Jul 2, 2026 | AOC Advocacy
During a two-day retreat held in Deschutes County on June 29-30, the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Legislative Committee and steering committees convened to adopt AOC’s policy priorities and principles for the 2027-2028 legislative biennium. The gathering included commissioners, chairs, and judges from 30 counties, along with county staff, affiliates, and AOC staff, who met to address the pressing issues facing Oregon’s counties related to county budgets, services, and governance that unite all Oregon counties.
Counties serve as vital partners to the state, ensuring that critical public services are delivered efficiently and effectively to every Oregonian. These legislative priorities establish the foundation for AOC’s upcoming advocacy by emphasizing that counties require sufficient authority and resources to provide essential infrastructure and services that all Oregonians rely on.
2027-28 Legislative Session Priorities
Revenue
Ensure property taxes are administered accurately and fairly by providing adequate and stable funding for all county assessment, mapping, appeals, collection, and distribution services.
Health and Human Services
Use a combination of budget neutral solutions (reduction of administrative burden, increased flexibility) and strategic new investments in behavioral health, public health, and homeless response to maximize the capacity and efficiency of counties and thereby reduce reliance on costly state services.
Natural Resources
Protect, and grow if possible, funding and flexibility in managing local natural resource programs.
Public Safety and Emergency Management
Support state-county public safety partnerships and service delivery through sustained full cost funding. Specifically seek modernization of Oregon’s local emergency management system and develop a stable state source of revenue for disaster response, recovery, and local service delivery.
Transportation
Ensure an efficient and comprehensive transportation funding package prioritizes investments in operations, maintenance, and safety of existing transportation infrastructure; incorporates diverse and modern funding mechanisms to ensure the growth and stabilization of the State Highway Fund (SHF); maintains the 30% county share of SHF revenues; and reduces barriers to local revenue sources.
2027-28 Legislative Priorities (PDF)
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Jul 1, 2026 | AOC Advocacy
The Oregon State Legislature met June 15-17, in Salem, for interim Legislative Days committee hearings. Highlights, links, and materials from the hearings with particular relevance to county governance, services, and budgets are listed below. As part of our ongoing advocacy, the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Legislative Affairs team actively participated in and monitored hearings, and used the opportunity to connect with legislators while they were in Salem.
The Legislature will convene for additional sets of Legislative Days before the 2027 regular session — Sept. 8-10 and Dec. 1-3. View all legislative dates on the Legislative Assembly Interim Calendar.
House Interim Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
- Task Force on Emergency Drought Response: Larry O’Neill, State Climatologist, along with staff from the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Department of Environmental Quality, gave a presentation on the Drought Response Task Force Report and Recommendations originally developed in 2016.
- Juniper Management: The Legislature has appropriated funding the past few bienniums for the removal of juniper in Central Oregon. This presentation was to report on how funds had been spent.
House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness
- Urban Growth Boundary Land Trades Updates: Overview of local governments that used this process, which are looking into using, and what changes need to be made to ensure the land trade option is appealing and practical for cities.
- Affordable Housing Stabilization
- Rental Assistance
- Senior Housing Initiative and Healthy Homes
- Home Cooling and Heat Resilience
House Interim Committee on Transportation
- Update on Governor Kotek’s Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup: Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran joined the governor’s office and the workgroup’s chair, Grace Crunican, for the House Committee update.
Senate Interim Committee on Transportation
- Update on Governor Kotek’s Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup.
Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary
- Presentation on Community Resolution Centers which operate mediation services programs for community members and dispute resolution in things like landlord-tenant disputes.
- The Committee also heard a presentation from advocates who would want a more holistic process for the Department of Corrections (DOC)’ planning for a replacement for the Oregon State Penitentiary, which is beyond end of life, as well as DOC’s plans to construct a geriatric facility. AOC staff will track this conversation as there are potential implications for jails and community corrections systems from these conversations.
House Interim Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services
House Interim Committee on Judiciary
- House Bill 2005 (2025) Implementation Update: The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) gave a joint update on the implementation of the revised standards for aid and assist and civil commitment cases following the Jan. 1, 2026 implementation of HB 2005, which AOC supported in the 2025 session. Though it is early to draw conclusions, civil commitments are flat to slightly up from historical numbers, while there has been a small, but steady increase, in aid and assist cases for criminal defendants. The ongoing Mink/Bowman federal litigation looms large over this field, as the federal courts have further limited which defendants can be committed to the state hospital, and restricted extensions of treatment time for serious cases. Since the imposition of time limitations on state hospital stays, the percentage of defendants restored to competency to stand trial has dropped from 73% to 54%.
