Oregon Senate passes ‘game-changer’ bill to streamline housing development

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Amid Oregon’s housing crisis, the Oregon Senate passed a bipartisan bill on Monday to streamline housing development.

Under Senate Bill 974, local governments would have 90 days to make decisions on land-use development applications for housing in urban areas. The bill also eases requirements for design review for building style and landscaping while maintaining other standards for size, fire codes and safety regulations.

“Cutting down the timeline to break ground is a game-changer for families waiting on housing and builders ready to get to work,” said Sen. Dick Anderson (R – Lincoln City), who led the bill. “Today’s vote sends a clear message: Oregon is ready to build.”

Under the bill, the timeline for application decisions starts when developers submit their final engineering plans to develop land for single-family homes, manufactured housing and multi-unit buildings.

SB 974 applies to cities, counties, and special districts within urban growth boundaries, the Democratic Senate Majority Office said in a press release, noting, without the bill, local governments can wait up to 150 days to make a final decision on land-use applications.

“Senate Bill 974 has teeth,” the Senate Majority Office said, adding that local governments that fail to meet the 90-day deadline could end up paying developers’ engineering costs and attorney fees.

“We bring hurdles down so developers can put housing up,” said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D – Portland, Damascus & Boring), a chief sponsor of the bill. “Long delays on application decisions were holding up subdividing land, putting in roads and utilities, and more. Today’s legislation smooths the way.”

“The State of Oregon must continue to make it easier and faster to build more housing to address our state’s homelessness and housing affordability crises,” added Sen. Khanh Pham (D – Outer NE & SE Portland). “I’m grateful for the continued bipartisan commitment from my Senate colleagues to advance a bold agenda to build housing that meets the needs of Oregonians at all ages, wages and stages of life.”

The bill unanimously passed the Senate and heads to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration.