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Label:
Report
Accept the City of Portland 2024 State Legislative Agenda
Accepted
DATE: January 10, 2024
TO: City Council
FROM: Mayor Ted Wheeler
SUBJECT: Accept the Report on the City of Portland 2024 State Legislative Agenda
I am pleased to introduce for City Council review and acceptance the 2024 State Legislative Agenda. This agenda will guide the work of the Office of Government Relations during the upcoming legislative session. The City’s 2024 State Agenda is focused on the shared priorities of the Portland City Council: Community Safety and Behavioral Health, Housing and Homelessness, Economic Recovery and Development. The Agenda also addresses Environmental Justice, Climate, and Infrastructure, and Local Funding and Authority.
Sincerely,
Ted Wheeler
Mayor of Portland
Official record (Efiles)
Impact Statement
Purpose of proposed legislation and background information
The purpose of the 2024 State Legislative Agenda is to advance the City’s needs within the Oregon State Legislature. The 2024 legislative agenda development process was initiated in July 2023. One work session was held with Council on December 12, 2023. This report will provide guidance for lobbying and advocacy efforts during the 2024 State Legislative Session and prioritize policy, funding and regulatory requests that address the most pressing needs for Portland and its residents.
Financial and budgetary impacts
The outcome of lobbying and advocacy efforts on multiple items within the 2024 State Legislative Agenda may have a direct or indirect impact on City finances by defending existing revenue streams and authorities or expanding funding opportunities for programs facilitated by the city, programs that support Portlanders, and initiatives to address the urgent needs the city faces in homelessness, public safety, behavioral health, and affordable housing. This report does not amend the city's budget, change expenses, or change current or future revenues or staffing levels.
Community impacts and community involvement
In 2023, the Office of Government Relations (OGR) decided to shift to a biannual legislative agenda development process to better align the work with legislative schedule and the opportunity afforded by a full six-month legislative session during odd numbered years and a 35-day short session during even numbered years. OGR initiated the legislative agenda building process in July 2023 by first refining the 2023 council adopted agenda to remove items that had been accomplished, update items, and add urgent issues that had clearly emerged as priorities. OGR requested input on the draft agenda from City bureaus, Council offices, legislators, and community partners to identify urgent issues to add to the agenda. The agenda also reflects Council priorities discussed as a part the Governor's Portland Central City Task Force.
The City’s 2024 State Legislative Agenda includes five priority areas: 1) community safety and behavioral health; 2) housing and homelessness; 3) economic recovery and development; 4) environmental justice, climate and infrastructure; and 5) local funding and authority. Successful implementation of the 2024 State Legislative Agenda will impact Portland residents by:
- Keeping families and individuals housed and establishing appropriate measures to support and shelter houseless community members.
- Enacting policies that enhance safety for all Portlanders and expanding access to critical behavioral health services.
- Promoting an equitable recovery and prosperous economic future for all residents, employers, and community organizations.
- Advancing environmental justice by investing in a swift transition to clean energy and centering the protection and well-being of BIPOC communities at the intersection of climate and infrastructure to build resilience and stability.
- Protecting the ability of the City to nimbly and effectively respond to the needs of the Portland community.
100% renewable goal
The Report on the City of Portland 2024 State Legislative Agenda includes a broad statement of support for legislation to invest in a swift transition to clean energy, while reducing energy costs for low-income people and the most vulnerable individuals in our communities, centering the protection and well-being of BIPOC communities at the intersection of climate and infrastructure to build resilience and stability. This support complements the City’s goal of meeting 100 percent of community-wide energy needs with renewable energy by 2050.