Multifamily NW Member Hill Day 2025

On February 25, 2025, I joined my HFO Investment Real Estate colleagues—Marissa Cannon, Senior Broker Lee Fehrenbacher, and Partner Greg Frick—at the Multifamily NW Hill Day in Salem. Approximately 70 people from the industry spent a full morning lobbying on behalf of owners, managers, and vendors. It was a full and productive day of advocacy and engagement with Oregon legislators about critical issues affecting the rental housing industry.

The event began with remarks from Senator Mark Meek and Representative Pam Marsh (D-District 5, Southern Jackson County). The day ended with inspiring remarks from Senator Khanh Pham (D – District 23, Outer SE Portland), Representative Lucetta Elmer (R – District 24, McMinnville, Grande Ronde Community, Sheridan), and a surprise appearance by Governor Tina Kotek.

Throughout the day, we discussed key legislative priorities and budget requests that are vital to addressing the rental housing crisis in Oregon. Here are the bills and budget proposals we focused on:

Budget Requests:

• $105.2M for Long-Term Rent Assistance: This program provides rental assistance to low-income Oregonians, helping to stabilize the rental market while preventing evictions and homelessness. It’s a proven solution to address housing instability without additional burdens on housing providers.
• $1.5M for In-Person Rent Well Classes: This program educates first-time renters on financial responsibility and tenant rights, fostering better rental relationships while reducing disputes. It’s an affordable way to improve housing stability in the long term.

Legislative Bills:

1. SB 722 – Rent-Setting Software Ban & New Construction Rent Cap Reduction: This bill would ban certain rent-setting software and reduce the rent cap exemption period for new developments from 15 to 7 years. These changes would discourage housing investment and exacerbate housing shortages.
2. SB 54 – Mandatory Cooling Mechanisms: This mandate would require costly cooling system installations in multifamily rentals by 2026 and all rentals by 2036. The financial and logistical burdens could lead to substantial rent increases and strain the electricity grid.
3. HB 2967 – Elimination of Rental Screening Fees: This bill would eliminate screening fees, forcing housing providers to absorb costs and potentially decreasing screening efficiency while increasing risks of tenant fraud.
4. SB 594 – Lease Termination Ban for Teachers & Students During the School Year: This bill creates occupation-based tenant protections, limiting flexibility for providers and discouraging rentals to these groups due to increased risks.
5. HB 2305 – Lease Termination After Three Violations: This “three-strike rule” ensures accountability and supports rental community safety by providing clear consequences for repeat lease violations.
6. HB 3522 – Squatter Removal Simplification: This bill streamlines the legal process for reclaiming units occupied by unauthorized tenants, helping ensure faster availability for responsible renters.
7. HB 3521 – Provider Liability for Unexecuted Leases: This proposal increases risks and costs for housing providers by requiring them to pay damages if leases fall through for reasons outside their control.
8. SB 814 – Rental Assistance Expansion for Vulnerable Oregonians Under 25: This bill targets rental assistance for young adults at risk of housing instability, providing a proven tool to prevent homelessness and offer long-term support.

Our discussions with legislators highlighted the importance of supporting balanced, practical policies that ensure safe and stable housing for renters while maintaining the viability of rental housing. Multifamily NW’s advocacy efforts are critical to addressing the current housing crisis in Oregon, and I’m proud to have participated in these important conversations.

Meetings attended by HFO team members included the following:

• Senator Janeen Sollman  (staffer) (D) District 15: Washington County areas Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Rock Creek
• Senator Anthony Broadman –   (D) District 27: Bend
• Representative Tawna Sanchez (D) District 43: North and NE Portland
• Representative Ben Bowman  (D) District 25: House Majority Leader – Tigard
• Senator Kathleen Taylor  (D) District 21: Milwaukie, Oak Grove, SE & NE Portland
• Representative Mark Gamba (D) (staffer) District 41: Milwaukie

This breakdown shows which legislators were met by each HFO team member during the sessions. If additional clarification is needed, please reference the schedules in the dataset.

For more details on Multifamily NW’s legislative priorities, visit www.pnwhousing.org.