Eugene staff outline 2025 state legislative priorities, seek clarity on homeless property rules and funding

The City of Eugene Intergovernmental Relations Committee heard a detailed legislative update from Intergovernmental Relations staffer Ethan about the city’s 2025 priorities and several pending state bills affecting homelessness response, local finance and infrastructure.

The update matters because the bills discussed could change how Eugene and other Oregon cities pay for services, handle personal property at public camping sites and recover costs for removing abandoned recreational vehicles, and because the committee asked staff to seek clarifications and letters of support where appropriate.

Ethan told the committee that the city is waiting for several bills to be drafted by legislative counsel before they move into the public hearing process. “Once that bill comes on out, it’ll be put into OLIS … and it’ll be set up for hearing,” he said, explaining that the timing affects when the city can testify or lobby for amendments. He also flagged that the Legislature released a record number of bills this session, increasing workload for legislative counsel and slowing some bill-drafting.

On local finance, staff said they support House Bill…