Housing

It comes as Oregon strives to strengthen state laws protecting immigrants against a backdrop of threats from President Donald Trump’s administration, and as the state grapples with a housing crisis.

Senate Bill 54 would require property owners of 10 or more multi-family rental units to provide tenants with indoor cooling in at least one room. By 2036, all bedrooms would require cooling devices.

In Oregon apartments built in the last 15 years are exempt from rent stabilization law — which limits rent increases to 10% a year. New builds are often owned by large corporations, and many are using AI software to set rents.

Oregon legislators are now considering House Bill 2964, which would provide loans and grants for nonprofits looking to build affordable housing on their land by covering those initial costs.

The governor revealed an online map aimed at making the state inventory of land more transparent. All told, more than 1.7 million acres are under Oregon state control, but about 360 parcels on the nearly 4,000 acres have been identified for possible housing development.

They're hoping state lawmakers will be moved to act by a Friday deadline, but opponents say existing law is adequate.

The bill would limit annual price hikes for residential tenants to no more than 7% a year. It next goes to the state Senate.

Portland leaders and the Oregon governor’s office have teamed up with the private sector to tackle the city’s housing crisis. Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek convened a meeting Thursday with housing developers, construction firms and other city officials to float solutions to the city’s slow pace of housing development.

Gov. Tina Kotek's middle housing bill took center stage in Salem. The governor wants to see thousands more duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, cottage clusters and townhomes built throughout the state.

Arizona-based developer Piculell Properties plans 38 residential lots on 15 acres in Videra Oak Meadow, but nonprofit Save Videra Oak Meadow opposes due to centuries-old oak trees.