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Senate approves bill to increase accessible housing standards in Oregon
Summary
The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 444A to raise accessibility requirements for newly constructed housing that receives state funding and for multifamily buildings, aiming to address a shortage of units usable by people with disabilities and older adults.
The Oregon Senate on Monday passed Senate Bill 444A, which raises accessibility requirements for newly constructed housing that receives state funds and for newly built multifamily housing across the state.
Senate Bill 444A requires that at least 10% of housing built with state funds meet uniform federal accessibility standards (up from a previous 5% requirement) and that at least 10% of units in newly constructed multifamily buildings meet Type A accessibility standards, which include features such as wheelchair turning radiuses and lower shelving and workstation heights. The bill applies only to new construction and does not require retrofitting of existing housing.
Supporters said the bill responds to a severe shortage of accessible units and Oregon’s aging population. “There is a major shortage of accessible housing in Oregon,” Senator Patterson said on the floor. “Accessible housing is important for people with disabilities, but also for older adults, and their need for accessible housing will continue to grow as Oregon’s population ages.”
Senator Pham, a member of the Senate housing leadership, urged colleagues to “join me in voting yes” and described the bill as a step toward building housing “that meets the needs of Oregonians at all ages, wages, and stages of life.” Newly sworn Senator Neeron Mislan recounted a constituent with cerebral palsy who needed a ground-floor unit on a bus line, saying the story underscored how limited housing options can be for people with disabilities.
Senator Gelser Bluhin noted the bill’s connection to earlier policy moves intended to broaden support for accessible housing investment, including moving a trust created from the Fairview institution sale out of the Department of Human Services and into the Oregon Community Foundation to support accessible housing more broadly.
Senator Patterson said coalition amendments addressed concerns about potential development impacts and clarified that the statute’s references to “dwelling units” and “sleeping units” include apartments and dormitory-style sleeping units so that dorms and assisted-living facilities can be covered where intended.
The Senate took a roll call on the bill; the clerk recorded that the measure received the necessary constitutional majority and the bill was declared passed. Details of the roll call were recorded in the Senate journal.
Supporters and disability advocates described the measure as a targeted, incremental step to expand usable housing stock for people with mobility limitations and older adults.
Senate Bill 444A now proceeds according to the legislative process for enrollment and transmission to the governor.