Senate Interim Committee On Health Care
- PFAS and Environmental Health
Senate Interim Committee on Housing and Development
- Oregon Housing Needs Analysis Update
- State-Funded Affordable Housing Development
House Interim Committee on Health Care
- Coordinated Care Organization Finance and Rate Setting Overview
- Rural Health Transformation Program Update
- ACA Overview and 2027 Insurance Market Preview
Senate Interim Committee on Human Services
- H.R. 1 (2025): Medically Frail Definition and Work Requirements
Joint Meeting With the House Interim Committee on Behavioral Health and the Senate Interim Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health
- Overview of the Oregon State Hospital
- Overview of Civil Commitment
House Interim Committee on Revenue
- Oregon’s Revenue System Interdependencies: The Legislative Revenue Office (LRO) shared about the various revenue streams that feed into state and local governments, and the percentage of which come from own source funds versus pass-through funds and shared revenues.
- Revenue Impacts of Creating a New Taxing District: LRO and Lane County shared about the impacts on a property tax base when a new taxing district or optional levy is approved and added to the tax rolls.
Senate Interim Committee on Finance and Revenue
- Nicotine Pouch Tax Collections: The Department of Revenue (DOR) presented on current implementation of HB 3940 (2025), subsequent collections of nicotine pouch taxes, enforcement of the new law, and preliminary distributions for wildfire resiliency funds.
- Tax Expenditure Reports: Both DOR and LRO shared an update on existing state and local tax credits and exemptions, as well as a report on credits and exemptions that will be sunsetting between 2027-2029.
House Interim Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
- Update from Employment Relations Board (ERB): The ERB Board Chair presented on historical context and legislative updates related to the ERB, PECBA, and how public employers, employees, and unions go through dispute resolution.
- Update from Oregon Employment Department (OED): The OED director shared about updates and improvements they are making to the workforce strategies and services that they offer individuals seeking work and employers looking to hire.
House Interim Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade
- Implementation of 2026 Legislation: Business Oregon staff reported about ongoing implementation of 2026 legislation, including HB 4084, economic development incentives, and industrial land readiness funds and policies.
Emergency Board Allocations
- Joint Emergency Board Interim Subcommittee on Human Services
- The Legislative Fiscal Office presented their analysis and request — increase federal funds expenditure limitation for the Oregon Health Authority by $1,492,712 for the expenditure of federal grant funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to support administrative costs and implementation of systems associated with H.R. 1.
- Joint Emergency Board Interim Subcommittee on Public Safety
- The Legislative Fiscal Office presented their analysis and request — fund the next contract payment for the Genasys EVAC software used by county emergency managers to draw evacuation zones and communicate to the public. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management will assume responsibility for the administration of this contract from the Oregon Department of Human Services. The Joint Emergency Board allocated $1.13 million for the next year of this contract. AOC wrote a joint letter with the Oregon State Sheriffs Association in support of this funding request.
May 1, 2026 | AOC Advocacy, AOC News, OACES, Transportation
On Friday, May 1, Gov. Kotek’s Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup convened in Salem for its first meeting. Kotek appointed Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran, who serves as the Co-Chair of the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Transportation and Community Development Steering Committee, to represent the association on her Workgroup.
The Workgroup is charged with developing a report to the governor and a framework for a comprehensive transportation package for consideration during the 2027 legislative session.
AOC staff joined representatives from the Oregon Department of Transportation and League of Oregon Cities at the kick-off meeting for a joint presentation and question and answer session on the condition of the state and local transportation system.
All meetings will be streamed live on Oregon Department of Transportation’s YouTube page and recordings will be posted on the Workgroup home page. More details on the first meeting and a link to sign up for notifications about future meetings are available in this press release from the governor’s office.
County commissioners, OACES members, and AOC staff will engage directly in this process. They will contribute through the workgroup and the technical advisory subgroups, which are tasked with informing the workgroup and, ultimately, crafting the report to the governor. AOC will provide regular updates at their Transportation and Community Development Steering Committee meetings and OACES meetings.
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Apr 2, 2026 | AOC Advocacy
The two-year policy cycle for the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is underway, with members coming together to shape our legislative agenda for the 2027-2028 biennium. AOC policy steering committees are meeting to workshop and review the policy priorities and guiding principles related to county governance, services, and budgets. Decisions made this spring and summer will drive our advocacy work for the coming two years. All AOC members are encouraged to actively engage in this process throughout April, May, and June to ensure broad representation and perspective.
Each committee will identify top priority issues for the next biennium based on strategic and thoughtful analysis, the urgency of the issue, and political viability. The committees will seek input on challenges and opportunities from affiliate/associate groups and subject matter experts.
