Latest news with #SenateBill974
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon Senate passes ‘game-changer' bill to streamline housing development
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Amid Oregon's housing crisis, the Oregon Senate passed a bipartisan bill on Monday to streamline housing development. Under Senate Bill 974, local governments would have 90 days to make decisions on land-use development applications for housing in urban areas. The bill also eases requirements for design review for building style and landscaping while maintaining other standards for size, fire codes and safety regulations. 'Cutting down the timeline to break ground is a game-changer for families waiting on housing and builders ready to get to work,' said Sen. Dick Anderson (R – Lincoln City), who led the bill. 'Today's vote sends a clear message: Oregon is ready to build.' DON'T MISS: Study reveals the average income Oregonians need to buy a typical home in 2025 Under the bill, the timeline for application decisions starts when developers submit their final engineering plans to develop land for single-family homes, manufactured housing and multi-unit buildings. SB 974 applies to cities, counties, and special districts within urban growth boundaries, the Democratic Senate Majority Office said in a press release, noting, without the bill, local governments can wait up to 150 days to make a final decision on land-use applications. 'Senate Bill 974 has teeth,' the Senate Majority Office said, adding that local governments that fail to meet the 90-day deadline could end up paying developers' engineering costs and attorney fees. On air, '60 Minutes' reporter says 'none of us is happy' about changes that led top producer to quit 'We bring hurdles down so developers can put housing up,' said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D – Portland, Damascus & Boring), a chief sponsor of the bill. 'Long delays on application decisions were holding up subdividing land, putting in roads and utilities, and more. Today's legislation smooths the way.' 'The State of Oregon must continue to make it easier and faster to build more housing to address our state's homelessness and housing affordability crises,' added Sen. Khanh Pham (D – Outer NE & SE Portland). 'I'm grateful for the continued bipartisan commitment from my Senate colleagues to advance a bold agenda to build housing that meets the needs of Oregonians at all ages, wages and stages of life.' The bill unanimously passed the Senate and heads to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III wanted his own lobbyist. Here's why he got one
Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III says he needs a lobbyist, so the Board of County Commissioners got him one: Edwards Capitol Partners, in Tulsa. Steve Edwards, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party from 1999 to 2001 and former chief of staff for the late former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, is president of Edwards Capitol Partners. The commissioners didn't hire Edwards, but approved a professional services contract, which they could do without taking bids from other potential lobbying firms. And, they're paying for it — $4,000 per month through May — from a county account of service fees, not the general fund, which comes from property taxes, because that would be illegal. Those issues among others were hashed out at a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting before the board voted 2-0 to approve the contract. District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan abstained because he said he and Edwards are close friends. But why does the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office need its own lobbyist? The Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association, which describes itself as "the united voice and support network for the sheriffs of Oklahoma," already represents all the state's 77 sheriffs at the state Legislature. That includes "legislative advocacy to enhance law enforcement effectiveness across our 77 counties," the group says online. Cody Compton, general counsel for the sheriff's office, asked for the contract on Johnson's behalf "so we can have some representation to help the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office as it relates to some legislative needs that are kind of unique specific to some of the larger counties." District 3 Commissioner Myles Davidson, chairman of the board, wondered if Johnson's office benefited from lobbying already contracted by the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office or the state association. "They may have different ideas of what they want," Compton said, and the state group represents "77 different sheriffs (and) 75 of them have very different needs than the unique needs of Oklahoma County and Tulsa County." Edwards could not be reached for comment. The sheriff said urban Oklahoma County's expansion gives his office a need for a steady advocate before lawmakers. 'Oklahoma County is growing and it's important that legislators are properly educated on issues that directly impact law enforcement in our community," Johnson said. "We aren't able to go to the Capitol every day during session, so we have hired a firm to lobby on our behalf." The state sheriffs' association does a good job lobbying, he said, "but the needs of the residents of Oklahoma County are different than the needs of our neighbors in more rural counties." For example, the firm will lobby in favor of Senate Bill 523, which would expand Johnson's ability to bring in deputies from other counties to help with security during the 2028 Summer Olympics. Oklahoma City will play host to softball and canoe slalom events. In addition, the sheriff said, Edwards will push for Senate Bill 974, which would allow for online auctions for sheriff's sales. "This week, we had to cancel our sheriff's sale because of the weather," he said. "Opening those auctions to an online audience not only would ensure those sales go on regardless of the weather, it would also increase participation, leading to higher bids. "For people facing foreclosure, that is an important financial lifeline. It's important to note, the monthly fee for the service would be paid for through service fees, not taxpayer dollars.' Johnson tried online auctions in 2023, but stopped after their legality was questioned. The contract spells out Edwards' work: "Consultant agrees to perform, in a competent manner, consulting services in his areas of expertise for Client. Such services will include, but are not limited to, lobbying and government affairs to advance the objectives of Client. Consulting services will be provided in Oklahoma at the state, county and local levels. Consultant agrees to not represent other entities which would create conflicts with Client during the term of this Agreement. Consultant will concentrate on legislation at the Oklahoma state legislatureinvolving issues directly affecting client." Staff writer Richard Mize covers Oklahoma County government and the city of Edmond. He previously covered housing, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and starting in 1999. Contact him at rmize@ This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III gets his own lobbying firm
