Sep 30, 2025 | AOC Advocacy, Governance, Revenue, & Economic Development
The AOC-OJD Court Facilities Task Force, kicking off on Oct. 17, calls for courthouse project proposals that will be recommended to Chief Justice Flynn for inclusion in her recommended budget for the 2027 legislative session. If your county plans to request state assistance for a courthouse project in the next few years, please plan on attending the task force meetings.
As many of you already know, the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) have combined forces in the past to organize and prioritize courthouse improvement and replacement projects across Oregon. Although providing court facilities is a county function, the state has been active in supporting court-related improvements and replacing unsafe courthouses.
In general, the projects fall into three categories:
- Planning funds (design, architecture, etc.) to replace courthouses
- Construction funds for replacement projects (typically funded through bonds)
- Improvements needed to support court services
We will need to complete our next round of prioritizations no later than April of 2026 in order to enable OJD to build the proposals into their budget options for the next biennium.
AOC President Shafer has selected Sherman County Judge Joe Dabulskis as the task force chair, and has authorized us to set the following dates and times for three task force meetings, which will be held in person at the AOC Office’s Hood Conference Room (2nd Floor) in Salem, Oregon (with a virtual attendance option).
Location for All Task Force Meetings:
- In-Person Attendees: AOC Hood Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 1212 Court St NE, Salem
- Virtual Attendees: Google Meet virtual options will be provided closer to the meeting dates
Meeting Dates and Topics (please hold these dates):
- Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Goal: OJD introduction and background on task force, review of past and current projects, review and approve project criteria, approve formal invitation for counties to submit new project proposals, and a Q&A period.
- Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Goal: Counties present requested projects to the task force, initial task for review and discussion, and request follow up information from requesting counties.
- Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Goal: Task force reviews follow up information, and discusses and prioritizes projects for recommendation to the chief justice.
Lastly, President Shafer encourages any AOC members willing to volunteer as voting members on the task force and help rank project proposals to please reach out to Justin Low. Typically, membership on the task force is limited to commissioners, judges, chairs, or officials from counties that are not requesting a courthouse replacement in the current cycle, and each county is limited to having one representative to serve on the task force. If AOC receives requests from multiple volunteers from a single county, AOC will notify those members and let that county internally decide who their representative will be.
Please see the following materials to help inform your task force engagement, and reach out if you have any questions.
List of courthouse project criteria
Task force summary document with completed and ongoing projects
Copy of the 2008 courthouse assessment ranking page
Contributed by: Justin Low | Legislative Affairs Manager
Sep 30, 2025 | AOC Advocacy
Friday, Sept. 26, marked 91 days since the Oregon Legislative Assembly concluded the 2025 regular legislative session. Although the effective date of most new laws is Jan. 1 of the year following passage, the Oregon Constitution allows laws to be enacted, if specified, as soon as the 91st day after adjournment sine die. Fifty-one bills passed during the 2025 session are effective as of Friday, Sept. 26, including the following five bills that are directly relevant to county governments.
House Bill 2089: Foreclosure Surplus Process
HB 2089 brings Oregon into compliance with the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Tyler v. Hennepin County, which held that local governments cannot retain surplus proceeds from a tax foreclosure above what the county is owed in taxes and fees. HB 2089 creates a path for counties to be made whole and receive funds owed following the sale of foreclosed property due to unpaid property taxes, and creates a process for surplus equity to be recovered by the former owner through the Oregon State Treasurer.
House Bill 2688: Prevailing Wage for Off-site Fabrication
HB 2688 applies the prevailing rate of wage to certain off-site “bespoke” work fabricated, assembled, or produced for a particular public works project on or after July 1, 2026. Friday’s effective date established the beginning of the rulemaking period between the Oregon attorney general, the Department of Administrative Services, and the Bureau of Labor and Industry, as uncertainty remains whether this law can apply to out-of-state suppliers. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) and the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors (OACES) will represent the county positions and be active in those discussions as the rulemaking process moves forward.
House Bill 3940: Wildfire Funding
HB 3940 delivers new and increased funding to alleviate the increasing costs of wildland firefighting by imposing a tax on oral nicotine products, changes the assessments and surcharges collected by counties on behalf of the Oregon Department of Forestry, and establishes a grant program for homeowners to install wildfire resilient materials. The budget passed by the Legislature totals $267 million for wildfire expenses in the upcoming session. Despite the law’s enactment on Friday, counties will see phased relief in the landowner rates paid for fire protection as rules, policies, and procedures are finalized.
