SB 1521 Oregon Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to local requirements to develop affordable housing.

Summary
Prohibits cities and counties within the Portland MSA from enforcing requirements that developers provide affordable units in multiunit dwellings unless the city or county first calculates the developers' average expected losses due to providing affordable housing and the city or county offsets those losses. Becomes operative for rental housing on January 1, 2028. Becomes operative for all housing on January 1, 2029.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed Mar 31, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

A-Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 31, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was finalized for signing (Enrolled) after passing the Senate. The most significant substantive change is the addition of new financial relief options for developers in the Portland area who must build affordable housing. Previously, cities could only offer cash payments or tax exemptions; the new version adds the option to waive or reduce impact fees and development charges if they have been in place for a long time. The bill also requires cities to perform a specific economic analysis proving they are offsetting the financial loss developers would suffer before enforcing these rules.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on Portland-area cities and counties requiring affordable units in large multi-unit buildings, but the financial mechanisms available to developers to comply have expanded.
REQUIREMENT

Cities must now conduct a specific economic analysis within the last six years to calculate the average financial loss developers would face before enforcing affordable housing rules.

The list of acceptable financial offsets for developers was expanded to include fee waivers and reductions alongside cash payments and tax exemptions.

FISCAL

Cities can now offer developers 'whole or partial waivers or reductions' of impact fees and development charges as an offset to building affordable housing.

TECHNICAL

The document was updated from 'A-Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' status, indicating it is ready for the Governor's signature, with minor formatting adjustments to headers and spacing.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

216
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 30
Feb 20, 2026
D Democratic18
17 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican12
4 Yea 6 Nay 2
50% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Mar 31, 2026
Signed into law
Governor signed.
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Gamba. Passed.
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules.
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Pham. Passed.
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Referred to Housing and Development.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.