We need you in Salem on Wednesday! Monday, April 17th, 2017 LEGISLATIVE ALERT! Now is the time to make your voice heard! We had an overwhelming turnout for the public hearing on the House of Representatives side, and we need that much and even more for the Senate side. The Senate Committee on Human Services has finally scheduled a public hearing on HB 2004. They have not given us much time. It will be this coming Wednesday, May 3rd at 1:00pm in the capital building, hearing room D. I will send another email alert later today or tomorrow once I have been able to gather more information and strategize a bit on messaging. Thank you, Jim Straub ORHA Legislative Director Oregon Rental Housing Association 1462 Commercial Street N.E. Salem, Oregon 97301 www.oregonrentalhousing.com

This morning, April 4th, the Oregon House voted in favor of HB 2004 and its amendments. It didn’t pass by much – the vote was 27 to 31. 31 votes is the minimum to pass a bill out of the House, and this shows the tremendous impact and response of our members! I want to especially recognize the energy and support our members put into contacting our legislators and lobbying against this bill. Our grassroots effort came very, very close to succeeding this time!

The bill now passes to the Senate, where it will receive a first reading tomorrow and be assigned to a committee. Our work isn’t done, as there is still hope to defeat this bill in the Senate. Please watch for further updates and emergency alerts via email with more information about how you can do your part to stop this bill.

Additionally, More Housing NOW! is a landlord advocacy group addressing these issues in Oregon. Visit and follow their Facebook and YouTube pages for more information and to stay informed as new developments arise:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morehousingNOW/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrIp-EW0UJgkK6jYJYWFmPA

Thank you,

Jim Straub
ORHA Legislative Director

EMERGENCY ALERT!

You must contact your legislator today!

This Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m., the Speaker of the House is going to pass rent control, change no-cause eviction law, and require landlords to pay for evicted tenants to move.

They waited until the last minute, the week of spring break, to schedule an 8:00 a.m. hearing this Thursday to discourage us from having our voice heard. We need you to call your legislator right now and tell them you are opposed to HB 2004 and all its amendments.

The tenants union is touting a “compromise,” but there is no compromise. This is a power play to force rent control and make it even harder to evict bad people from safe neighborhoods.

Your legislators must hear from you today—prior to the Thursday morning meeting.  We can’t miss this narrow window of opportunity!

Call or e-mail immediately. This is a critical time for our industry. Together we must make our voices heard.

Log on to https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/findyourlegislator/leg-districts.html for an interactive map to find your state legislator.

Additionally, More Housing NOW! is a landlord advocacy group addressing these issues in Oregon. Visit and follow their Facebook and YouTube pages for more information and to stay informed as new developments arise:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morehousingNOW/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrIp-EW0UJgkK6jYJYWFmPA

Thank you,

Jim Straub
ORHA Legislative Director

HB 2004 PROHIBITS landlords from terminating a month-to-month tenancy without cause, except under certain circumstances, with 90 days' written notice and payment of relocation expenses that could be upwards of $5000.

It also REQUIRES fixed term tenancies to become month-to-month tenancies on the ending date, unless the tenant elects to renew or terminate tenancy and REQUIRES the landlord to make tenant an offer to renew fixed term tenancy.

Repeals the statewide prohibition on Rent Control.

Declares emergency making it effective on passage.

PRESS RELEASE:  March 13, 2017

For Immediate Release

Contact: Representative Cliff Bentz

503-986-1460

Governor Kate Brown Sends $1 Million in State Funds To Malheur County

SALEM-Governor Kate Brown has allocated $1 million in state assistance to Malheur County to help as the area recovers from unprecedented damage caused by winter storms.

The funds will be allocated through the Oregon Economic Development Department (Business Oregon) toward building structure damage assessment costs, onion disposal, and assistance in replacement of value-added agriculture processing and storage facilities.

Governor Brown has also announced that since the thresholds for a federal Disaster Declaration through FEMA have been met, she will be requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration, with response from the Trump Administration expected within the next three weeks.

In February, Congressman Greg Walden (R-Hood River) sent a letter to President Trump asking that his administration act expeditiously upon receipt of the request for a Disaster Declaration to both approve the request and to ensure that the federal assets normal for such an emergency are deployed to those Oregon counties suffering from the ravages of the winter of 2017.

Rep. Bentz said, "I am thankful to Governor Brown for both visiting Malheur County, and for her recognition of the staggering losses and damages sustained by the people of this area. With hundreds of collapsed buildings, and thousands, if not millions of dollars in lost productivity, onion inventory, livestock, wages, and sales, the assistance of our state and federal government is essential. We are deeply appreciative of the Governor's help in directing scarce state resources to Malheur County, in the form of both agency assistance and money, and for her work with the Trump Administration to obtain a disaster declaration for our area."

