Both chambers of the Oregon Legislature are poised to vote on funded bills to jump-start housing production and continue to help unhoused people.
The Legislature’s joint budget committee is expected to vote Wednesday night, Feb. 28, on the recommendations by a subcommittee, which granted the full $100 million Gov. Tina Kotek sought for homeless aid, but slightly more than half of the $500 million she asked for housing construction.
The $376 million is split among three bills, SB 1530 and SB 1537, and HB 4134. The Senate would take the first vote on the Senate bills, and the House would vote first on HB 4134.
A chunk ($94 million) would go directly to 50 specified projects that local governments say would allow for immediate construction of housing. They were among more than 200 submitted for funding by the League of Oregon Cities.
“Across Oregon, what we know is that water and sewer projects are aging out or at capacity — and in some cases, they are falling apart,” Rep. David Gomberg, a Democrat from the central coast and the subcommittee co-chair, on Tuesday.
“We do not have the ability to service the housing we’ve got, let alone look at new housing.”
Another $75 million would be set aside for a revolving loan fund for development overseen by the Oregon Business Development Department.
Other amounts would pay for a new Housing Accountability and Production Office to be managed by two state agencies, and technical assistance for local governments to streamline planning and permits.
For homelessness services, Kotek got the full $65 million she requested to continue local and regional efforts through the end of the state’s current two-year budget cycle in mid-2025. Plus $34 million for additional emergency rental assistance and eviction prevention.
Among the specific allocations to other organizations: Urban League of Portland, $7 million for prevention of homelessness; Albina Vision Trust, $25 million for housing on North Dixon Street; Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization, $1.25 million for housing on Southeast Stark Street, and the Center for Intercultural Organizing, $3 million for housing on East Burnside Street.
“I am hopeful that we will see substantial results from all the investments we made,” Rep. Nathan Sosa, D-Hillsboro, said. “If we don’t see substantial results, I think we need to ask some hard questions as to why.”
A much-debated provision would still allow cities a one-time move to expand their urban growth boundaries without the extensive justification required under state laws. The amounts are limited, property owners must consent, and 30% of the new housing on such lands must meet the definition of “affordable” at 30% of the area’s median household income.
The provision was reworked after a similar bill passed the House narrowly in 2023 but died by one vote in the Senate on the closing weekend of the session.
Rep. Mark Gamba, a Democrat from Milwaukie and a former mayor, said he would vote for it this time.
“I am still not comfortable with it,” he said. “It is important that we recognize that the farm and forest land we try to protect along with urban growth boundaries are just as critical to our land use base as housing.”
Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, said the issue of urban growth boundaries should be revisited for Eastern Oregon communities.
“This isn’t the only answer to what we need to do,” he said. “But this is a step in the right direction.”
Pwong@pamplinmedia.com
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