Greg Leo, the city’s contract government affairs counsel, and Everett Wilde, Wilsonville’s government relations manager, briefed the City Council on Sept. 4 about the 2025 Oregon legislative session and a continuing special session in Salem focused on transportation funding.

Leo said the regular session saw “3,400 bills” introduced and that the team pared that to “104 bills that you have in the summary sheet.” He told council the governor’s office drove many housing proposals, and highlighted wins such as funding for childcare and a $10 million appropriation for regionally significant industrial lands. Leo said the Aurora Airport language that the city opposed initially was altered and then returned later in another bill.

The presentation also covered housing measures councilors flagged as erosions of local control. Councilor Dunwall identified Senate Bill 974 (the so-called shot clock) and House Bill 2138 (middle housing) as examples that limit local design-review authority, saying the changes “remove our city's ability to decide when and where trees can be removed.” Councilors echoed concern that several bills restrict local land‑use discretion.

Councilors and Leo also focused on transportation. Leo and council members noted the special session convened Aug. 29 to address a shortfall in ODOT operations and maintenance revenue as gas-tax receipts decline. Everett Wilde summarized the special-session status: the Oregon House passed the transportation package after two public hearings and thousands of comments; the Senate delayed consideration and was scheduled to resume Sept. 17.

Councilors described the transportation proposal as politically fraught and potentially regressive. Councilor Cunningham said she wrote opposition testimony because many residents are rent‑burdened and additional fuel or fee increases would be painful. Councilor Barry and others noted that some provisions temporarily increase payroll-based transit funding and could provide resources to SMART, the regional transit provider.

Where it matters for Wilsonville: Leo and councilors identified the Boone bridge replacement as a continued priority. Councilor Chevlin asked about a $1,000,000 appropriation the city received for early engineering; Leo said the appropriation helps preserve momentum for the planning phase though “it may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things.” Wilde said the city and partners are pursuing geotechnical work and broader regional advocacy.

Councilors urged continued advocacy in Salem and emphasized that many policy outcomes are still pending while the special session unfolds. Wilde encouraged council members to use OLIS (the Oregon Legislative Information System) to track bill files, testimony, amendments and hearing video, and Leo offered the office’s materials and links for staff and council review.

Ending: Councilors asked for continued, timely updates while the special session continues and flagged transportation and housing preemption as issues the city will follow into 2026 and beyond.