Eugene IGR committee frames 2026 legislative priorities, urges defense of shelter and Clear Lake funding

The City of Eugene’s Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Committee reviewed and discussed a draft set of 2026 state and federal legislative priorities during its Oct. 1 meeting, focusing on defending recently awarded shelter funding, securing previously allocated lottery bond dollars for a Clear Lake Road wastewater project and continuing advocacy for Eugene Airport expansion, behavioral‑health funding, protections for public officials and property‑tax reform.

Committee Chair Randy Groves opened the discussion, saying the draft priorities draw on input from city council meetings, local legislative delegates and city staff. “This is a starting point,” Ethan (IGR manager) said, noting the document will be refined before being presented to full council.

The committee singled out two funding items it wants actively defended at the state level. City staff said House Bill 3644 (2025) included a $204,000,000 allocation to the Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) statewide shelter program; members expressed concern that the new program could be on the list of reductions as the state faces biennial budget pressure. “We just want to have that on our radar and be able to advocate that the full allocation… stays within OHCS and continues to be dedicated towards the statewide shelter,” Ethan said.

Staff also asked the committee to protect a $6,000,000 award tied to House Bill 5031 (lottery bond bill) that is intended to fund a wastewater collection system for the Clear Lake Road industrial site. Ethan described that the 2027 sale of lottery bonds is driven by revenue forecasts and that diminished lottery revenues could reduce the bond sale and the funding available to previously announced projects.

Several committee members urged flexibility in how the priorities are presented. “It was my understanding that these are not in order of priority,” Councilor Yeh said; Councilor Evans and others said they favored removing numeric ordering and presenting the items as a nondirectional list so staff can use the package in negotiations. Ethan said removing numbers and converting to bullets would allow staff to advocate without implying strict rank order, but that council guidance will be needed if legislators press staff to pick a single top priority.

Other items discussed included: - Support for state and federal financial backing for Eugene Airport expansion, described by staff as a multi‑year capital project that will require ongoing advocacy; Councilor Evans and other members said airport funding is important for local economic development. - Support for renewed efforts to increase protections for public officials. Committee materials reference Senate Bill 473 (2025), which passed the Senate but stalled in the House after major revisions; staff said they are working with a coalition of legislators to find a vehicle to advance protections in the next session. - Support for increased state investment in behavioral‑health systems, coordinated with Lane County; members stressed the city’s interest in maintaining funding levels for programs that help reduce downstream costs to municipal services. - Continued engagement with a state task force on property‑tax structure created by House Bill 2321 (2025) and related work to address long‑term local revenue constraints.

Mayor Knudson urged coordination with Lane County on shelter and behavioral health advocacy, saying a united approach strengthens the region’s case. Several committee members said they want an updated policy document explaining priorities and asked staff to return with a revised, bulletized set of priorities.

The IGR committee planned to return a refined priorities document to the committee in November and to bring final recommendations to full city council in mid‑January, ahead of the February short legislative session.

Ending: The discussion closed with staff assigned to convert numbered priorities into a bulleted package staff can use in legislative outreach and to follow up with the committee on scheduling a November meeting to agree on a final priorities packet for council review.