[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6255835,"mediaKeyId","3161607-0758c4cc580fde134206abbe78f12ad7","parentId",3161607,"title","Advocates urge ban on credit-score screening for Oregon Health Plan recipients in informational hearing","audioSeconds",305,"startMs",2463000,"endMs",2768000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161607-0758c4cc580fde134206abbe78f12ad7&start=2463&end=2768","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161607-0758c4cc580fde134206abbe78f12ad7/thumbnail_2463000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6255835/Oregon/Advocates-urge-ban-on-credit-score-screening-for-Oregon-Health-Plan-recipients-in-informational-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255835-9f11d587925cfe6f2bd628ebe9d88e2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775294896&Signature=VDAaYiFK5AfAWzfpr5mXeKra8Y7dVi~8n7CFL1xO1zamToMPwkjIcW3I6k8vrxw95VU~8ETKBfAcpo2LfwQiCuc6-oO1BPsCxEYOI0j8T8waPK~8Dj6qjP~z7mX~qgSN8Uab~xFmwhJrdt9wmuLrnHzvaqznG9K591kjRG9PFMrCtwWnzCU891LOw3b2kXGDNvRlRjP7CqQlXgmc4jB-BgoaLf3zkzsEk3hqNwI5wGKhqcRBCqee6Gyms9-3hA61ZX6uZy1T7K0qXySLQWy~7xSN2RfnAm-AgzhtqDHDunn24xQ58U~8vH-CGSxkefYPIeq~rLy5BG0jR8MAwy~g0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","Salem, Ore. — Housing advocates and legal experts on April 30 urged the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness to support House Bill 3,938, an informational proposal to bar landlords, owners and property managers from using credit scores as a rental-screening criterion for people who qualify for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).

Representatives of tenants’ groups, legal aid organizations and the bill sponsor’s office told the committee credit checks are widely used to screen applicants and can unfairly block low-income households and voucher holders from renting, even when rental payments are guaranteed by assistance programs.

Chris Bronger Munoz, staff in Representative Leslie Munoz’s office, who presented the bill in Rep. Munoz’s name, said HB 3,938 would prohibit credit-score-based denials for OHP recipients. He described repeated instances from his prior work as a housing case manager where clients with guaranteed rent assistance and support services were denied housing because credit checks were used as a discretionary screening tool.

Chi Chi Wu, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, testified that credit scores were developed to predict loan delinquency, not tenancy risk, and that credit reports contain errors. Wu cited published findings that a substantial share of consumers have errors on their credit reports and noted racial disparities in median credit scores: VantageScore medians cited in testimony were 639 for Black consumers, 673 for Latino consumers and 730 for white consumers. Wu told the committee that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has warned that overreliance on credit history may produce unjustified discriminatory effects.

Kim McCarty, executive director of the Community Alliance of Tenants, described tenant experiences in Portland and statewide where credit checks blocked voucher holders or long-term tenants from rehousing. McCarty said the city of Portland’s Fair Ordinance seeks to lower screening barriers and that HB 3,938 would extend protective measures for OHP recipients statewide.

Committee members asked how existing protections for source-of-income discrimination intersect with credit checks for voucher holders. Testifiers said credit checks are sometimes used as a proxy to deny voucher holders despite statutory prohibitions on source-of-income discrimination; advocates said enforcement options exist but can be time-consuming and resource intensive.

No formal action was taken during the informational session. Committee members expressed interest in continuing the conversation and in possible short-session follow-up. Rep. Munoz’s staff indicated intent to prepare further materials for potential future hearings.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Housing and Homelessness 04/30/2025 1:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","At an informational session, advocates and Rep. Leslie Munoz’s staff described House Bill 3,938, which would prohibit landlords from using credit scores as a rental-eligibility criterion for people who qualify for the Oregon Health Plan; advocates cited research on credit-report errors and disparate racial impacts.","taxTitle","Housing and Homelessness, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",18023,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6255840,"Representative Ed Deal outlines bill to make state agencies inventory rules and lands to boost housing production",494,1271000,1765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161607-0758c4cc580fde134206abbe78f12ad7&start=1271&end=1765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161607-0758c4cc580fde134206abbe78f12ad7/thumbnail_1271000.jpg","/articles/6255840/Oregon/Representative-Ed-Deal-outlines-bill-to-make-state-agencies-inventory-rules-and-lands-to-boost-housing-production","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255840-45236ad8d2d3774f08ab3931b42678f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775294896&Signature=Q5330l2ggvEIXK3ECeheCRzRHHf2CskFSmQ-HTulyBtHo2FAHDzxWyN7QPeU~4vAuHnkvclkKBPK08s1OBIFvPuxCmD5Cq~5wOQLgBDdyTiG0j~jZWMtPBEgXNOdiW5jQDqEf0Q6pW-FsfVgsIyBoTTokoELT9caffEX7JvYvrmiOovyX5ZPCU2KXwnnAkliDTfHKVAezIkaDsD75AtWTcHv3aRkCXUk2RysShIY3Lnrr~xGv9Fd23UWunhbl1Wf8lI9JHjNSudt1Mnww3dPsHARSt2qtrjTjY8Ov1QfoIGXXE62NpT37mW65h8rLxnR-iyCOs9xj7ZDqs9ftU0oJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salem, Ore. — Representative Ed Deal on April 30 presented House Bill 3,943 in an informational session before the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, asking state agencies to inventory rules and state-owned land to identify changes that could promote housing production.

