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Multnomah County government relations briefs commissioners on 2025 legislative session, special session expected for transportation
Summary
Government relations staff told the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 1 that the 2025 Oregon legislative session produced mixed results for county priorities—some behavioral health and shelter funding passed, but a May revenue forecast reduced available resources and left gaps that the county will track into a governor‑called special session on transportation.
Multnomah County’s government relations team briefed the Board of Commissioners Aug. 1 on state legislative outcomes from the 2025 regular session, describing a mix of gains and unmet requests that were influenced by a worse‑than‑expected May revenue forecast.
Stacy Cowan, interim director of government relations, and colleagues Lizzie Atwood Wells and Tom Powers summarized key budget and policy actions affecting the county. They said the February revenue outlook had left room for new investments, but a May forecast reduced projected available revenue substantially, forcing legislators to scale back many proposals.
On behavioral health, the Oregon Health Authority budget authorized funding for several items—including $56 million for Oregon State Hospital corrective actions, $10 million for aid‑and‑assist services and allocations for deflection and diversion, community behavioral health, and school‑based SUD prevention. Cowan said a county priority for a Medicaid pilot for unhoused residents with severe and persistent mental illness was not funded.
Several bills addressing civil commitment, workforce and residential behavioral health capacity passed in amended forms: House Bill 2005 reworked aid‑and‑assist and competency restoration issues; HB2059 and HB2054 provided funding for behavioral health workforce and residential capacity; and SB610 revised oversight of behavioral health resource grants. Cowan said the county will track OHA priorities for how funds will be allocated to projects.
On housing and shelter, lawmakers approved $205 million for shelter (close to governor’s recommendations), but rehousing and eviction prevention received far smaller shares than requested. Cowan said those shortfalls will constrain local programs.
Transportation was a central issue in the session but stalled: a transportation funding bill introduced late in the session did not pass, and a limited stopgap failed as well. Cowan said the governor called a special session over Labor Day weekend; draft frameworks the county has seen would include funding for cities, counties and transit—unlike the last‑day proposal that had excluded them.
Other highlights included funding for expansion of youth‑homelessness programs at DHS; HB2292 requiring coverage for HIV prevention and treatment drugs without cost sharing; and SB599 prohibiting rental housing discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status. Cowan said the government relations team will continue to monitor implementation of bills and will recommend priorities for the upcoming short session and any emergency funding processes tied to federal developments.
