There are some big tenant protections coming up in the 2023 legislative session. We need you to submit testimony and let your elected leaders know you want strong actions to support tenants.

SB 611 - Lowering the rent cap in Oregon

Hearing scheduled Monday 3/27/23 at 8 AM

Register to Testify in favor of SB 611 (in person or virtually)

Submit written testimony in favor of SB 611

Send a letter to elected officials urging them to support SB 611

SB 611 main points

• Reduces the statewide rent cap to 3% plus the consumer price index or 8%, whichever is lower (currently 7% + cpi)
• Increases relocation assistance for no-fault eviction to three months rent (currently one month)
• Exempts new building from rent caps for only 3 years (currently 15 years)
• For more info check out this explainer video from Eugene Tenant Alliance
• More info on SB 611 from the Community Alliance of Tenants

Sample testimony for SB 611

It's always great to add a personal story if you have one. Personal stories are the most impactful testimony, so please consider sharing how you have been or would be affected by a large rent increase.

Dear Chair Jama and members of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development,

My name is [Your Name] and I live in [city]. I write to you in support of SB 611, which addresses the critical need for rental stability in our state.

I am proud to be a member of [insert organization], which is among the many organizations in support of this bill. This proposal will provide much-needed relief to renters who are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising rents and limited resources. It will limit annual rent increases to 3% plus CPI or 8% whichever is lower, provide protections for all buildings over three years-old, and increase relocation assistance in no-fault evictions.

This proposal is still not enough to stabilize rents. With an 8% annual rent increase, rent still doubles in 9 years. I don't know anyone that can afford that. But SB 611 will still be markedly better than the current law which allowed for unacceptable 14.6% rent increases this year. The burden of housing insecurity caused by skyrocketing rents is not limited to just myself, it affects families, seniors, and low-income renters throughout our state. We must act now to ensure that our communities have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.

In conclusion, I urge our legislators to support SB 611, which will provide much-needed relief to renters across our state. Housing is a human right, and it is our responsibility to ensure that all Oregonians have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. Thank you.

Sincerely,

HB 2001- Supporting tenants facing a nonpayment eviction

Passed house 3/15/23, awaiting hearing in the senate

(Actions to come when the next hearing is scheduled)

HB 2001 main points

Note: HB 2001 includes most but not all of the provisions from SB 799, and also lots of other housing and houselessness pieces. The details below are just the tenant protections from nonpayment evictions that still exist in HB 2001

• Requires court to dismiss nonpayment evictions if landlord is not compliant or does not accept rent or rental assistance.
• Extends nonpayment lease termination notice periods to 10 day (previously 72 hours).
• Extends the period between when an eviction is filed is court and a first hearing to at least 15 days (previously 7 days).
• Does not allow a default judgment in an eviction case if the tenant has already left the dwelling.
• Extends the timeline for when an eviction trial is set to 15 to 30 days after a first hearing (previously no more than 15 days).
• Seals eviction records where all money issues have been settled or where at least 5 years have passed

Sample testimony for HB 2001

It's always great to add a personal story if you have one. Personal stories are the most impactful testimony, so please consider sharing how you or someone you has been our would be affected by a nonpayment eviction

Dear Chair Dexter and members of the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness,

My name is, [name]. I live in [city]. I am testifying today in support of HB 2001. Oregon is in a housing crisis. Rent has been skyrocketing while wages have not kept up, and many people lost their savings and financial safety nest during COVID. Lots of people are finding it hard to pay rent by the end of the month. Under the current system, a person that misses a rent payment can have their lease terminated in less than two weeks, and can have an eviction judgment against them in less than three weeks. This is not enough time. Tenants around the state are desperately applying to overloaded rental assistance programs, and getting evicted while their application is pending. Tenants are desperately calling on friends and family after an injury or illness sets them back, and are being removed from their homes as the checks are coming in. 

We need more time. We need time to figure out how to get the money so we can stay in our homes. As a state we need to figure out how to avoid this destructive cycle and make sure fewer people are so on the edge, so they don't miss that payment in the first place. I am disappointed that some but not all of the tenant protections were moved here from SB 799. Specifically, I think it's disgracefully that we are ready to let tenants get evicted while they have a pending rent assistance application. But what's missing does not make the changes in HB 2001 less essential. Please pass HB 2001 so tenants can have the time to make ends meet and stay housed.

Sincerely,

SB 799 - Supporting tenants facing a nonpayment eviction

SB 799 has been killed a a bill, some but not all of it's components were moved into HB 2001

SB 799 main points

• Gives tenants a 60 day pause on nonpayment evictions if they have a pending rental assistance application.
• Requires landlord to tell tenants they can pause a nonpayment eviction by applying to rental assistance when giving notice.
• Requires court to dismiss nonpayment evictions if landlord is not compliant or does not accept rent or rental assistance.
• Extends nonpayment lease termination notice periods to 10 day (previously 72 hours).
• Extends the period between when an eviction is filed is court and a first hearing to at least 21 days (previously 7 days).
• Does not allow a default judgment in an eviction case if the tenant has already left the dwelling.
• Extends the timeline for when an eviction trial is set to 20 to 30 days after a first hearing (previously no more than 15 days).
• Seals eviction records where all money issues have been settled or where at least 5 years have passed
• Does not allow a landlord to restrict, impose fees, or terminate a lease in response to tenants having guests.

Sample testimony for SB 799

Dear Chair Jama and members of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development,

My name is, [name]. I live in [city]. I am testifying today in support of SB 799. Oregon is in a housing crisis. Rent has been skyrocketing while wages have not kept up, and many people lost their savings and financial safety nest during COVID. Lots of people are finding it hard to pay rent by the end of the month. Under the current system, a person that misses a rent payment can have their lease terminated in less than two weeks, and can have an eviction judgment against them in less than three weeks. This is not enough time. Tenants around the state are desperately applying to overloaded rental assistance programs, and getting evicted while their application is pending. Tenants are desperately calling on friends and family after an injury or illness sets them back, and are being removed from their homes as the checks are coming in. 

We need more time. We need time to figure out how to get the money so we can stay in our homes. AS a state we need to figure out how to avoid this destructive cycle and make sure fewer people are so on the edge, so they don't miss that payment in the first place. But in the meantime, please pass SB 799 so tenants can have the time to make ends meet and stay housed.

Sincerely,