Senate housing committee advances two bills, rejects one; chair declines another

Chair Pham opened the Feb. 12 meeting of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development and led consideration of multiple work sessions and motions.

The committee adopted the dash‑2 amendment to Senate Bill 15‑21 and then moved the bill, as amended, to the Senate floor with a 'do pass' recommendation. LPRO summarized SB 15‑21 as a measure allowing local governments in the Portland metropolitan area to require new multiunit residential developments to include a minimum number of affordable units only if the jurisdiction offsets the expected loss in marginal value caused by the requirement; the dash‑2 amendment gives local jurisdictions more control over affordability levels and updates economic‑analysis parameters. "I look forward to monitoring implementation, but I I'm hopeful about what we were able to achieve," Chair Pham said after the amendment was adopted.

The committee next considered Senate Bill 15‑61, which LPRO summarized as a measure to require local governments to allow restoration or replacement of dwellings destroyed in natural disasters. The committee adopted the dash‑4 amendment (which requires proposed replacement dwellings to comply with building codes in effect on the date the original dwelling was damaged and sets timelines for permits and commencement of construction) and the dash‑6 amendment (which allows a local government by ordinance to require notice to certain parties and time for written comment). The committee then moved SB 15‑61 as amended to the floor with a 'do pass' recommendation. The roll call recorded several 'aye' votes and at least one 'no' vote; the motion passed.

A motion to move Senate Bill 15‑78 to the floor failed after debate. Senator Nash argued the bill would help rural Oregon by allowing up to 50 acres to be considered for housing in sparsely populated counties, citing support from the Association of Oregon Counties and testimony from eastern Oregon commissioners. Several senators voiced support for studying regional housing needs rather than adopting an immediate change; the clerk recorded enough 'no' votes that "the motion does not have the vote to pass," Chair Pham announced.

Chair Pham also announced the committee would not move forward on Senate Bill 15‑64 and thanked community members and organizations who had testified; she pledged support for a related legislative path through House Bill 40‑35 and said the committee will monitor implementation to ensure local needs are met.

What happens next: SB 15‑21 and SB 15‑61 were reported to the Senate floor with 'do pass' recommendations and will be carried by committee members as noted on the record. SB 15‑78 will not advance from the committee at this time.