The Oregon Legislature convenes for its regular session Tuesday, Jan. 21, with Democrats holding supermajorities in the state House and Senate.
Democrats outnumber Republicans 36 to 24 in the House and 18 to 12 in the Senate — due primarily to Democratic strongholds in Portland-area districts.
Legislators met in a special session Thursday, Dec. 12, convened by Gov. Tina Kotek so lawmakers could approve $218 million for managing wildfires that touched a record 1.9 million acres in the state in 2024.
When legislators meet next month, they will face a full agenda, including unfinished business related to housing and homelessness.
For instance, House Bill 3115 (passed during the 2021 legislative session) dictates that local laws governing the survival activities of homeless Oregonians must be “objectively reasonable.” Some lawmakers want to repeal the law, while others want to strengthen it or make it more specific.
Meanwhile, Oregon’s supermajorities of Democrats are well-positioned to provide a bulwark against incoming President Donald Trump’s policies.
Street Roots asked 14 Portland-area legislators and Attorney General-elect Dan Rayfield questions about the upcoming session. Only three of them answered.
State Rep. Mark Gamba, whose 41st District primarily covers Milwaukie, told Street Roots that answers to complex questions cannot be reduced to 100-word limits.
“This is one of the many reasons we are failing as a society,” Gamba told the paper in an email.
“Some things are complicated and nuanced and require deeper explanation to be fully comprehended, but our media has trained us to have the attention span of a goldfish, and so we don’t have the opportunity to fully understand complicated issues,” Gamba said. “That lack of understanding causes us to ‘choose sides’ or purity test a concept that is not fully realized.”
Hazel Tylinski, the spokesperson for Attorney General-elect Rayfield, told Street Roots that Rayfield also declined to answer the paper’s questions.
“Dan sends his regrets, but with his hectic transition schedule, he will not be able to complete the questionnaire by the 6th (the deadline given by Street Roots).” Tylinski said in an email.
State Rep. Shannon Jones Isadore, representing portions of Multnomah and Washington counties in House District 33, also declined to answer the paper’s questions.
Instead, her Chief of Staff Jackson Pahl issued a statement via email.
“It’s no secret that Oregon is facing significant challenges in housing and homelessness,” the statement said. “Through my (Isadore’s) work at the Oregon Change Clinic and my involvement in our community, I have seen the resilience and determination of Oregonians firsthand.
“The governor’s historic investments in expanding transitional shelters with wraparound services, increasing housing supply and addressing affordability reflect a commitment to compassionate, effective solutions that prioritize both dignity and public safety — values I deeply share,” it said.
“As the Representative for House District 33, I will work to uphold the balance in policies like HB 3115, ensuring vulnerable populations are protected while giving cities the tools they need to meet local needs,” the statement said.
“I’ll continue to fight for equitable access to housing, health care and public services, and I will stand firmly against any purely punitive measures, like those being floated by the Trump administration, that fail to address the root causes of these crises,” the statement said.
The legislators who didn’t respond to the questions are state senators Kate Lieber and Lew Frederick and representatives Ben Bowman, Mark Gamba, Jeff Helfrich (the only Republican representing a Portland-area district), Ken Helm, Zach Hudson, Hoa Nguyen, Ricki Ruiz and Tawna Sanchez.
STATE REP. DACIA GRAYBER
Oregon House District 28
Grayber’s district contains portions of Multnomah and Washington counties, including Tigard, Raleigh Hills, Garden Home, Hillsdale and parts of southwestern and downtown Portland and Portland State University.
Elected in 2020, she has a bachelor’s degree in homeland security and emergency management from Concordia University. Before entering politics, she was a firefighter and paramedic for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.
Grayber chairs the House Interim Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards and is vice chair of the House Interim Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans.
She also serves on the Joint Interim Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety, the Commission on Transparency Oregon Advisory Commission, and the Joint Emergency Board’s Interim Subcommittee on Public Safety.
President-elect Donald Trump threatens to use criminal enforcement to force homeless people into mass encampments — a practice we’re already seeing versions of in Portland and Grants Pass. Will you challenge Trump’s agenda by beginning within Oregon, or do you agree the Legislature and state executive branch should continue supporting efforts like Trump’s proposal?
