June 2022
In 2021, the Oregon legislature enacted HB 2550, known as the “love letter" law. On March 3, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon issued a preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of the law. On May 11, 2022, the Court approved a consent decree which permanently prohibits enforcement of the law. In accord with the terms of the consent decree, the Oregon Real Estate Agency will not enforce HB 2550, codified at ORS 696.805(7).
We accept the court's decision that the recent “love letter" legislation cannot be implemented in its present form. As the court recognized, “love letters" can enable housing discrimination. The Agency remains committed to working with real estate licensees to ensure they meet their responsibilities to comply with existing state and federal fair housing laws.