Association of Oregon Counties
Association of Oregon Counties#
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is a nonprofit intergovernmental association founded in 1906 that represents all 36 counties in Oregon. Based in Salem, its mission is to strengthen county government’s ability to serve people by uniting counties to advocate, communicate, and educate through information sharing and consensus development.1 In 2026, the Oregon Legislature honored AOC on the 120th anniversary of its founding.2
AOC represents county interests before the Oregon Legislature, state agencies, the governor’s office, Congress, and federal agencies.1 On housing policy, AOC has been particularly active in advocating for rural housing solutions, emergency shelter capacity, and preserving local government authority in land use and property tax decisions.
Policy Positions#
- Rural housing production: Supports technical assistance and capacity building for rural communities to address workforce housing shortages, partnering with the Oregon iSector and Regional Rural Revitalization Strategies Consortium to provide direct support to rural jurisdictions.3
- Emergency shelter and homelessness: Co-created Project Turnkey with the League of Oregon Cities and Oregon Community Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic, converting hotels and motels into emergency shelter. The program delivered 32 shelter properties across 18 counties, adding 1,384 beds and increasing Oregon’s year-round emergency shelter supply by 36 percent.4
- Local government authority in land use: Generally opposes state mandates that limit county discretion over land use decisions, including proposals for senior property tax exemptions that would reduce county revenues.5
- Accessory dwelling units in rural areas: Requested SB 385 (2021) to authorize counties to allow ADU construction in rural residential zones, reflecting interest in expanding rural housing options within local control.6
- Housing technical assistance for local governments: Requested HB 3260 (2021) to establish a Local Government Technical Assistance Program within Oregon Housing and Community Services, in partnership with the League of Oregon Cities and the Department of Land Conservation and Development, to develop regional work plans for housing production.7
- Prevailing wage exemptions for affordable housing: Supported SB 1566 (2026), which would exempt affordable housing public works projects from prevailing wage requirements, to reduce construction costs for affordable housing.8
- Permitting timeline mandates: Opposed SB 974 (2025), which required local governments to complete final review of residential development engineering plans within 120 days and limited design review authority, raising concerns about the impact on county planning capacity.9
Key Legislative Involvement#
- SB 1566 (2026): Testified in support of exempting affordable housing projects from prevailing wage requirements, reflecting AOC’s interest in reducing barriers to affordable housing construction.8
- HB 4108 (2026): Testified in opposition to allowing Eugene to annex noncontiguous land, raising concerns about the precedent for county authority over annexation decisions.10
- SB 974 (2025): Testified in opposition to mandated permitting timelines for residential development, citing concerns about the burden on local government planning resources.9
- SB 1537 (2024): Testified in support of the comprehensive housing production bill requested by Governor Tina Kotek, which established the Housing Accountability and Production Office and streamlined urban growth boundary amendments.11
- HB 4123 (2022): Testified in support of grants for coordinated homeless response systems, consistent with AOC’s broader work on homelessness through Project Turnkey.12
- HB 3260 (2021): Requested this bill to establish a Local Government Technical Assistance Program to help counties and cities address housing needs through regional work plans developed in partnership with OHCS, DLCD, and the League of Oregon Cities.7
- SB 385 (2021): Requested this bill to authorize counties to permit accessory dwelling units in rural residential zones, seeking to expand housing options in rural areas.6
- SB 405 (2021): Testified in support of legislation allowing restoration of nonconforming uses damaged by the 2020 wildfires, reflecting AOC’s role in wildfire housing recovery efforts.13
News Coverage
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Legislative Testimony
2026
2 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 1566 Exempts certain projects for public works, primarily related to affordable housing, from the requirement to pay a prevailing rate of wage. |
Justin Low | Support | 2026-02-11 |
| HB 4108 Allows the City of Eugene to annex noncontiguous land upon receipt of a petition from all owners of the land that satisfies four eligibility criteria. |
Mallorie Roberts | Oppose | 2026-02-03 |
2025
20 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 2089 Provides for a process by which former owners of real property deeded to the county for delinquent property taxes may claim the surplus value after the property has been disposed of by the county. |
Justin Low | Support | 2025-06-18 |
| HB 2005 Describes when a person is in need of treatment because the person is a danger to self, a danger to others, unable to provide for basic personal needs or has a chronic mental disorder. |
Tim Dooley | Neutral | 2025-06-17 |
| HB 2089 Provides for a process by which former owners of real property deeded to the county for delinquent property taxes may claim the surplus value after the property has been disposed of by the county. |
Justin Low | Neutral | 2025-04-10 |
| SB 1034 Removes provisions that allow the Energy Facility Siting Council to find that an energy facility is in compliance with statewide planning goals even when the council determines that the facility does not comply with applicable substantive criteria from the affected local government's land use plan and regulations that the facility must be evaluated against if the council determines that the facility otherwise complies with applicable statewide planning goals. |
John Shafer | Support | 2025-04-01 |
| SB 1034 Removes provisions that allow the Energy Facility Siting Council to find that an energy facility is in compliance with statewide planning goals even when the council determines that the facility does not comply with applicable substantive criteria from the affected local government's land use plan and regulations that the facility must be evaluated against if the council determines that the facility otherwise complies with applicable statewide planning goals. |
Branden Pursinger | Support | 2025-04-01 |
