Homelessness Bills Currently Before the Oregon Legislature

Update courtesy of Representative Jack Zika

  • SB 291: Directs office of the Governor, in consultation with Racial Justice Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, to study laws related to housing and to provide results to interim committees of Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2022. Sunsets January 2, 2023. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die. (Public Hearing and Work Session held 3/11.) (Recommendation was to pass with amendments 3/26)
  • SB 410: Requires state agencies to develop and implement policies to ensure humane treatment of homeless individuals. Provides standards for storage facilities used for unclaimed personal property given to law enforcement officials when homeless individuals are removed from established camping site. Declares emergency, effective on passage. (Work Session held 3/25)
  • HB 2004: Directs Housing and Community Services Department to study issues relating to housing and report to appropriate committee or interim committee of Legislative Assembly on or before September 15, 2022.] Sunsets December 31, 2022.] Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Housing and Community Services Department Revolving Account for low-barrier emergency shelters and to Oregon Department of Administrative Services for navigation centers. Declares emergency, effective on passage. (Work Session Held 3/11 and referred to Ways and Means 3/15)
  • HB 2006: Defines “emergency shelter.” Requires local governments to allow siting of qualifying emergency shelters by qualifying entities notwithstanding land use laws and regulations. Sunsets requirement July 1, 2022. Expands description of transitional housing accommodations to include motor-vehicle camping. Removes three-vehicle limit on motor-vehicle camping on religious institution property.] Expands motor-vehicle camping that political subdivisions may allow. Expands uses of Emergency Housing Account to include developing technical assistance regarding emergency shelters or transitional housing accommodations. Authorizes Housing and Community Services Department to use Emergency Housing Account to fund grants and technical assistance for organizations to develop or operate low-barrier emergency shelters, develop supportive facilities or provide rapid rehousing services and support. Authorizes Oregon Department of Administrative Services to distribute funds to develop navigation centers that must be operating on or before July 1, 2022. Declares emergency, effective on passage. (Work Session held 3/9 and second reading 3/24)
  • HB 2367: Establishes Oregon Right to Rest Act. Makes violation unlawful practice enforceable by Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries or by civil action. (Work Session scheduled 4/13)
  • HB 2544: Authorizes Department of Human Services to award two-year grants to organizations that provide services to unaccompanied homeless youth and to organizations that operate host home projects for unaccompanied homeless youth. Sunsets grant programs on July 1, 2023. Requires department to submit reports on host home project grant program to interim committees of Legislative Assembly relating to housing, homeless youth services and high school education. Appropriates moneys to department for statewide assessment and grants. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die. (Work Session scheduled 3/31)
  • HB 3115: Provides that local law regulating sitting, lying, sleeping or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property that is open to public must be objectively reasonable as to time, place and manner with regards to persons experiencing homelessness. Creates affirmative defense to charge of violating such local law that law is not objectively reasonable. Creates cause of action for person experiencing homelessness to challenge objective reasonableness of such local law. Authorizes court to award attorney fees to prevailing plaintiff in such suit in certain circumstances. Declares emergency, effective on passage. (Work Session held 3/25)
  • HB 3124: Increases time that written notice must be posted before removal of homeless individuals from established camping site. Requires written notice to state how individuals may claim personal property removed from camping site. Requires that unclaimed personal property be stored in orderly fashion. Provides that local law that is more specific or provides greater protections to homeless individuals subject to removal from established camping site preempts contrary provisions of section. Declares emergency, effective on passage. (Work Session scheduled 4/8)
  • HB 3184: Requires Portland State University Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative to study long-term rent assistance and to report to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2022. Declares emergency, effective on passage. (Work Session scheduled 4/6).
  • HB 3261: Limits local government’s restrictions on conversions of certain properties into emergency shelters or affordable housing. Declares emergency, effective on passage. (Work Session held 3/18 and second reading 3/30)