LOC News
2026 Legislative Session Progressing Quickly
Bills and ideas are moving quickly in Salem as the Legislature passed one key deadline that requires bills to be scheduled for a work session, meaning they would be voted on by a policy committee. The next legislative deadline is Monday, February 16, when bills must be passed out of their policy committee.
The LOC lobby team relies on member engagement to ensure cities' needs and voices are understood by the Legislature. We have a new action alert and updates on last week’s action alerts:
- ACTION ALERT: Contact your legislators in support of the LOCAL Act (HB 4148)! Flexibility in the use of transient lodging taxes to support critical local services. Visit this website to find your city’s Representative or Senator and access their contact information,
- Updates to last week’s alerts:
- The LOCAL Act (HB 4148) had a successful public hearing this week where local governments made a compelling case. Opposition testimony from the tourism industry was also heard, underscoring the need for additional city engagement.
- Senate Bill 1585, which lowers grant matching requirements on a sliding scale for smaller cities, received a strong show of support from cities. The bill will receive a work session on Monday, where it is expected to advance to the Senate floor.
- House Bill 4085 creates a framework for the operation of autonomous vehicles but preempts local regulations or revenue generation. The LOC, the city of Portland, a former San Franscisco transportation official, and others testified in opposition to the bill. The bill was not scheduled for a work session, and Representative Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro) will convene conversations ahead of the 2027 legislative session to work on the issue and prepare legislation.
In addition to the updates above, the LOC is excited to share that HB 4005 (Water Professionals Appreciation Week), passed with strong, bipartisan support on the House floor this week and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. The LOC introduced this bill with the Legislature’s Water Caucus to bring attention to this issue and set the stage for future legislative sessions.
For more about what’s happening in Salem, tune into our weekly legislative update on Fridays during the noon hour on Zoom. To join the conversation, watch past updates, or review presentations, visit the LOC website.
Contact: Nicole Stingh, Legislative Director – nstingh@orcities.org
Last Updated 2/13/26