Protections for people who rent their homes becomes law as the Governor signs SB 608!
Governor Brown’s signature today of SB 608 comes after several years of hard work by people who rent their home, advocates, and allies. Over the course of several public hearings and news stories about SB 608, elected leaders have heard from people who rent their homes who live across our state. They have heard from nurses, teachers, landlords, faith leaders, doctors, business owners, realtors, and more, who share the view that no cause evictions and extreme rent increases are harming our communities.
We want to express our sincere thanks to our elected leaders, especially Governor Kate Brown for signing this important legislation so quickly. We are so grateful for the leadership of Speaker Tina Kotek, Senate President Peter Courtney, Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, and Senator Monnes Anderson who sponsored SB 608. We are so grateful for the leadership of the Chairs of the two committees on Housing which heard these bills, Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer and Senator Shemia Fagan, and all of the Senators and Representatives who signed on in support, who spoke in favor of this bill, who listened to the stories of their community, and who voted in favor of SB 608.
Upon signature of the Governor today, SB 608 became law, effective immediately. SB 608:
- Provides protection from no cause evictions for tenants after the first year of occupancy; and
- Provides statewide protection from economic evictions by limiting rent increases to no more than seven percent plus the consumer price index percentage. It exempts regulated affordable housing (which is already protected by limits on rent increases), and new construction for the first fifteen years.
You can see information about what this important legislation means for renters here.