To maintain a strategic and narrow focus that allows AOC to concentrate resources, capacity, and political capital, the committees are asked to select priorities that generally:
- Unite counties
- Have a direct county nexus on county budgets, county services, and county governance
- Are within the jurisdiction/control of county governments
Informational steering committee meetings this spring will inform the final recommended priorities and principles for review and approval by the Legislative Committee at the AOC Legislative Retreat, to be held June 28-29. The final priorities and principles that our members approve will be used to guide the advocacy and engagement of our Legislative Affairs Department for the next two years. Legislative priorities are a critical component of AOC’s advocacy efforts, as they represent the platform of most pressing issues that matter most to our members, and serve as a messaging and education tool.
Policy steering committee meetings that have been announced are listed below, and invitations to additional ad hoc meetings of all committees will be sent via email as they are scheduled. Several of these meetings will be hybrid and all will have a virtual option to join. The most up-to-date information is always available on AOC’s website calendar. Meeting materials and recordings will be posted on AOC’s website under the advocacy tab for each policy steering committee when available.
AOC must be prepared to thoughtfully and effectively engage with legislators before, during, and after sessions to achieve the goals agreed upon by our members. We will spend the majority of the summer carefully crafting those goals and priorities, giving us time to gather legislative and stakeholder support for our advocacy in the 2027 and 2028 legislative sessions.
2027-2028 Policy Formulation: April Steering Committee Dates
Friday, April 3
1 p.m. | AOC Natural Resources Steering Committee (virtual only)
Friday, April 10
9 a.m. | AOC Governance, Revenue, and Economic Development Steering Committee (hybrid)
11 a.m. | AOC Health and Human Services Steering Committee (hybrid)
12 p.m. | AOC Joint Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Veterans Steering Committees to discuss transportation liability for counties when conducting court ordered civil commitments (hybrid)
1 p.m. | AOC Public Safety and Veterans Steering Committee (hybrid)
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Apr 1, 2026 | AOC Advocacy, Governance, Revenue, & Economic Development
After over two decades of largely preempted local transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue distribution authority, AOC and a broad coalition of local government partners passed a local TLT flexibility bill (House Bill 4148) this session. The long-sought legislation increases local government discretionary TLT revenue by 20%, allowing more investments that meet the needs of residents, visitors, and businesses alike.
Since 2003, Oregon law has required that at least 70% of any new or increased local lodging tax be spent on tourism promotion or tourism-related facilities, leaving only 30% available for core local government services. While that structure initially helped grow Oregon’s tourism economy to the benefit of tourist destination communities, unintended consequences began to arise for residents and local governments. Increases in seasonal visitation – some by five or ten fold – creates real challenges for communities limited in their ability to invest in the infrastructure and services that both residents and visitors rely on. Oftentimes, residents were left footing the bill via their property taxes.
HB 4148 represents a compromise between local governments and the tourism industry. It allows communities the option to adjust the split from 70/30 in favor of tourism promotion to 50/50. This optional adjustment allows up to half of TLT revenue to be used for general fund purposes, while still requiring at least 50% to support tourism-related efforts.
In practice, this gives cities and counties more flexibility to respond to current realities. Communities facing increased demand on public safety, roads, parks, water systems, and emergency services — particularly during peak tourism seasons or in response to repairing infrastructure after visitors leave — will now have more tools to keep up with the rising costs and strain. The bill maintains a strong commitment to tourism, while also recognizing that thriving destinations depend on well-functioning public infrastructure.
During the 2026 session, AOC led a coordinated advocacy effort among local government partners driving the political strategy in partnership with the bipartisan bicameral bill sponsors. AOC’s engagement efforts included issuing action alerts encouraging members to provide testimony, coordinating public hearing panels with local government officials, and actively meeting with legislators to vote-count the bill, educate policy makers, and help shape amendments.
AOC’s lobbying efforts would not have been successful without the sustained, united efforts of county elected officials who visited Salem on multiple days to help elevate the on-the-ground impacts this policy change would address. AOC members from across the state met with legislators one-on-one, provided testimony during both public hearings, and stayed late during work session days to observe final committee votes on the bill. The success of this legislation epitomizes the ethos of “United Counties. United Oregon.” When counties come together, historic gains can be accomplished.
Updates to local TLT revenue splits, codified in ORS 320.350, will go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. Counties can apply the 50/50 split to all net revenue collected before, on, or after Jan. 1, 2027 (see Sections 1-3 of HB 4148 Enrolled). The bill outlines new reporting requirements regarding the collection and spending of local TLT revenues. AOC will work closely with our partners at the League of Oregon Cities to develop a streamlined system that allows counties and cities to submit this data to their respective state organizations while meeting all the reporting requirements mandated under this section.
Contributed by: Justin Low | Legislative Affairs Manager
Mar 16, 2026 | AOC Advocacy
The 2026 short legislative session adjourned Friday, March 6, with the passage of many bills that will benefit Oregon’s counties. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) played a key role in these outcomes, working closely with legislators and partners to ensure that county perspectives were represented.
