Governor Tina Kotek signed six bills on Apr. 23 at a ceremony in Woodburn City Hall, aiming to expand housing options for middle-income Oregonians, seniors, and farmworkers across the state.
The new legislation is intended to make it easier for cities to increase affordable housing supply and address ongoing concerns about housing affordability. The bills target a range of issues from streamlining development processes to protecting existing affordable units and supporting mixed-income projects.
Kotek said, “Housing affordability is a top priority for Oregonians, and it’s directly related to housing supply. The reforms we’ve advanced are helping turn the corner on this crisis, and these new bills will keep expanding access to homes for Oregonians at all income levels.”
The signed measures include House Bill 4082, which allows cities to designate land specifically for individuals aged 55 and over or manufactured home communities; House Bill 4035, which expands tools that help cities add sites for future homes; House Bill 4036 establishing a fund to preserve affordable units; House Bill 4037 reducing administrative barriers in development; House Bill 4128 restricting private equity firms from purchasing single-family homes unless listed publicly for at least ninety days; and Senate Bill 1567 authorizing funding programs for mixed-income housing.
During the event, Representative Pam Marsh said, “The bills signed today reflect the breadth of work we continue to do to get more housing on the ground. If there is one thing we’ve learned over the last half dozen years, it’s that no one single solution is going to get the housing we need produced. Instead, we need to look at every stop on the continuum of development.” Senator Khanh Pham added: “While communities big and small across Oregon are facing different housing affordability challenges, one thing is clear – we need to be building more homes in every community across the state that are affordable and accessible… We need more housing for seniors, for first-time homeowners…for anyone and everyone who wishes to call Oregon home.”
Laura Galino de Lovato of Northwest Pilot Project said stable senior housing reduces public costs: “Preventing housing loss among older adults is far less costly – and far more humane – than responding after displacement occurs.” Alexandra Ring from League of Oregon Cities noted: “These new bills give cities the tools they need…and get housing to Oregonians faster.” Victoria Navarro shared her experience as a resident benefiting from farmworker-focused developments.
According to Governor Kotek’s office statement during her tenure reforms have helped close an annual gap of about sixteen thousand needed homes per year by legalizing more types of construction statewide. With current plans underway supported by these legislative changes, officials expect over fifty thousand additional units could enter production pipelines—moving toward meeting demand in coming years.
