Oregon House Committee advances House Bill 3970 expanding emergency housing assistance

The House Committee on Rules convened on June 17, 2025, to discuss House Bill 3970, which aims to expand emergency housing assistance eligibility in Oregon. The meeting, led by Chair Bowman, focused on a work session regarding the bill, which was previously reviewed by the committee on June 2.

House Bill 3970 seeks to extend assistance to individuals and families who are pregnant or have young children. The bill originally included provisions for the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department to provide recommendations for the governor's budget concerning youth homelessness services and to establish grant programs. However, the committee adopted dash 1 amendments that removed these provisions while retaining the core eligibility expansion for emergency housing assistance.

The amendments were met with support from committee members, with Vice Chair Pham moving to adopt them without any significant opposition. The fiscal impact of the amendments is minimal, and there is no expected revenue impact.

Following the adoption of the amendments, the committee voted to advance House Bill 3970 to the floor with a recommendation for passage. The motion received unanimous support from the members present, indicating a strong consensus on the importance of the bill.

As the bill moves forward, Representative Emerson Levy is set to carry it on the floor, signaling a step toward addressing the urgent needs of vulnerable families in Oregon. This legislative action reflects ongoing efforts to enhance support for those facing housing instability, particularly among young families.