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Legislative Round Up

June 2024

The 2024 legislative session resulted in several key housing-related laws being passed. While the Oregon Real Estate Agency doesn't directly regulate the new legislation addressed below, we understand they may impact your business.

For more information on House Bill 4058 (Wholesaler Registration Bill) and House Bill 4063 (repeals the Love Letter Law passed in the 2021 legislative session), please visit 2024 Legislative Session Recap.

If you or your clients have any questions about these new laws, we recommend consulting with a legal professional.

House Bill 4134:https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/HB4134.

  • Appropriates approximately $21.3 million in general funds to the Department of Administrative Services for infrastructure grants to specified cities.
  • Requires that infrastructure projects receiving funds must support housing developments in which at least 30 percent of the units are affordable to households earning 130 percent or less of county median income.

Senate Bill 1527:https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/SB1527  

  • Modifies provisions governing first-time home buyer savings accounts.
  • Specifies records taxpayer is required to maintain and furnish upon request to Department of Revenue.
  • Provides administrative rulemaking authority to the Oregon Department of Revenue and specifies limits on such rules.
  • Limits an individual to being, during any calendar year, either an owner of one first-time home buyer savings account or the qualified beneficiary on one account.
  • Allows funds to be withdrawn without penalty from a first-time home buyer savings account if funds are used for qualified purpose of account holder or a designated qualified beneficiary.
  • Eliminates requirement of financial institutions to provide account certificate beginning with 2025 calendar year.
  • Specifies that financial institutions are not required to designate accounts as first-time home buyer savings accounts.

Senate Bill 1529: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/SB1529

  • Authorizes the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to distribute air conditioners and air filters to eligible distribution entities that provide devices to specified eligible individuals during an emergency or anticipated emergency.
  • Requires the administrator of the program to reimburse the costs of identifying eligible Oregonians, delivering devices, providing necessary utility support, and ensuring devices are installed and working properly.
  • Modifies the Housing Choice Landlord Guarantee Program to increase the maximum reimbursement landlords can receive for damage caused by tenants from no more than $5,000 per tenancy to a maximum amount established by the Housing and Community Services Department.

Senate Bill 1537: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/SB1537

  • Establishes the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) and directs HAPO to assist local governments with housing production.
  • Requires local governments to grant land use regulation and design adjustments in certain circumstances and modifies the definition of limited land use decisions.
  • Allows housing permit applicants to opt in to amended housing regulations and expands eligibility of prevailing applicants for housing development to receive attorney fees in a Land Use Board of Appeals review.
  • Establishes the Housing Infrastructure Support Fund to provide capacity and support to municipalities for the planning and financing of infrastructure for housing unit production.
  • Establishes the Housing Project Revolving Loan Fund to cover eligible developer costs, including infrastructure and system development charges, predevelopment costs, construction costs, and land write-downs.
  • Allows cities to undergo either a one-time urban growth boundary amendment or a land exchange in specified conditions.

Senate Bill 1564: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/SB1564

  • Allocates $550,000 to the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) to adopt three sets of model ordinances by January 1, 2026. Cities may adopt these ordinances to implement housing-related statewide land use planning goals.
  • Specifies that one set each must be targeted toward cities in the following population ranges: under 2,500; 2,500 – 24,999; and 25,000 or above.
  • Specifies types of housing that must be covered by the ordinances, requires they have clear and objective standards, and allows consideration of geographic location and other factors in adoption of the ordinances.