The bill would require executive-branch agencies to, within 60 days of the bill’s effective date, identify agency rules that may impede new housing, report whether rules could be amended or rescinded to ease regulatory burdens, evaluate state-owned land for housing potential and propose agency strategies to facilitate housing development. Deal said the measure is intended to align agency practices with Governor Kotek’s goal of 36,000 new housing units annually and to put state assets and rules to work for housing production.

Representative Ed Deal, the bill’s sponsor, described HB 3,943 as a low-cost transparency and accountability measure that complements recommendations from the Housing Production Advisory Council and other legislative proposals. “By mandating this review, we compel state government to examine its own role in either helping or hindering housing development,” Deal said.

Joel Mattson, manager of the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) at the Department of Land Conservation and Development, told the committee the office has no formal position on HB 3,943 but is already conducting related work under the statute that created HAPO (Senate Bill 1537). Mattson said HAPO’s statutory report will evaluate agency practices, policies and programs for barriers to housing production and is scheduled to be delivered to the legislature in September 2026. He said HAPO also is working with housing producers and local governments to navigate the state-owned lands inventory dashboard.

Palmer Mason, HAPO’s interagency coordinator, described the office as a joint effort between DLCD and the Building Codes Division (Department of Consumer and Business Services) created by SB 1537. Mason said HAPO is beginning an evaluation of state agency practices and will look for opportunities to consolidate or standardize forms and information that agencies request from project applicants as a practical first step to reduce time and cost.

Developer and realtor Reuben Shug told the committee he has seen builders leave Oregon because of permitting delays and inconsistent rules and said predictable, timely processes attract investment. Shug said streamlining agency rules and permitting could reduce developers’ interest expense and time-to-market, which in his experience can materially affect feasibility.

Representatives on the committee discussed next steps and related measures: Rep. Mannix suggested a voluntary standardized permitting process that communities could adopt; other members noted a separate permitting-accountability bill will be before the committee the following week. Committee members asked HAPO staff whether other states’ dashboards or permit-timing policies are being considered; HAPO staff said California and Washington offer examples and that Pennsylvania has implemented permit-timing dashboards in some programs.

HAPO staff said the office is considering a consultant-led evaluation and that the September 2026 report will also identify how limited state resources (funding, technical assistance, data and expertise) could be better leveraged to increase housing production. Members and HAPO staff agreed the work would be iterative and would inform potential statutory refinement in future sessions.

","Rep. Ed Deal presented House Bill 3,943 to require executive branch agencies to review rules and state lands for barriers to housing production; the Housing Accountability and Production Office described related work and a statutory report due to the legislature in September 2026.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6255844,"House Committee advances five housing-related Senate bills to the House floor",84,470000,554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161607-0758c4cc580fde134206abbe78f12ad7&start=470&end=554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161607-0758c4cc580fde134206abbe78f12ad7/thumbnail_470000.jpg","/articles/6255844/Oregon/House-Committee-advances-five-housing-related-Senate-bills-to-the-House-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255844-76b71e25c4d1aec4c5415cdf2669cbcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775294896&Signature=DLQSFrYpt3fWfW4tVnYmgYyW3l97VFzBNSAxW44OadNh0IxBFh7t9QAR4pDrE7KHUaZJPhi79zwiqV7rEgXK6AeESCEerOy8QSuijDOqB7XK6cm1~8LLCVW7SoDXAH85fEzNSPHexxsMMzkLdAMOtSk88fn~nArlFhWvRHkiaAKdxnJu2FXPlNLPUf5QwYOg~aPtvsdNpHesL02H~1vAWJb9oWBMJ8LnlWjvUkPBGhsx1biBzsn~QlNfRl09vf~mwdv2pDmRDlGn8bSH-YiJpzAEDoiOlGblfxGkBbQdJlLzrzcsjKred3gEp89KfGAmL-KsKtw0u3d0fMJhJEVyuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salem, Ore. — The House Committee on Housing and Homelessness voted April 30 to advance five Senate bills to the House floor with due-pass recommendations, moving a package of measures that lawmakers described as incremental steps to preserve and expand housing and to reduce regulatory barriers.

