LOC News
SB 866 – Third-Party Building Official Resolution
The debate over the use of third-party building officials has been contested by a variety of interests since 2018. Multiple legal opinions from the Oregon Department of Justice and Legislative Council in 2019 seemed to close the door on options for cities.
2021, however, is a different day and time and the LOC is pleased to announce there is a legislative solution for third-party building officials. SB 866 is the result of recommendations from an advisory group that the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) assembled in 2020. The LOC was represented on the work group by the cities of Clatskanie, Florence, Aurora and Lebanon. Like any work group process, no single interest group got 100% of what it wanted, primarily because of competing interests and specific challenges faced by the BCD. However, based on feedback from the cities involved in the work group and our own read of the legislation, SB 866 deserves support from the LOC and its member cities.
The bill currently doesn’t have a hearing date set, and it resides is in the Senate Rules Committee. The LOC is collecting city logos to add to a support letter, so cities are asked to please send their logos to the League so we can build some momentum and get this bill through the legislative process.
City officials who have a relationship with committee members are asked to please reach out and request that SB 866 be scheduled for a hearing, noting how important the bill is to your community. Senator Dick Anderson and Representative David Gomberg are the principal sponsors, so cities should reach out and thank them for their support. A more detailed summary of SB 866 can be found here.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 5/21/21