The Oregon State Legislature convenes annually in January in the state capitol of Salem. In odd years, sessions may last 160 days, often referred to as "long session." During the "long session" the legislature approves a two-year state budget for the next biennium. In even years, a "short session" is held. A short session can last a maximum of 35 days.
DLCD tracks legislation impacting land use whenever the legislature is in session and regularly reports to LCDC on bills deemed a priority by staff. To search for staff reports related to legislative action, search for "legislative report" on the
LCDC meeting page.
Contact us to inquire about bills the department is tracking for a particular legislative session.
Check the
state legislative calendar to find out when the legislature will next be in session, or if it is in session now.
Current Public Comment Opportunities
Reports
Quick Links
2021-23 Updated Policy Agenda
DLCD Proposed 2023-25 POPs Requests
HB 2918 Surplus Lands Inventory Report 2022
HB 2743: Executive Summary – Economic Development Pilot Program Report 2022
HB 2743: Full Report – Economic Development Pilot Program Report 2022
HB 2743: Appendix A – EcoNorthwest Memo
2021-23 Full Policy Agenda
2021-23 Budget & Policy Option Packages Overview
Impacts of Land Use Legislation on Local Governments
At the close of the legislative session, DLCD creates a
Land Use Legislation Report (2020) that is directed to interested persons, local governments, and state agencies. The purpose of this report is to summarize the legislative measures, and notify local governments of new statutory requirements that require changes to local comprehensive plans, regional framework plans, or ordinances implementing these plans.
Some legislation that passes during a legislative session will require the department to update its rules, to conform to the changes made by the legislation. If this is the case, rulemaking is required. Rulemaking can be simple and straightforward; it could be as small as changing a single word or number. This kind of rulemaking does not require outside input, it only requires the department follow administrative procedures for rule changes, and make the small conforming change.
In other cases, rulemaking is complex, and the department engages a rulemaking advisory committee, or RAC, comprised of stakeholders and other vested parties. This groups meets to collaborate on different rulemaking outcomes, and decides on one set of recommendations or rule changes, that are then presented to the Land Conservation and Development Commission for adoption.
If a legislative change requires a rule change, it is listed in the department's
Policy Agenda that the Department of Land Conservation and Development creates once a biennia. New policy agendas are developed after a long legislative session. The existing policy agenda is updated after the short legislative session. These documents make clear the rulemaking and policy changes the department plans to pursue and offers a description and proposed scope and timeline for each item included.
To see what rulemaking is currently happening at DLCD, visit our
rulemaking page.
Land Use Policy Committees
Land use legislation may include policy issues related to housing, economic development, agriculture, forestry, coastal management, infrastructure and transportation. The department typically monitors the following committees:
House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
House Committee on Economic Development and Trade
House Committee on Energy and Environment
House Committee on Human Services and Housing
House Committee on Transportation Policy
Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Business and Transportation
DLCD Budget Committee
The
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources considers and passes DLCD's biennial budget. DLCD presents its budget as represented in the Governor’s Recommended Budget to the Subcommittee early in the legislative session. Toward the end of the session the Subcommittee approves the budget and sends it to the full
Joint Committee on Ways and Means for approval.
To review DLCD's current and past budget documents, visit the
Administration and Support page under About DLCD.
How to Follow and Track Bills
The Oregon Legislature provides a legislative information system, OLIS, which is freely available to all members of the public.
This resource promotes a 360 degree approach to civic engagement by connecting users to live hearings, providing hearing materials, committee information, vote counts, and much more. Bills and committees can be followed via e-Subscribe or RSS. Meeting schedules, votes on bills and newly introduced legislation are posted daily on the homepage. Live video feeds and audio archives are available as well.
Follow and Track Bills on OLIS
- Go to
www.oregonlegislature.gov
- Click the "OLIS" icon
- Click the "Bills" icon
- Enter the bill number or topic that you are seeking; click on the bill number
- An overview of the bill will be on the landing page. On this page you can:
- Read the text of a bill and its amendments
- Subscribe to the bill via email or RSS
- See what Chamber and Committee the bill is in
- View meeting materials
- Link to the Committee page
- Read the measure history
- Learn the current status of the bill
- See the next scheduled hearing
Sign Up for Committee Agendas and Bill Notifications
- Go to
www.oregonlegislature.gov
- Click on the eSubscribe icon in the lower blue footer area
- Enter your email address and select the committee you would like to receive agendas from and bills you wish to track
- Committee agendas ensure timely notice of all hearings and next actions on bills
Other Helpful Tools
In Oregon's representative form of government, the legislature is integral to the process of proposing, deliberating and setting public policy. In order for this process to work, citizens must be engaged.
The OLIS site offers a multitude of resources available to assist citizens in engaging in the legislative process. Below are some helpful links found on the Citizen Engagement page of the OLIS website (www.oregonlegislature.gov).
For reference assistance, questions about the legislature, legislative process, or government agencies, please email
help.leg@state.or.us, or call 503-986-1668.