The five bills include: Senate Bill 814A (expanding eligibility for long-term rental assistance), Senate Bill 967A (clarifying local-improvement agreements in unincorporated areas inside urban growth boundaries), Senate Bill 32A (requiring Oregon Housing and Community Services to publish public-housing data), Senate Bill 973 (requiring multilingual landlord notice when affordability restrictions will end), and Senate Bill 49A (increasing membership on the Building Codes Structures Board). Committee members recorded unanimous or near-unanimous support and assigned members to carry the bills on the House floor.

Lawmakers said the bills have minimal fiscal impacts. Committee staff summarized each measure for members before votes. Committee Chair Tara Marsh opened and closed each work session; committee staff provided bill summaries and the committee clerk called the roll for each vote.

Senate Bill 814A: The committee heard that SB 814A would expand eligibility for the long-term rental assistance program administered by the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department to include people who are, or recently were, residing in child-care centers or confined in correctional facilities, and would direct OHS to consult with the Oregon Youth Authority in program design. The bill was moved to the floor with a due-pass recommendation by Vice Chair Breeze Iverson. The roll call recorded 11 yes votes and 1 excused member; Chair Marsh announced the motion passed and Rep. Grama volunteered to carry the bill to the floor.

Senate Bill 967A: Committee staff summarized SB 967A as a measure that expands provisions governing local improvements in unincorporated areas inside urban growth boundaries and allows local governments to enter intergovernmental agreements to allocate jurisdictional authority over proposed local-improvement projects. Vice Chair Breeze Iverson moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the roll call recorded 12 yes votes and the motion passed. Rep. Levy agreed to carry the bill.

Senate Bill 32A: Committee staff said SB 32A would require Oregon Housing and Community Services to maintain on its website information about publicly supported housing, including expiration dates for affordability restrictions, unit counts, rental-assistance types and income-eligibility levels. Vice Chair Breeze Iverson moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the roll call recorded 12 yes votes and the motion passed. A carrier was identified from committee membership.

Senate Bill 973: Committee staff described SB 973 as requiring the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department to prescribe multilingual notice forms obligating landlords to provide extended notice when affordability restrictions are set to end on or after July 1, 2028. The committee moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the roll call recorded 12 yes votes and the motion passed. Rep. Anderson volunteered to carry the bill.

Senate Bill 49A: The committee heard SB 49A would increase membership on the Building Codes Structures Board from nine to 11 and specify membership requirements; proponents said the additional seats would add expertise such as structural engineering. Vice Chair Breeze Iverson moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The roll call recorded 12 yes votes and the motion passed. Rep. Mannix agreed to carry the bill.

Votes at a glance

- SB 814A — Motion: move to floor with due-pass recommendation; mover: Vice Chair Breeze Iverson; tally: yes 11, excused 1; outcome: approved. Carrier: Rep. Grama.
- SB 967A — Motion: move to floor with due-pass recommendation; mover: Vice Chair Breeze Iverson; tally: yes 12; outcome: approved. Carrier: Rep. Levy.
- SB 32A — Motion: move to floor with due-pass recommendation; mover: Vice Chair Breeze Iverson; tally: yes 12; outcome: approved. Carrier: Rep. Sosa (assigned from committee discussion).
- SB 973 — Motion: move to floor with due-pass recommendation; mover: Vice Chair Breeze Iverson; tally: yes 12; outcome: approved. Carrier: Rep. Anderson.
- SB 49A — Motion: move to floor with due-pass recommendation; mover: Vice Chair Breeze Iverson; tally: yes 12; outcome: approved. Carrier: Rep. Mannix.

Committee members and staff emphasized that each measure was assessed as having a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact in the committee summaries. All five bills will proceed to the House floor for further debate and final votes. Committee members also noted informational sessions would follow later in the meeting on House bills that did not receive public hearings this session.

","On April 30 the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness gave due-pass recommendations for five Senate bills addressing rental assistance, local improvement agreements, public-housing transparency, landlord notice requirements and building-code board membership. Each bill will go to the full House; carriers were assigned for several measures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advocates urge ban on credit-score screening for Oregon Health Plan recipients in informational hearing

Representative Ed Deal outlines bill to make state agencies inventory rules and lands to boost housing production

House Committee advances five housing-related Senate bills to the House floor