Oregon Ban on Rent Control Remains Intact

HB 2004, a tenant protection bill initially written to overturn the state’s ban on rent control and end no cause evictions, did not go to a vote in the Oregon Senate. Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick attempted to negotiate a compromise that limited no cause evictions and addressed some of the landlords’ concerns, but in the end all Senate Republicans and at least two Senate Democrats remained opposed to the bill. Senator Knopp of Bend argued that he bill could limit the development of much-needed new housing units, while Jonathan Lockwood, spokesman for the Senate Republicans, argued that the legislature should be addressing land-use laws rather than landlord-tenant relationships. Read more.