Rent Control bill SB 608 passed Oregon Senate, moves to House for Hearing on Monday, Feb. 18th

Posted By: Jonathan Clay Central Oregon, Industry News, MFNW Community Updates, Mid-Willamette Valley, Portland/SW Washington, SWV News,

Dear Multifamily NW Members & Interested Parties,

At an unprecedented pace Rent Control bill SB 608 had its Senate floor vote Tuesday morning February 12th where it passed 17 to 11. Now next Monday it's set for another public hearing on the House side for President's Day Monday, February 18th.
Moving at breakneck speed through the super-majority dominated Legislature, SB 608 has the potential to make grave changes to Oregon Landlord/Tenant law, more than any attempt in the last 20 years. In addition to limiting rent increases to an annual 7% +CPI it would also eliminate most End of Tenancy "no-cause" Notices and mandate state-wide relocation payments.

PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION

The official agenda for SB 608's public hearing in the House Committee on Human Services and Housing next Monday has been released and is linked below. Multifamily NW encourages members to participate, give testimony and make their voices heard. The hearing will begin at 1:00pm in Hearing Room 50 at the Oregon Capitol Building. At 2:45pm the committee will recess and reconvene at 5:00pm to continue the public hearing on SB 608. To accommodate those interested in testifying the Chair requests that each speaker limit their testimony to 2 minutes. The Chair may further limit live testimony to 1 minute, 30 seconds to accommodate a large number of speakers. Written testimony will be accepted until 5:00pm on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019 at hhs.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.

Please see Rent Control/Stabilization talking points, sample letter to send to your Representative, further rent control studies and a copy of SB 608 below. Let us know if you're able to participate in this fight. Contact Jonathan Clay with any questions or to coordinate your participation on Monday. Thank you!

PARTICIPATION RESOURCES AGAINST SB 608

SB 608 Public Hearing Agenda - Monday, February 19th
Rent Control/Stabilization Talking Points
Dr. Lisa Sturtevant's research on negative impacts of rent control
Sample Letter to Representative
Copy of SB 608

Email to send written testimony for Public Hearing on Monday, February 18th:
hhs.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov

Find your State Senator and Representative:
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html

Advice and tips for giving or submitting testimony:
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Pages/How-to-Testify.aspx