With the new year comes change, and businesses in Oregon can expect 2024 to be a big year. Policy discussions at the State Capitol and closer to home in City Council chambers will have implications for businesses in the coming year.  

The Oregon Legislature will meet for a short session of 35 days starting in February 2024. While the short session was designed to address mid-biennium budget issues, it has turned into a regular policy making session with hundreds of bills up for consideration.  Key issues in 2024 will be housing production, behavioral health & substance use treatment funding and education funding. On the housing front, the Housing Production Advisory Council is nearing the end of Its marathon eight-month policy deliberation session and will have a slate of legislative and funding proposals for lawmakers to consider. The Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response will also have policy recommendations, in addition to individual legislator proposals on Measure 110 reform. The recent Portland Public Schools teacher strike has elevated the issue of teacher pay, and a legislative work group will have recommendations in the short session. The short session convenes on Monday, February 5th and more information on legislative proposals can be found on OLIS beginning in mid-January.  

Not to be outdone by the legislature, elected officials closer to home are also considering a series of policy changes with direct impacts on businesses. The Bend City Council will consider two major policy proposals in early 2024 – adoption of a new Transportation Utility Fee and an update to System Development Charge methodology. Both issues are under consideration in early January with a July implementation date. More information on both can be found on the City website (Transportation Utility Fee and SDC Methodology). The Deschutes County Commission has major decision points ahead as they continue the implementation of the rural ADU program and look at options to incentivize ADU production, and engage with an updated wildfire risk map proposal when presented by the Oregon Department of Forestry.  

The Bend Chamber has an active and robust advocacy program and engages with all levels of government to shape policy and represent perspectives of the business community. More information on the Chamber’s Advocacy program can be found on the Chamber website.