Legislative Days 2026: Strong Conversations, Real Opportunities Ahead
Housing Oregon wrapped up another successful Legislative Days with three full days of meetings at the Capitol - June 15-17, 2026. Board members, policy council leaders, and staff met with 24 legislators from across Oregon to discuss the challenges facing affordable housing providers and the policy opportunities ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
Housing remains a priority
Many conversations centered on the impact of potential federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other safety-net programs. Legislators expressed concern that affordable housing providers will increasingly become the last line of defense for many Oregonians if those cuts move forward.
Despite those concerns, legislative leaders indicated that affordable housing investments remain on the table. Housing Oregon heard encouraging signals that the Legislature intends to continue making significant investments through the state's bonding capacity, including resources for affordable housing production and preservation.
While the Emergency Board is expected to be cautious this summer because of anticipated wildfire costs, lawmakers suggested they continue to view housing bonds differently from ongoing General Fund obligations, leaving room for meaningful investments in 2027.
Preservation continues to gain momentum
Preservation remains one of Housing Oregon's top priorities, and Legislative Days reinforced that message.
Housing Oregon shared the growing need for portfolio stabilization and preservation resources, and lawmakers showed continued interest in technical improvements to existing preservation tools. Conversations also pointed toward possible committee legislation to make technical fixes to the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit.
OHCS also provided an excellent presentation during Legislative Days outlining the current preservation landscape, financial pressures facing affordable housing properties, and ongoing preservation efforts across Oregon.
Insurance is quickly becoming a top legislative issue
One topic came up in meeting after meeting: insurance.
Legislators from both parties recognize that rapidly rising property and liability insurance costs are threatening affordable housing operations across Oregon. There was broad interest in working with providers to identify solutions before more properties fall into financial distress.
Housing Oregon will continue working with Insurance Commissioner TK Keen, DCBS, legislators, and industry partners to evaluate options such as:
- Risk mitigation incentives
- Greater underwriting transparency
- Premium assistance
- Insurance captives and pooled purchasing models
- Other state policy tools that could help stabilize insurance costs
This will remain one of Housing Oregon's major policy priorities heading into 2027.
Housing Oregon would like to thank every member who participated in Legislative Days. Your stories, expertise, and willingness to meet directly with policymakers continue to strengthen our advocacy. As we begin preparing for the 2027 legislative session, we will continue refining these policy ideas through our Policy Councils and member workgroups. We look forward to working alongside you to build on the momentum from Legislative Days.
The ROAD to Housing Act Becomes Law
For the first time in more than three decades, Congress has enacted a major bipartisan housing package. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law on July 11 after passing the Senate 85–5 and the House 358–32. At a time when national politics can feel incapable of addressing the basic needs of working people, this overwhelming vote sends a clear message: the housing crisis is real, it is national, and communities need the federal government back at the table.
The law updates dozens of federal housing and community development programs. It includes new tools to build and preserve affordable housing, repair aging homes, stabilize manufactured home communities, improve disaster recovery, support modular construction, and reduce barriers that delay development. It also reforms rural housing programs, including changes intended to preserve affordable rental housing for approximately 400,000 rural families nationwide.
“This is a historic step forward for everyone working to ensure that people have a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Housing Oregon Executive Director Brian Hoop. “Congress has recognized that solving the housing crisis requires more than one program or one level of government. We need to build more homes, preserve the housing we already have, and support the community-based organizations that were built on meeting local needs and remain dedicated to the mission.”
One of the law’s most important accomplishments is the first reauthorization of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program since 1992. The law preserves the set-aside for Community Housing Development Organizations, affirming the central role nonprofit and community-based developers play in creating affordable homes and stronger neighborhoods. It also authorizes the PRICE program for seven years to preserve manufactured homes and parks, expands eligible uses of Community Development Block Grant funding, and supports improvements intended to help households with vouchers move into homes more quickly.
Read the full section by section summary here.
Thanks to Oregon's congressional delegation for their support and the many Housing Oregon members who responded to our action alerts and contacted their congress members urging them to support the bill.
This landmark legislation is not the end of the work. It does not resolve high construction costs, rising insurance premiums, elevated interest rates, workforce shortages, or the need for greater investments in rental assistance and deeply affordable housing. Many provisions will depend on federal rulemaking, agency guidance, and future funding from Congress. Housing Oregon will work with our members and national partners to ensure implementation serves Oregonians with the greatest housing needs. For now, this passage deserves celebration: sustained advocacy and bipartisan cooperation have produced the most substantial federal housing law in decades.
Full Text of the Road to Housing Act