Oregon is still undoubtedly in the midst of our housing and addiction crisis, but we have made significant strides in positive directions.
Deflection programs in counties are ramping up. Safe rest villages are proving themselves as a successful model. Infrastructure for addiction rehabilitation and behavioral health treatment facilities are breaking ground.
And we have unlocked billions in housing development. We must stay tenacious and driven toward results, not resort to panic, hostility or violence toward those who are suffering.
House Bill 3115 (ORS 195.530) dictates that all local laws governing the survival activities of homeless Oregonians be “objectively reasonable.” Some officials want to repeal the law, some want to strengthen it and/or make it more specific. What, if anything, do you think the Legislature should do with ORS 195.530?
My preference is to leave this law alone.
Full repeal or amendment could result in policies designed to be inhumane to force vulnerable community members out, instead of working to resolve our state’s underlying issues, which we have made significant progress on under the leadership of Gov. Kotek.
We must commit ourselves to a path of robust housing, treatment services and public safety resources to keep all of Oregon’s communities safe.
State law limits local governments from addressing housing affordability — including a ban on local rent control. What would you do to ensure the Legislature addresses housing affordability and skyrocketing evictions?
Build more homes, with a focus on in-filling and middle housing.
Provide more funding for legal resources when someone is facing eviction.
Ensure the Employment Department is operating with maximum efficiency to support Oregonians when they are most vulnerable between jobs and risk falling behind on rent or mortgage payments.
With significant Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, what will you do to shield Oregonians (including its immigrant community) from the plans of the second Trump administration?
To push back against federal overreach, we must ensure our state agencies have the strength and resources they need to fully carry out the services we count on them to provide in lieu of what will likely be diminished federal funding in addition to mounting legal defenses when Oregon’s communities and rights under their purview become a target.
I have called on all state agencies under my policy committee’s jurisdiction to investigate where their agency’s vulnerabilities might be, to begin shoring those up in the coming sessions. We also must ensure data and benefit privacy for all Oregonians.
STATE SEN. CHRIS GORSEK
Oregon Senate District 25
Gorsek’s district covers portions of Multnomah County and centers on Gresham.
Elected in 2020, Gorsek has an associate’s degree from Portland Community College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a doctorate from Portland State University.
He is a former Portland police officer and criminal justice teacher at Mount Hood Community College.
Gorsek co-chairs the Joint Committee on Transportation and Joint Interim Committee on Interstate 5.
He serves on the Senate Interim Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs, the Senate Interim Committee on Health Care, the Joint Interim Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety, the Joint Task Force on Improving the Safety of Behavioral Health Workers, the Joint Emergency Board’s Interim Subcommittee on Public Safety, and the Joint Committee on Transportation’s Special Subcommittee on Transportation Planning.
President-elect Donald Trump threatens to use criminal enforcement to force homeless people into mass encampments — a practice we’re already seeing versions of in Portland and Grants Pass. Will you challenge Trump’s agenda by beginning within Oregon, or do you agree the Legislature and state executive branch should continue supporting efforts like Trump’s proposal?
Oregonians agree that the humanitarian crisis on our streets will be solved with more affordable housing, more shelter and more access to services like mental health and drug treatment.
I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Legislature and the governor to ensure we’re addressing this crisis the way Oregonians want us to, not how some bureaucrat with a political agenda in D.C. wants to force us to do it.
House Bill 3115 (ORS 195.530) dictates that all local laws governing the survival activities of homeless Oregonians be “objectively reasonable.” Some officials want to repeal the law, some want to strengthen it and/or make it more specific. What, if anything, do you think the Legislature should do with ORS 195.530?
I know there are ongoing discussions about this issue. Ultimately, my focus is going to be on actually solving the problem, rather than these Band-Aid fixes.
I think our energy is best spent focusing on how to get more people off the streets and into the shelter and services they need to rebuild their lives.