Senate Bill 974: Expedited Land Use Review for Residential Development
SB 974 was an expansive land use permitting bill featuring a 120-day deadline for review of new developments (with extensions and pauses under certain conditions). SB 974 also creates expedited zoning changes for residential use inside an Urban Growth Boundary, prohibitions on requirements for aesthetic design standards in new neighborhoods, and exemptions for multi-family housing or small-scale infill projects. Only the aesthetic design standards provisions (Section 8 of the legislation) went into effect on Sept. 26, 2025. The remaining elements of the law will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
Senate Bill 243: “Community Safety Firearms Act” and Measure 114 Implementation
SB 243 is made of three components, the first being a ban on “bump stocks” and other rapid fire activators. Second, it gives local governments the option to enact a firearms prohibition in public buildings used for official meetings. And third, the law implements Ballot Measure 114 (2022). Only parts one and two went into effect on Sept. 26, 2025. The provisions implementing Measure 114 (2022) are slated to go into effect March 15, 2026. However, Measure 114’s constitutionality is still pending a decision by the Oregon Supreme Court and will likely be appealed to federal court regardless of the outcome.
More details about this legislation and all other bills on which AOC engaged this session are available in the AOC Legislative Summary.
Contributed by: Joe Casey | Legislative Affairs Coordinator
Sep 30, 2025 | AOC Advocacy, OACES, Transportation
Following the Legislature’s failure to pass a transportation package during the 2025 regular legislative session, Governor Kotek called a special legislative session, which started Aug. 29. House Bill 3991, the special session transportation bill, passed out of the Senate on Monday, Sept. 29, and is expected to move to the governor’s desk for signature.
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) was in regular conversations with the governor’s office as this special session proposal was developed to ensure that it met our adopted principles and longstanding priority to stabilize the State Highway Fund (SHF), maintain the counties’ 30% share, and included a continuation of the Small County Allotment, which supports the lowest population counties with large road miles to maintain.
HB 3991 would generate approximately $700 million a biennium in the SHF revenue (split 50/30/20), primarily through a $0.06 per gallon increase to the gas tax; a $42 increase to all registration fees, an additional $30 for electric vehicles and 40+ mpg vehicles; and a $139 increase to title fees. The proposal also includes a phased-in mandatory road user charge program for electric and hybrid vehicles beginning July 2027, updates to heavy truck and diesel taxes, and accountability measures at the Oregon Department of Transportation. A comprehensive overview of HB 3991 is available here.
Initial revenue projections show that counties will benefit from a 30% increase in state funding over four years from HB 3991. The increased SHF revenue comes with no off-the-top allocations and is the largest relative allocation share of SHF to county funding in a modern transportation package. This will allow most counties to maintain current services and operations and keep roads and bridges open and safe.
One of AOC’s top policy priorities this year was the passage of a comprehensive transportation funding package prioritizing investments in operations, maintenance, and safety; incorporating diverse and modern funding mechanisms to ensure the growth and stabilization of the SHF; maintaining the 30% county share of SHF revenues; and reducing barriers to local revenue sources. Throughout the 18+ months of legislative discussions about a 2025 transportation package, AOC, the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors (OACES), and counties have shown up strong at every turn and consistently communicated the message that counties are the state’s partner in maintaining a safe and seamless transportation system, and shared SHF revenues support this partnership.
AOC supported HB 3991 in consideration of the critical new funding it will provide to counties and the inclusion of both the 50/30/20 funding distribution and the Small County Allotment.
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Sep 29, 2025 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Pence
Public facilities, like courthouses and law enforcement buildings, are among the most complex projects a county can undertake. They must balance safety, accessibility, and functionality, reflect community needs and remain poised for growth. Just as critical, these projects bring together many important voices — commissioners, judges, court staff, law enforcement, architects, engineers, and the public.
To be a true partner, we believe the role of a general contractor extends beyond construction. Our value lies in helping these diverse groups align around a shared vision. This requires not only coordination, but also listening, building trust, and ensuring every partner feels heard and respected.
