HB 4084
Establishes the Joint Permitting Council.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2026 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Governor Tina Kotek for Office of the Governor)
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
49%
Oppose
51%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes the Joint Permitting Council to streamline the process for obtaining permits related to economic development projects in Oregon. The council will administer a ‘fast track’ permitting program, directing state agencies to publish a catalog of available permits and adjusting requirements for the enterprise zone program, specifically restricting its use for data centers. The bill also aims to incentivize job creation by modifying the tax credit for new jobs and allocates funds to the Oregon Business Development Department for industrial site loans.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Governor Tina Kotek for Office of the Governor
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 4084 emphasize the need for streamlined permitting processes, industrial site readiness investments, and modernized Enterprise Zone incentives to strengthen Oregon's economic competitiveness. They argue that these provisions will create jobs, attract new businesses, and promote diversification in the state's economy. Many testifiers highlight the importance of addressing permitting delays and uncertainty, which they believe are major barriers to investment and job creation. Additionally, supporters express support for investments in industrial site readiness, citing the need to prepare sites before opportunities arise and address backlogs in this area. They also welcome the allocation of $40 million to the Industrial Site Loan Fund as a critical step towards driving economic development success across Oregon's economy.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 4084 express concerns about the bill's potential negative impacts on Oregon's energy grid, water supplies, and farmland. They argue that generous tax breaks for the data center industry would exacerbate these issues, while providing little economic benefit. Many testifiers also oppose the extension of enterprise zones, citing lower returns on investment, competitive disadvantage, and potential job losses. Additionally, they express concerns about centralizing executive power, bypassing legislative confirmation, and allowing subsidies for automation at the expense of Oregon's workforce. Furthermore, opponents argue that the bill would create an unnecessary layer of government regulation, increase the burden on businesses, and fail to address the state's budget constraints. They also point out potential environmental hazards associated with data center construction and criticize the bill's job creation language as shortsighted. Overall, opponents believe that HB 4084 would be detrimental to Oregon's economy and environment, and urge opposition to the bill.
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