let’s help some great housing legislation get passed

The 2025 Legislative session has entered the budgeting stage and we need to make sure the most important housing bills are funded. Here are the bills we love that are either in or going to the Joint Ways and Means Committee:

• The Middle Housing program (HB2138) expands housing choices across Oregon and encourages affordable and accessible home ownership by legalizing more housing across the state, cutting red tape, and building incentives for affordable and accessible housing statewide.

• The Mixed Income Housing program (SB684) catalyzes mixed-income public development and revitalizes stalled affordable housing projects that have been unable to secure sufficient public funding through low-cost loans while still leveraging private investment.

• The Public Finance Task Force program (HB2966) studies innovative ways to fund essential infrastructure, stimulate economic activity, and promote homeownership.

• The Deferred System-Development Charges program (HB2968) reduces housing construction costs through state-level risk management that reduces financial risk to cities.

• The Innovative Housing Types program (HB3145) accelerates housing production through innovative construction techniques that also lower costs.

The Joint Ways and Means Committee is hearing testimony for HB5006, the appropriations bill that will determine the funding levels for state programs over the next two years. We need to make sure that key housing programs are supported and funded.

Talking points: remove barriers to building the homes we need:

• We need to legalize more housing across the state, cut red tape, and create incentives for affordable and accessible housing statewide.

• The housing crisis requires a multi-pronged approach that includes better zoning standards, new funding mechanisms, and openness to diverse creative solutions. That’s why it’s important to support a multitude of housing programs.

Template Testimony

You can use this testimony as inspiration for your own distinct remarks, as a template to build upon, or as a plug-and-play form letter. What’s most important is that you testify.

Dear Co-Chairs Lieber and Sanchez, and members of the committee,

My name is _______ and I live in _____. I join Portland: Neighbors Welcome in urging you to support and fund the following programs as essential to address Oregon’s housing crisis and help Oregon cities and communities to provide homes for people at all ages, wages, and stages:

• The Middle Housing program (HB2138) expands housing choices across Oregon and encourages affordable and accessible home ownership by legalizing more housing across the state, cutting red tape, and building incentives for affordable and accessible housing statewide.

• The Mixed Income Housing program (SB684) catalyzes mixed-income public development and revitalizes stalled affordable housing projects that have been unable to secure sufficient public funding through low-cost loans while still leveraging private investment.

• The Public Finance Task Force program (HB2966) studies innovative ways to fund essential infrastructure, stimulate economic activity, and promote homeownership.

• The Deferred System-Development Charges program (HB2968) reduces housing construction costs through state-level risk management that reduces financial risk to cities.

• The Innovative Housing Types program (HB3145) accelerates housing production through innovative construction techniques that also lower costs.

Thank you for supporting housing abundance for all of Oregon.