the latest information on the session where to target your communications.
- Take advantage of the Lobbying 101 Toolkit that will go live next week. There will be helpful content, and we’ll be rolling out a video series each week to help you become better advocates for your communities.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 2/2/24