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Lobbyist briefs Deschutes County on short-session priorities: transportation, housing and health funding top list
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Summary
Doug Riggs told the county the legislature may repeal the recent transportation package and negotiate replacements in the short session; health-care cost growth and revenue forecasting (capital gains) will shape decisions that affect county services.
Doug Riggs, Deschutes County’s legislative representative, gave commissioners a wide-ranging update on the 2026 short legislative session and issues that could affect county budgets and services.
On transportation, Riggs said pressure from a ballot measure and negotiations at the governor’s office make repeal and revision likely. "I fully expect that they will repeal that bill," he told the board, noting talks are underway about what could replace the package and an accountability committee has convened to examine rising project costs.
He flagged other early priorities: housing proposals (including an LC providing streamlined inclusion to urban growth boundaries), emergency needs for the nursery industry (Japanese beetle funding), and an administration-level “prosperity czar” to coordinate economic-growth initiatives. Riggs described the state revenue forecast as uncertain but noted a potential capital-gains windfall could materially affect the biennium outlook.
Why it matters: County departments depend heavily on state funding and regulatory direction for public health, behavioral health and transportation. Riggs warned that health-related cost growth at the state level is creating significant pressure: the Oregon Health Authority reported increased CCO costs, and the state adjusted cost-growth targets upward to keep programs solvent.
What’s next: Riggs and county staff will track bill LCs closely; staff plan weekly legislative check-ins and will bring a bill-tracker to the board as bills are published. Commissioners asked staff to flag specific bills (transient lodging tax changes, LC 94 and behavioral-health administrative-relief proposals) for board review.
