Wilsonville adopts 2026 state legislative agenda, prioritizing Boone Bridge and housing code fixes

The Wilsonville City Council unanimously adopted a 2026 state legislative agenda on Nov. 3 that lists two primary initiatives, a set of multi‑year priorities and guiding principles for state policy.

Government relations manager Everett Wilde told the council the agenda groups items into “initiatives” (city‑sponsored fixes the city will carry), “priorities” (high‑priority issues for advocacy) and “principles” (longer‑term policy positions). The two initiatives are a technical fix to frontage‑improvement conditions (to allow cities to require frontage work when a new use meaningfully changes traffic/impacts) and work to align the implementation rules for Oregon’s housing needs policies with legislative intent. Priorities include the Boone Bridge replacement, clarification of public‑meetings law interpretation and making the Housing Infrastructure Finance Program (HIFP) more flexible for local projects.

Wilde and consultant Greg Leo advised council that the 2026 short session will be fast (35 days) and fiscally constrained: state revenues moved from a surplus to a projected shortfall, and the legislature is likely to resist new programs with fiscal impact. Leo said the agenda focuses on technical fixes and partnership bills that can move in a short session.

A motion by Council President Carolyn Berry to adopt the agenda was seconded and passed unanimously. Council added consultant Greg Leo to the agenda contact list.

Staff said they will use the agenda as guidance to respond to bills and to advance city‑sponsored or partner‑led legislation in Salem during the short session.