The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC)  is pleased to share that several AOC-supported Health and Human Services (HHS) bills made it across the finish line during the 2022 Legislative Session. 

This year, AOC and the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) partnered on HB 4123, which establishes locally-led, regional housing coordination through eight pilots across the state, and provides $1 million in funding for each pilot over two years. This pilot program was adopted into a larger, $400 million housing package, meaning that legislators and commissioners were invited to speak about this bill and the pilot projects during press conferences and through news releases. 

During the public hearing, AOC testified in support of HB 4123, with Polk County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon, Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall, chief sponsor Representative Jason Kropf (D-Bend), representatives from cities, and other stakeholders. A coalition letter from pilots included in the bill can be found here. Individual counties also submitted their own written testimony, which can be found in the extensive written record here.

SB 1554, supported through AOC’s committee process, directs a COVID-19 lookback study by an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) hired third-party contractor, largely focused on public health. The bill also received supportive testimony from a number of stakeholders. Bill sponsor, Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-Beaverton) introduced the bill and worked closely with AOC on the language.  

AOC was also pleased to see HB 4004 move across the finish line this year. The bill provides $132 million in grants distributed to behavioral health providers to increase practitioner wages, offer retention bonuses, or recruit and hire new behavioral health staff—a critical tool given the workforce crisis this sector faces. 

Below find the list of AOC HHS related budget line-items in HB 5202, the Session’s budget reconciliation bill:

  • $12 million to OHA for residential treatment behavioral health provider rates, 
  • $52.5 million to Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) to aid in the acquisition, renovation, or maintenance of properties with project-based federal rental assistance contracts, public housing undergoing significant recapitalization or publicly supported housing as defined in ORS 456.250, or to preserve the affordability of manufactured dwelling parks,
  • $500,000 to OHCS for homelessness policy and coordination efforts,
  • $80 million to OHCS for homelessness response and prevention services delivered through agency programs and community partners,
  • $10 million to Multnomah County for shelter services and infrastructure, hygiene services, and homeless outreach,
  • $750,000 for Washington County for shelter services and infrastructure, hygiene services, and homeless outreach, and
  • $2 million to Clackamas County for shelter services and infrastructure, hygiene services, and homeless outreach. 

Contributed by: Sabrina Riggs | AOC Contract Lobbyist, Dalton Advocacy, Inc.