LOC News
Governor’s Housing Bill Advances with Unanimous Vote
SB 1537 is Governor Kotek’s Housing Production Package. The bill:
- Establishes a new Housing Accountability and Production Office;
- Requires cities to grant administrative adjustments to local siting and design standards for housing development;
- Funds new infrastructure programs and other land readiness costs to support housing development;
- Establishes a new state revolving loan fund for local governments to administer loans for moderate-income housing development; and
- Provides a one-time Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion tool, among other land use changes.
This week, the bill passed out of committee on a unanimous vote and with a -9 amendment that removed the infrastructure program investments from the bill and reduced the allowed acreage for the UGB expansion tool. The bill now heads to the Ways and Means Committee, where the LOC is pursuing a technical amendment to fix a drafting error.
The LOC testified at a public hearing last Thursday, February 8, with a neutral position overall and shared opposition to some sections of the bill and support for others.
Contact: Ariel Nelson, Lobbyist – anelson@orcities.org
Last Updated 2/16/24