Legislative Wrap Up, 2007
Housing Alliance Wins More Than $26 Million in New Money for Housing!
Despite Defeat of HB3551, 2007 is the Best Session for Housing in Oregon History
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Hello Housing Alliance Friends,
Despite great grass roots support and a well executed in-building strategy, HB 3551 died on the House floor this week. As you all read from the updates, we had been feeling pretty confident over the past month that we would win the document recording fee. Our lobbying team had secured support for the bill from 10-12 Republican representatives and were feeling optimistic that we would get the 36 votes we needed. This week the Republican caucus locked up and HB 3551 fell three votes shy of passage in the House. Rep. Chuck Burley and Rep. Patti Smith voted for passage, along with all of the Democratic Reps.
We always knew that the timing of the consideration of 3551 would play a huge role in its chances for success. Unfortunately, we encountered several delays that hurt us. First, Legislative Counsel ruled the document recording fee to be a tax in April, even though they had decided it was a fee last fall. Then our bill got caught up a little longer than anticipated in the Transportation Subcommittee of Ways and Means. These delays and the typical end-of-session resentments between the two parties were sufficient to unhinge our effort.
We have a lot of supporters in both parties. We worked hard during the interim to make our proposal be a bipartisan, rural and urban issue. We need to continue to do that after this session and to educate the new Republican leadership. We are only a few votes away from success and we aren't stopping!
What an amazing job we did this session! We broadened our coalition and developed a strong working relationship with Oregon Housing and Community Services that got us farther than we could have alone. Key to our success was inclusion of $26 million in new funds in the Governor's proposed budget released in January. These partnerships made a real difference for those working families, veterans, people with disabilities and seniors. Despite the defeat of the document recording fee we had the largest commitment of new housing funds in our states' history!
SB 5517
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SB 5517, the Oregon Housing and Community Services budget, passed Monday June 25, renewing existing funds and adding $26 million in new resources to housing for working families, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. Approximately $16 million in Lottery backed bonds will be committed to developing new affordable housing and funding services for people coming out of homelessness. $8 million in new General Funds will be used for the preservation of affordable housing around the state in jeopardy of being lost to the private market, with a priority on housing with existing rent subsidy contracts. $2 million of General Fund will restore money taken from the Housing Trust Fund in earlier sessions.
Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit
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We secured another $2 million for the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit with HB 3201B, one of the state's best tools to create affordability for people at or below 30% median family income. In the 2005 Legislative session the Housing Alliance's big win was a $2 million cap expansion, and WE DID IT AGAIN! Furthermore, we expanded the uses of this tax credit to help preserve existing affordable housing and save manufactured home parks! Click here to view HB 3201B. The amendments we added are in Section 61.
Condo Conversions
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We passed a Condo Conversion bill (HB 3186) that protects renter's rights to a full 120-day notice to relocate, minimizing the negative impact people feel when they lose their home to condo conversion.
Manufactured Home Park Bills
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Two MH park bills also passed this session. HB 2096A creates the new Manufactured Dwelling Park Nonprofit Cooperative Corporation. HB 2735C, the MH park closure bill, requires closing park landlords to pay $5/7/9k to displaced tenants, and continues and expands eligibility for the state tax credit (although HB 3201B reduces the credit from $10k to $5k). It also continues the capital gains break for landlords who sell to residents, nonprofits, or Public Housing Authorities and allows OHCS to use the existing tenant space fee to subcontract out for a housing counselor to help the displaced tenants, among other things.
HB 3485
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HB 3485C, which makes clear that we can use deed restrictions and affordability covenants to ensure long term affordability passed and is waiting for the Governor's signature.
Inclusionary Zoning
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We made progress on inclusionary zoning. The bill did not pass out of committee but we started having constructive conversations with the homebuilders that will continue into the interim. Additionally, a provision in HB 2096A directs the Department of Land Conservation and Development to report to the 2009 legislature on the use of Inclusionary Zoning to promote new MH parks.
We should all be so proud! All your calls, emails and advocacy efforts made these victories possible. Thank you so much.
No, it's not enough, but we're building steam! As for what's next, there will likely be a special session in 2008, and you can believe the Housing Alliance will be back with a package to secure more of the funding we need for housing in Oregon. Whether it is a revamped document recording fee or another avenue to dedicate ongoing funding to housing, we will need you to rally us once again to victory.
We will hold a membership meeting in August to debrief this session and start planning our strategy for the next one! We will send out a meeting date to all members soon.
Remember: The Housing Alliance goal was to win $100 Million for housing in ten years. This is year 3, and we have the state's funding commitment up to about $37 million (new and existing direct expenditures) for this biennium. We still have a ways to go to reach our goal, but we sure have already come a long way!
Together we win!
Want more information on the Housing Alliance? Go to http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org.
Please email or call us with questions or ideas for how we can best keep you informed. Contact Amy Fauver or Michael Anderson.
