Senate committee adopts amendment and forwards youth rental-assistance bill to floor

The Senate Committee on Housing and Development adopted an amendment and forwarded Senate Bill 814 to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation on Feb. 26, 2025, after a work session and debate over who the bill would cover.

Senate Bill 814 directs the Housing and Community Services Department (OHCS) to adjust eligibility for an existing long‑term rental assistance program for certain people under age 25 and to consult with additional entities, including the Oregon Youth Authority, when designing the program. The dash‑2 amendment removed language that would have explicitly extended eligibility to “youth at risk of becoming homeless.” Before the committee voted to adopt the dash‑2 amendment, members asked whether the change would exclude young people aging out of foster care; OHCS staff later told the committee that youth aging out of foster care would still be covered under the bill’s existing language despite the dash‑2 change.

Committee debate: The amendment was put forward, withdrawn briefly and later reintroduced during a recess so staff could confirm coverage for foster youth. Vice Chair Anderson moved to adopt the dash‑2 amendment; after staff research, Casey Voulihan of Oregon Housing and Community Services told the committee, “youth that are aging out of foster care facilities should be covered by the bill based on its current language despite the dash‑2 amendment.” That clarification removed a key objection and the committee adopted the amendment without recorded opposition.

Fiscal and revenue notes: Committee staff reported the Legislative Revenue Office issued a statement of no revenue impact on the measure and the Legislative Fiscal Office issued a statement of minimal fiscal impact.

Vote and next steps: After adopting the dash‑2 amendment, the committee voted to refer SB 814 as amended to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The clerk conducted a roll call; Senators recorded on the roll as voting aye included Senator Robin, Senator Knapp, Senator Patterson, Vice Chair Anderson and Chair Pham. The committee appointed Senator Anderson as the carrier on the Senate floor.

Why it matters: SB 814 changes eligibility for an assistance program aimed at people under 25 and signals legislative attention to housing supports for young people exiting systems such as corrections, childcare settings and foster care. The committee’s clarification that youth aging out of foster care remain eligible resolved a point of uncertainty that could have narrowed the bill’s reach.

The bill now proceeds to the full Senate for further consideration.