Oregon Governor Signs New Housing Laws to Expand Affordable Homes for Seniors, Farm Workers and Middle Income Families

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who has prioritized housing as a core initiative of her administration, yesterday signed six bills that will make it easier for middle-income residents, seniors, and farm workers to access affordable homes.

The six bills focus on making homes more affordable by increasing production at all levels of the market.

When Kotek took office, Oregon produced 16,000 fewer homes than required annually to maintain a stable housing market. For three consecutive years since then, reforms to legalize and streamline housing have closed the production gap.

Today, Oregon has sufficient land, infrastructure, and financing to add 50,000 homes to the future pipeline. This is the equivalent of more than 16,000 units annually.

The Six Bills Ratified At a Signing Ceremony Yesterday

At yesterday’s signing ceremony in Woodburn, the governor ratified the following legislation:

House Bill 4082 will speed development of affordable housing for seniors and manufactured homes by allowing cities to designate land for Oregonians 55 years and older, or for manufactured home communities.

House Bill 4035 expands the governor’s urban growth boundary housing site addition tool to more cities.

House Bill 4036 establishes a new affordable housing preservation program to prevent the loss of thousands of affordable units and protect Oregonians from displacement.

House Bill 4037 eliminates red tape for new housing units, expands the self-certification of plans, and reduces hearings for projects meeting clear and objective standards.

The bill also increases state and local government flexibility for land designation for new housing and modifies a housing construction loan program to increase use by cities and counties statewide.

House Bill 4128 prohibits equity firms from purchasing, acquiring, or offering to purchase a single-family residence unless it has been listed for sale to the general public for a minimum of 90 days.

Senate Bill 1567 authorizes the Housing and Community Services Department to fund mixed-income housing and establishes a new mixed-income housing construction loan program.

According to a 2020 state report, more than 550,000 additional homes will be needed in Oregon over the next 20 years.

Of those, more than 30% must serve the lowest-income households and will require public funding or subsidy.