| HB 2015 Requires the Oregon Health Authority to conduct studies and adopt rules relating to residential treatment facilities, residential treatment homes, secure residential treatment facilities and secure residential treatment homes. |
Jessica Pratt | Support | 2025-03-27 |
| HB 2059 Establishes the Residential Behavioral Health Capacity Program within the Oregon Health Authority to fund behavioral health programs that are determined by the authority to increase residential behavioral health capacity throughout this state. |
Jessica Pratt | Support | 2025-03-27 |
| SJR 1 Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution directing the Legislative Assembly to enact a property tax relief program for the owner-occupied primary residences of certain seniors. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election. |
Justin Low | Oppose | 2025-03-25 |
| HB 3755 Creates a property tax exemption for the owner-occupied principal dwelling of seniors who are at least 65 years of age, have resided in the dwelling for at least 10 years and have a household income not greater than $150,000 per year. |
Justin Low | Oppose | 2025-03-19 |
| SB 974 Requires local governments or special districts to complete final review of final engineering plans for residential development within 120 days of submission. |
Mallorie Roberts | Oppose | 2025-03-17 |
| SB 974 Requires local governments or special districts to complete final review of final engineering plans for residential development within 120 days of submission. |
Branden Pursinger | Oppose | 2025-03-17 |
| SB 77 Describes allowable home occupations on lands zoned for forest or farm use. |
Branden Pursinger | Oppose | 2025-03-08 |
| HB 2906 Establishes the Task Force on Innovative Housing Strategies for Veterans. |
Tim Dooley | Support | 2025-03-05 |
| HB 3644 Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to establish a statewide shelter program through which regional coordinators are selected to administer funding to shelter providers. |
Jessica Pratt | Support | 2025-02-28 |
| SB 438 Allows the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site an additional dwelling on the property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. |
Branden Pursinger | Oppose | 2025-02-28 |
| SB 878 Allows an occupying homeowner outside of an urban growth boundary to site one additional family dwelling unit on the tract of the home. |
Branden Pursinger | Oppose | 2025-02-28 |
| HB 3249 Allows a partial exemption of ad valorem property taxes due on the owner-occupied principal dwelling of an individual who is at least 65 years of age and the individual's surviving spouse regardless of age. |
Justin Low | Oppose | 2025-02-22 |
| HB 3287 Grants a higher property tax exemption for the property of veterans with disabilities. |
Justin Low | Neutral | 2025-02-21 |
| SB 462 Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to establish an education course for land use planners for local governments, special districts and state agencies. |
Branden Pursinger | Neutral | 2025-02-19 |
| HB 2950 Requires the Land Conservation and Development Commission to update the statewide land use planning goal relating to "citizen involvement" by rule byJune 30, 2029. |
Branden Pursinger | Oppose | 2025-02-13 |
2024
4 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 4023 Prohibits local governments from imposing certain restrictions on the siting of residential treatment facilities in certain areas. |
Jessica Pratt | Support | 2024-03-05 |
| HB 4026 Limits the review of certain local government proposals to modify the local government's urban growth boundary to the process outlined in statute. |
Branden Pursinger | Support | 2024-02-20 |
| SB 1537 Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Department of Consumer and Business Services to jointly establish and administer the Housing Accountability and Production Office. |
Branden Pursinger | Support | 2024-02-09 |
| HB 4099 Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to guarantee local governments' deferral of system development charges for housing developments. |
Mallorie Roberts | Support | 2024-02-06 |
2023
6 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 3458 Limits issues that may be basis for appeal of land use decisions where local government amends comprehensive plan or land use regulations. |
Branden Pursinger | Support | 2023-05-12 |
| SB 644 Amends requirements relating to wildfire hazard mitigation for development of accessory dwelling units on lands zoned for rural residential use. |
Branden Pursinger | Support | 2023-04-17 |
| HB 3197 Limits application of requirement that housing development regulations be clear and objective . |
Michael Burdick | Support | 2023-03-29 |
| SB 80 Makes certain changes related to statewide wildfire hazard map. |
Branden Pursinger | Support | 2023-03-27 |
| HB 5019 Appropriates moneys from General Fund to specified state agencies for certain purposes related to housing. |
Jessica Pratt | Support | 2023-03-07 |
| HB 3138 Appropriates moneys to Oregon Department of Administrative Services to provide grant to Regional Rural Revitalization Strategies Consortium to plan for and develop housing. |
Michael Burdick | Support | 2023-02-09 |
2022
2 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 4123 Requires Oregon Department of Administrative Services to provide grants for certain coordinated homeless response systems. |
Sabrina Riggs | Support | 2022-02-08 |
| HB 4123 Requires Oregon Department of Administrative Services to provide grants for certain coordinated homeless response systems. |
Sabrina Riggs | Support | 2022-02-08 |
2021
5 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 405 Tolls time city or county may consider nonconforming use interrupted or abandoned during emergency that limits resumption of use. |
Mallorie Roberts | Support | 2021-04-20 |
| HB 3083 Provides that specifications for public improvement contracts and contracts for public works must require adherence to current seismic safety standards and seismic rehabilitation standards in constructing, reconstructing or performing major renovation on public building or critical infrastructure that is or will be located in area of state that is susceptible to seismic events. |
Brian Worley | Oppose | 2021-02-22 |
| SB 5530 Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Land Conservation and Development for certain biennial expenses. |
Mallorie Roberts | Support | 2021-02-22 |
| SB 5530 Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Land Conservation and Development for certain biennial expenses. |
Mallorie Roberts | Unknown | 2021-02-22 |
| SB 5530 Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Land Conservation and Development for certain biennial expenses. |
Mallorie Robertrs | Support | 2021-02-21 |