The expansion and renovation of the Deschutes County Courthouse illustrate this approach. With hard construction costs of $38 million, this 50,933-square-foot project nearly doubles the courthouse’s footprint by adding new courtrooms, jury assembly space, staff offices, sheriff’s offices, and updated security screening and holding facilities. A new entrance and lobby will seamlessly integrate the two buildings while keeping the courthouse fully operational throughout the construction process.
Managing the diverse interests of multiple stakeholders under such conditions is no small task. Pence Project Executive John Williamson explains, “Building courthouses requires consideration of many different voices. Our role is to listen to all parties and ensure every perspective is heard, while keeping the project moving forward.”
That balance begins by setting aligned goals at the outset of the project— a process we call our Project Charter. This combined vision of key project goals helps guide daily decisions, resolve differences, and ensure the project’s success.
During the preconstruction phase, we engage stakeholders in meaningful discussions about cost, schedules, logistics, and design. Throughout construction, we maintain alignment through clear communication channels, from regular OAC meetings to live project dashboards and regular site walks with key stakeholders. By ensuring information is transparent and accessible, we transform potential challenges into opportunities for collaboration. On site at the courthouse, Senior Superintendent Kurt Schwabauer has seen how this approach plays out daily.
“We’re building right alongside active court proceedings. It only works because of the open communication and trust we’ve built with courthouse staff and county leadership. We recognize that those proceedings are critical, and the first priority on site.” says Kurt.
For Deschutes County, this collaborative approach helps ensure the courthouse project — set for completion in 2026 — delivers secure, functional, and future-ready space for the Central Oregon community. For Pence, it reflects what we do best: transforming complexity into clarity, and many voices into one shared vision that leads to successful outcomes.
Sep 26, 2025 | AOC Advocacy, Natural Resources
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is analyzing potential changes to how the National Flood Insurance Program is administered in Oregon. The deadline to submit comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and FEMA’s implementation plan of the new National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) Biological Opinion is Oct. 6, 2025. 
According to FEMA, the purpose of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is “to minimize the long-term risks to lives and property from the effects of flooding, while reducing costs of flood damages to taxpayers.” If a community chooses to participate in the NFIP, they are required to adopt and enforce regulations that meet the minimum standards of floodplain management.
The updates under consideration outline a “No Net Loss” standard which communities within the Oregon plan area would need to implement for continued participation in the NFIP. The new “No Net Loss” standard requires any adverse impacts to be avoided or offset through mitigation so “there is no net change in the habitat function from the authorized existing condition.” This standard would apply to development that occurs in an Oregon NFIP-participating community within the plan area; in the special flood hazard area (SFHA); or meets FEMA’s new definition of development:
[a]ny man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, or drilling operations, or storage of equipment or materials. Note that the term ‘development’ for the NFIP is not restricted to a building with walls and a roof. It includes any disturbance (permanent or temporary) of the ground, which may include structures with walls, but would also include development such as a new or expanded culvert, road, or driveway. [1]
The DEIS has identified the following activities as potentially harmful, which would trigger the new ‘no net loss’ standard:
- Placement of fill, structures, and/or facilities that occupy space
- Adding surfaces like pavement or roofs, that prevent water from absorbing into the soil
- Removal of trees over 6 inches in diameter at breast height or larger near rivers, streams, and other bodies of water
The Draft EIS presents three potential alternatives that could be selected: Alternative 1 is the No Action alternative – status quo in Oregon; Alternative 2 calls for a “no net loss except for project specific Endangered Species Act Compliance”; and Alternative 3 calls for the No Net Loss standard for all projects.
A coalition known as Oregonians for Floodplain Protection has been actively pursuing both litigation to stop the Biological Opinion from moving forward as well as seeking additional public comment during this time. A framework letter template for submission to FEMA by Oct. 6 is linked below. County planning departments have been receiving regular updates on what the potential impacts of Alternative 2 and 3 would have on their ability to issue land use permits and approve any future development. Per direction from the AOC Board of Directors, AOC has been working with county planning departments for technical feedback and coordinating with Oregonians for Floodplain Protection to submit a comment letter urging adoption of Alternative 1.
Resources for submitting public comments by Oct. 6
FEMA Framework Letter Template
Oregonians for Floodplain Protection presentation slides
Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager
[1] National Flood Insurance Program DEIS Executive Summary, p.ES-4