Throughout the session, AOC members and staff actively engaged with nearly 130 of the 300 total bills introduced this session for their potential impact to county budgets, services, or governance. In addition, our team analyzed and submitted fiscal impact statements on behalf of counties for nearly 140 bills and amendments, at the request of the Legislative Fiscal Office.
AOC staff, alongside county commissioners statewide, invested countless hours in the Capitol — submitting letters, providing testimony, and meeting with legislators. Their efforts were focused on protecting county budgets and services, maintaining local control, and ensuring the Legislature recognized the essential role counties play in serving all Oregonians.
AOC’s advocacy was critical given the numerous bills introduced that directly impact counties, the efforts to rebalance the state’s general fund balance, and the fast pace of session deadlines.
AOC specifically lobbied legislative budget writers in the months leading up to session, advocating for the preservation of core services by seeking savings through the least disruptive measures and avoiding cuts that reduce funding for mandated state-county shared services or shift cost burdens to county governments. The Legislature ultimately mitigated state general fund budget gaps through state agency vacancy savings and cuts to services and supplies. Consequently, county budgets avoided direct cuts or cost shifts from state agency budget rebalances.
“This session delivered serious wins for counties, a direct result of partnership and relationship-building over the last several years, strategic and thoughtful messaging, the tireless efforts of our dedicated AOC staff, and the steadfast engagement of our commissioners, chairs, and judges,” commented AOC President Erin Skaar.
The following bills passed during the short session will empower local governments to better fund core services, invest in vital infrastructure, and reform behavioral health and veterans services.
Lodging tax reform
The bipartisan passage of House Bill 4148 is a huge win for counties, increasing local control over transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue, which has been restricted since 2003. Local governments can now redirect more of this money to public safety services – law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue – responding to rising demands and impacts from visitors. Local governments can also maintain shared assets like trails, campgrounds, and parks, which report $59 million in deferred maintenance on average. Tourists increasingly stay in short-term rentals outside traditional tourism zones, adding wear on roads, parks, and water systems. Finally, TLT is now eligible to fund critical infrastructure needs, including the transportation deficit of nearly $1.5 billion and over $5 billion in water infrastructure needs faced by cities and counties.
Oregon Government Ethics Commission package
This suite of bills provides much needed updates and clarifications to mitigate risk and confusion for local governments. House Bill 4177 clarifies that information sharing, discussions of procedural matters, and comments to the media and/or constituents are not a violation of law. House Bill 4161 clarifies food and beverage accommodations for public officials. HB 4159 requires that a local government representative is on the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.
Farm stores
Another big win for local control, House Bill 4153 allows counties to approve farm stores instead of farm stands on land zoned for exclusive farm use. Passage of this bill gives counties control over permitting processes and ensures the preservation of working agricultural land. While maintaining consistency in the permitting requirements statewide, this bill gives counties flexibility around siting standards, preserving their ability to meet each community’s unique needs.
Behavioral health care
House Bill 4070A is an important step forward in the ongoing work of eliminating needless administrative burden on Oregon’s public behavioral health system. Decades of accumulated state regulation has led to duplication and confusion of roles and responsibilities for publicly funded behavioral health care, creating costly inefficiencies and distress to community members and the professionals who serve them. We are delighted by the passage of HB 4070A, aligning our behavioral health telehealth regulations with those governing physical health and providing an essential guardrail for quality of care.
Urban growth boundaries
House Bill 4035 expands eligibility for cities to extend their urban growth boundaries. The bill builds on recent reforms designed to enhance local planning flexibility by allowing communities that demonstrate clear housing and land needs to participate in a process that increases the available land for housing development.
Veterans services task force
House Bill 4099 creates a task force on responding to veterans in crisis. As frontline service providers, counties undertake the important task of helping veterans every day. County Veteran Service Officers connect veterans to benefits, and counties serve as the Local Mental Health Authority, overseeing the community mental health programs that operate mobile crisis services. Ensuring that veterans in crisis have access to trained responders to help them through that crisis will result in better outcomes and avoid involvement in the criminal justice system. AOC eagerly awaits the ideas and solutions this task force will identify.
Emergency management
AOC strongly supported House Bill 4121, which passed with bipartisan support, creating authority for statewide emergency management coordination — a function that counties are mandated to provide by statute. This bill takes both a big picture look at the infrastructure needed at the state level and zooms down to the micro level to assist local governments and community organizations as they prepare for the next disaster. There is substantial uncertainty regarding the commitment from our federal partners to state and local governments. Instead of waiting for that uncertainty to be resolved, Oregon is focused on strengthening its own capabilities for disaster preparation, response, and recovery. This bill provides the framework for public and individual assistance grant programs to mirror the FEMA programs, which can help households and local governments recover after disasters, and includes further funding for the CORE3 project in Deschutes County
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts, Legislative Affairs Director
