Unprecedented Grassroots Advocacy

Dear Members,

Multifamily NW knew this would be a pivotal legislative session. Now that we’re on the other side of Sine Die, that might be an understatement.

With a new governor, record turnover in the House during the last election, a narrowed majority in the Senate, and the first in-person session in years, 2023 was a year we knew we had a unique opportunity to re-introduce our association and show leaders in Salem that our goals and values are in lock step with Oregonians’ housing priorities.

We set out to collaborate with anyone willing to improve the stability of Oregon’s rental housing market. And that we did. Guided by our top priority – to advocate for common sense public policy that expands access to quality rental housing for as many Oregonians as possible – we found new allies and strengthened existing partnerships across the state.

We were at the table every day

We were included in regular meetings (and sometimes impromptu Sunday night conversations) with the chairs of the housing committees in both chambers, had frequent collaboration with groups that we typically don’t see eye to eye with, were invited to present to a Senate committee on what it takes to finance a housing development, and had great conversations with Democrats and Republicans during our annual Lobby Day.

This session, housing providers facilitated the ability of renters to run childcare businesses in their units (SB 599) and, due to our objections to changes in the nonpayment eviction process, we were able a negotiate the removal of permanent sixty day safe harbor provision for renters who merely apply for rental assistance which would have been a significant financial burden for housing providers (HB 2001). We advocated for streamlined resettlement policies for refugees (SB 935), codifying gender identity protections (HB 2680) and last year supported a new mandate for air conditioning units in rentals (SB 1536). We continued to support new investments in permanent, robust rent assistance programs (HB 5019 and SB 5511) as well, working with labor leaders and tenant activist groups. 

For the first time in a long time, Multifamily NW successfully lobbied our own bipartisan bill (SB 1069) that allows housing providers and renters to opt into electronic communication for things like security deposit refunds and other notifications, saving time and money for both parties.

Lastly, we led the charge against a truly disastrous proposal (SB 611) to lower the allowed rent cap amount from 7% to 3%, increase the relocation assistance owed from one month’s rent to three month’s rent, and ratchet down the new construction exemption from 15 years to three years. Because of your advocacy, we achieved a significantly more palatable bill that removed the relocation and exemption provisions, and only lowered the cap to 10% (although we still strongly oppose it). We firmly believe that further rent control will quickly derail the progress the Legislature made on housing production in Oregon.

Each of these bills, and dozens more we closely watched that have passed the Legislature before the end of the session (Sine Die), still need to be signed by the Governor to become law. Bills have different effective dates as well - Multifamily NW will alert members when priority bills are signed with their effective dates.

Unprecedented grassroots advocacy

The Multifamily NW that showed up in Salem each week was a different association than in years past. And we have our members to thank for that. 

In addition to the usual tactics like op-eds and social media campaigns, this year we launched a brand-new advocacy tool that facilitated engagement from hundreds of our members – small, medium, and large housing providers from every corner of the state made their perspectives known at every opportunity.

We are thrilled to report that 1,024 individual advocates sent 7,442 letters to legislators throughout the course of this session. Our association was on the record in more than 80 news articles and broadcast segments. 

Without a doubt, your voices were heard by decision makers at a volume they did not expect. 

The fight continues; we know these same conversations around tighter regulations and unnecessary administrative burdens won’t go away just because the Legislature adjourns. Oregon is still very much in a housing crisis, and we must do all we can to put solid, common-sense solutions forward – and combat well-intentioned but ill-fated policies that will hinder progress.

We have significant momentum – it’s up to all of us to keep it going throughout 2023 and beyond. But for now, we simply want to say thank you for your advocacy and the work you do every day to provide housing to your fellow Oregonians.

On to the next one.

Thank you,

Your Multifamily NW team