LOC News
2,284 Bills Drop as We are Off and Rolling on the 2025 Session
The 2025 legislative session started quickly this week with the dropping of 2,284 bills. This is by no means the end of bill submissions, as several hundred more are expected in the coming weeks, including a number of legislative concepts that the LOC will be advancing. This year’s session will include 19 new members of the Legislature, including two former legislators who have returned to the Capitol.
To stay up-to-date with all that’s happening at the Legislature this session, make sure you visit the Oregon legislative website known as OLIS. This is a great resource for monitoring the daily activities taking place in committees. It’s also a great resource for signing up to watch bills and testify, either in-person or remotely. The legislative process in Oregon is highly accessible, so take advantage of the opportunity to engage with your legislators.
The legislative focus for the LOC this session includes the nine priorities described below. For more details, visit the LOC’s advocacy web page. White papers will be connected soon to each issue, and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the LOC’s lobbyists.
- Community Infrastructure and Housing Development Funding - The LOC will advocate for a comprehensive infrastructure package that supports increased water, sewer, stormwater, and road investments from the state.
Michael Martin – mmartin@orcities.org; Alexandra Ring – aring@orcities.org - 2025 Transportation Package - The LOC will support a robust, long-term, multimodal transportation package with a policy focus of “Back to the Basics."
Jim McCauley – jmccauley@orcities.org - Recreational Immunity - The LOC will introduce legislation to protect cities and other landowners who open their property for recreational purposes from tort liability claims.
Scott Winkels – swinkels@orcities.org - Behavioral Health Enhancements - The LOC will support legislation to expand access to behavioral health treatment beds and allow courts greater ability to direct persons unable to care for themselves.
Scott Winkels – swinkels@orcities.org - Lodging Tax Flexibility - The LOC will advocate for legislation that increases the flexibility to use locally administered and collected lodging tax revenue to support tourism-impacted services.
Jenna Jones - jjones@orcities.org - Shelter Funding and Homeless Response - The LOC will support a comprehensive homeless response package to fund the needs of homeless shelters, response efforts statewide, and capital projects.
Alexandra Ring – aring@orcities.org - Address Energy Affordability Challenges from Rising Utility Costs - The LOC will support actions to maintain investments in energy resources and invest in programs and new technology that support energy efficiency.
Nolan Pleše – nplese@orcities.org - Operator-In-Training Apprenticeships - The LOC will support funding apprenticeship training programs that expand bilingual training and promote the workforce development of qualified wastewater and drinking water operators.
Michael Martin – mmartin@orcities.org - Clarifying Time, Place and Manner for Public Camping - The LOC will advocate public policy that allows cities to respond to the unique needs of their community’s housed and unhoused members. This advocacy will include adjustments to ORS 195.530.
Alexandra Ring – aring@orcities.org; Scott Winkels – swinkels@orcities.org
City Day at the Capitol – January 28
There has been such a significant surge this year in members registering to attend City Day, with more than 350 signed up, we have easily surpassed any previous year’s registrations. We’re looking at this as a good sign, indicating lots of energy across the state and a real interest in building advocacy. The one thing we have to remember is that this energy needs to be sustained. In other words, our success with the legislative agenda and your success as a city advocate are directly proportional to the time you commit to advocacy. It truly is a 12-month cycle, and it’s critical for cities to build solid relationships with their state legislators and other state elected officials. Bottom line, City Day is not a “one and done” event.
The LOC would like to remind members to be mindful of potential public meeting law restrictions if a quorum of their council will be present at the event.
LOC Lobbying 101 Toolkit
The LOC lobby team and Communications Department have built an online Lobbying 101 Toolkit that is full of resources to help navigate the lobbying process, guide members in how to ask for state funding, and outline the ever-important skills needed to build relationships. Take time now to check out the toolkit before you get to Salem, or before you engage with legislators. There’s something for everyone in the toolkit that can help you build upon your current knowledge, or simply start your own advocacy journey.
Keeping up With Session
Weekly Webinars – Fridays at Noon
A few sessions ago, the LOC started a weekly webinar to provide members with an up-to-date assessment of key legislation. This year will be no different, and you can tune in each Friday starting at 12 noon. We’ll have the agenda published within 24 hours, and these webinars are the best way to stay on top of the key issues. We use this time to focus on action items for which we need your help to reach out to key stakeholders, legislators and others who share our combined interests.
Weekly LOC Bulletin
Every Friday, we produce and distribute this electronic newsletter, which will include fresh legislative action items with links to details about the issues, or what additional city support or opposition is needed. This is the principal communication tool for all-things legislative.
Legislative Alerts
Whenever the LOC lobby team needs to activate grassroots lobbying and engagement from our member cities, you’ll receive emails letting you know about the concern and offering messaging to include in your outreach. This targeted alert system allows us to focus on a committee or region, and provide a chance for members to directly engage with state legislators. Our past efforts have proved that we have a dramatic impact on legislative votes when our members’ voices are heard.
As we begin our 100th year of representing Oregon’s cities, it’s not lost on the LOC’s lobby team, or the entire staff, how important advocacy is to our members. Together we have proved that when we work together and leverage our advocacy, we can be successful passing good, impactful legislation, and either altering or stopping harmful legislation.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 1/24/25