Once a federal Disaster Declaration is official, Malheur County will be eligible for a 75 percent/25 percent cost share on eligible publicly incurred (public buildings for example) damages. Those suffering livestock losses in Counties declared disaster areas will also be eligible for USDA disaster assistance programs. See press release of January 26th for contacts: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bentz/Documents/Snow%20Resources%20and%20Assistance.pdf

Individuals in need of funding assistance for structural assessments should contact the Malheur County Extension Office at 541-881-1417 or via email at stuart.reitz@oregonstate.edu. Funding assessments will begin in mid-March.

258 S. Oregon St., P.O. Box 1027, Ontario, OR 97914

900 Court St. NE, H-475, Salem, OR 97301

rep.cliffbentz@oregonlegislature.gov

This series of videos captures landlords' testimony in opposition of proposed House Bill 2004, which, if enacted, would prohibit landlords from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause except under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice and payment of relocation expenses.

The prohibition of "no-cause" evictions would prevent landlords and property managers from protecting and ensuring the safety of good tenants.

https://youtu.be/wmFULhERBMk

This series of videos captures landlords' testimony in opposition of proposed House Bill 2004, which, if enacted, would prohibit landlords from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause except under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice and payment of relocation expenses.

https://youtu.be/u1IKFbLkONw

This series of videos captures landlords' testimony in opposition of proposed House Bill 2004, which, if enacted, would prohibit landlords from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause except under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice and payment of relocation expenses.

The prohibition of "no-cause" evictions would prevent landlords and property managers from protecting and ensuring the safety of good tenants.

https://youtu.be/bLGC3ByKhfU

This series of videos captures landlords' testimony in opposition of proposed House Bill 2004, which, if enacted, would prohibit landlords from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause except under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice and payment of relocation expenses.

The prohibition of "no-cause" evictions would prevent landlords and property managers from protecting and ensuring the safety of good tenants.

https://youtu.be/8s6Ra7TeE4o

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND HOUSING 

February 28, 2017 

Hearing Room E 

08:00 AM STAFF PRESENT: Cassandra Soucy, LPRO Analyst Ashley Clark, Committee Assistant 

EXHIBITS: Exhibits from this meeting are available here 

MEASURES/ISSUES: Work Session Informational Meeting Landlord-Tenant Law 

Work Session Informational Meeting VIDEO 

00:04:16 Landlord-Tenant Law - Informational Meeting 

00:04:17 Chair Keny-Guyer 

00:04:37 Jeff Edinger, President, Multifamily NW 

00:11:02 EXHIBIT 9: Jim Straub, Legislative Director, Oregon Rental Housing Association 

00:18:15 Rep. Stark MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, Chair Rep. Andy Olson, Vice-Chair Rep. Tawna Sanchez, Vice-Chair Rep. Chris Gorsek Rep. Dallas Heard Rep. Mark Meek Rep. Mike Nearman Rep. Ron Noble Rep. Carla Piluso Rep. Duane Stark 

00:19:19 Vice-Chair Sanchez 

00:22:36 Rep. Meek 

00:24:52 Rep. Gorsek 

00:25:27 EXHIBITS 10-12: John VanLandingham, attorney, Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy 

00:42:35 Rep. Nearman 

00:45:31 Vice-Chair Olson 

00:49:20 Yoni Kahn-Jochnowitz, attorney, Fair Housing Council of Oregon 

00:58:04 EXHIBIT 13: Dr. Eric Fruits, economist, Portland; adjunct professor, Portland State University 

01:04:58 Shaun Jillions, Oregon Association of Realtors 

01:18:48 EXHIBIT 14: Dr. Stephen Barton, Former Director, Berkeley Housing Department, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board 

01:45:13 Martha McLennan, Executive Director, NorthWest Housing Alternatives 

01:54:59 Meeting Adjourned

Testimony starts at 8:00 am Thursday March 2nd. Oregon State Capital, Hearing room F Start making your plans to attend.

Friday, February 24th 2017

Dear Members, Thank you to all those that have made arrangements to attend the hearing on HB 2004. We NEED to fill the seats in the hearing room!  We have to be represented and only you can help. You will find text of the measure in this link HB 2004. If you plan to testify, please prepare a short statement (less than two minutes in length) as to how this bill will impact you as landlords. Let me know if I can help. HB 2004 PROHIBITS landlords from terminating a month-to-month tenancy without cause, except under certain circumstances, with 90 days' written notice and payment of relocation expenses that could be upwards of $5000. It also REQUIRES fixed term tenancies to become month-to-month tenancies on the ending date, unless the tenant elects to renew or terminate tenancy and requires the landlord to make tenant an offer to renew fixed term tenancy. Repeals the statewide prohibition on city and county ordinances controlling rents. Declares emergency making it effective on passage. WE MUST STOP THIS! WE NEED YOU  IN SALEM! If you plan to go, please contact Jim Straub, ld@oregonrha.com Thanks in advance! Jim Straub ORHA Legislative Director