HB 4035
Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under a temporary program.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2026 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness for Representative Pam Marsh)
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
89%
Oppose
11%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill expands eligibility for cities and Metro in Oregon to temporarily amend their urban growth boundaries. It creates a new pathway for these local governments to adjust their boundaries, particularly for the City of Woodburn. The bill outlines specific procedures for reviewing applications, engaging the public, and consulting with relevant stakeholders. It also establishes a temporary timeline for this program, with key provisions expiring on January 2, 2033.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsor
House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 4035 believe that increasing acreage limits from 100 acres to 170 acres will enable the development of more flexible and livable residential communities, balancing housing units with community amenities. Many argue that this change will address Oregon's persistent housing shortage, particularly for young families seeking space to start their own households. Proponents also highlight the need for improved local planning flexibility to accommodate changing market demands and provide affordable housing options. By expanding urban growth boundaries, supporters believe that more land will become available for development, ultimately addressing homelessness issues, affordability concerns, and the state's compounding crises related to insufficient land availability.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
The opposition to the proposed changes to HB 4035 is centered around concerns that expanding exemptions from urban growth boundary amendment processes would undermine thoughtful examination of local needs, instead benefiting a narrow set of property owners. Critics also argue that the bill does not provide sufficient protections for agricultural land and could lead to the loss of economically productive farmland. Furthermore, many that the bill primarily benefits developers rather than prospective homeowners and renters, and that relaxing regulations would exacerbate housing affordability issues due to high land costs. Additionally, opponents express concerns about the bill's potential to weaken Oregon's land use framework, undermine established controls, and lead to over-development of high-value resource lands, ultimately threatening the state's unique character and growth process.
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