State law limits local governments from addressing housing affordability — including a ban on local rent control. What would you do to ensure the Legislature addresses housing affordability and skyrocketing evictions?
I completely understand why housing affordability and evictions continue to be a major concern for Oregonians.
Rent is going up faster than wages — and we’re still far behind on housing supply. I’m going to be focused on building more affordable homes, protecting the existing supply of affordable housing and making it easier for folks to buy houses.
We have to reduce the pressure that’s causing housing prices to go up and continue enforcing the protections we’ve put into place to prevent evictions and the statewide cap on rent increases.
With significant Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, what will you do to shield Oregonians (including its immigrant community) from the plans of the second Trump administration?
I’m ready to stand with my colleagues and our statewide elected officials to protect our values, including our immigrant neighbors who contribute so much to our communities and our economy.
The unpredictability and chaos of this new administration makes it hard to predict exactly what we’ll need to do, but we’ve done this before.
I’m confident that we’re ready to do everything in our power to keep Oregon a safe, just place for all of us to live, work and raise a family.
STATE REP. FARRAH CHAICHI
Oregon House District 35
Farrah Chaichi represents mostly residents of Washington County.
She is the only member of the Legislature who openly identifies as a socialist, and she belongs to the Democratic Socialists of America.
Elected to the House in 2022, Chaichi has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and political science from Seattle University and a master’s in paralegal studies from George Washington University.
She works at the law firm Stoel Rives as a client intake coordinator.
Chaichi co-chairs the House Interim Committee on Gambling Regulation and serves on the Joint Interim Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government, the House Interim Committee on Judiciary, and the House Interim Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.
Chaichi’s answers were provided by Anne Marie Bäckström, her chief of staff.
President-elect Donald Trump threatens to use criminal enforcement to force homeless people into mass encampments — a practice we’re already seeing versions of in Portland and Grants Pass. Will you challenge Trump’s agenda by beginning within Oregon, or do you agree the Legislature and state executive branch should continue supporting efforts like Trump’s proposal?
My office absolutely opposes criminalizing people for being poor and mass encampments for any reason.
I am a renter, and I hear every week from constituents who are struggling to afford housing and even facing eviction and homelessness. Everyone deserves the basic right of having a safe place to call home.
Incarcerating people as Trump suggests because they have nowhere else to sleep solves nothing and does not address any of the root causes of the issues people blame on our homeless neighbors.
House Bill 3115 (ORS 195.530) dictates that all local laws governing the survival activities of homeless Oregonians be “objectively reasonable.” Some officials want to repeal the law, some want to strengthen it and/or make it more specific. What, if anything, do you think the Legislature should do with ORS 195.530?
I’m willing to listen to my colleagues’ opinions, but I’m inclined to repeal.
With the Grants Pass decision, it feels like “objectively reasonable” is the floor of protection our state should provide. I know that we absolutely must do so much more for our community members facing homelessness and unstable housing and runaway rent prices.
Oregonians experiencing houselessness deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and I am committed to supporting legislation to advance access to housing and services across the state.
State law limits local governments from addressing housing affordability — including a ban on local rent control. What would you do to ensure the Legislature addresses housing affordability and skyrocketing evictions?
The last two sessions, my office has introduced a bill to allow local control for affordability, and we will be dropping that bill yet again.
I remain committed to passing legislation that addresses the core issues of the housing and homelessness crisis and that includes recognizing that there is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution to local affordability.
Housing affordability is one of the cornerstones of my values and is a human right I will defend and uphold.
With significant Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, what will you do to shield Oregonians (including its immigrant community) from the plans of the second Trump administration?
Anything we can. I remain staunchly committed to continuing the work of addressing human rights at the state level, regardless of federal action or inaction.
Gov. Kotek’s recommended budget includes $7 million to help people navigate the immigration system and find legal representation as we face the threat of deportation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
We must work to be proactive, rather than simply reactive, to any and all future threats to our immigrant and BIPOC communities. All Oregonians deserve a safe place to call home, and I am committed to protecting our immigrant communities.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly investigative publication covering economic, environmental and social inequity. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
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This article appears in December 25, 2024.