Sen. Anderson: SB 974 advances, speeds housing construction

By Oregon State Senator Dick Anderson
April 28, 2025

Today, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 974, a bipartisan housing reform bill led by Senator Dick Anderson (R–Lincoln City) to speed up the housing approval process and eliminate unnecessary delays that drive up costs and limit supply.

“This is a big win for every Oregonian who’s tired of waiting for solutions to our housing crisis,” said Senator Anderson, vice chair of the Senate Housing Committee. “Senate Bill 974 makes it easier and faster to build homes where they’re needed most.”

The bill focuses on housing within Oregon’s Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) and cuts red tape in three key areas:

• Clarifies the housing application process to avoid unnecessary land use reviews;
• Streamlines engineering plan reviews for roads, utilities, and drainage with a 90-day timeline;
• Speeds up final platting and design approvals, helping homes go up faster without compromising safety.

“Right now, it can take two to three years just to break ground on new housing. Senate Bill 974 can cut that wait time to less than a year,” Anderson added. “That’s a game-changer for families waiting on housing and builders ready to get to work. Today’s vote sends a clear message: Oregon is ready to build.”

“As a company who builds homes in over half of Oregon’s counties, we know firsthand the positive impact this bill will have on speeding up permitting processes and getting more Oregonians in homes,” said Deborah Flagan, Hayden Homes Vice President of Community Engagement.

SB 974 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.