Fair Housing Substantial Equivalency Bill Signed by Governor

As previously reported the Oregon legislature adopted federal Fair Housing Equivalency legislation in the last session.

While I speculate that the bill-SB 725- has already gone into effect without the governors signature, a previously postponed signing ceremony was scheduled this AM in the Governors Office to note this important milestone.

Update: Friday Fair Housing Bill Signing Postponed

I have confirmed with BOLI the previously scheduled Friday signing ceremony with the Governor for the Fair Housing equivalency legislation has been postponed with no new date yet set.
(While the ceremony has been postponed, my take is that the bill has become law -- I count that the 30 days required has passed without any veto of the legislation by the Governor).

Friday July 27th Housing Bill Signing Event in Governors Office

Governor to Sign Fair Housing Substantial Equivalency Legislation, Steps to Follow Could Lead to State Federal Fair Housing Complaint Processing, for First Time in 20 Years

At a signing ceremony Friday July 27th at 2:30 PM Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is scheduled to sign into law SB 725, approved this legislative session and designed to bring Oregon law into substantial equivalency with federal fair housing law. Signing of the bill is the culmination of a four year effort in two legislative sessions to update Oregon's fair housing laws. The bill was sponsored by Portland area Senator Margaret Carter and the Fair Housing Council of Oregon and the legislation will be administered by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries [BOLI]. Commissioner Dan Gardner and Senator Carter are expected to attend Friday’s bill signing event. (A weekly BOLI web update alerted me to this signing ceremony).

Following the bill signing, BOLI will need to submit the approved legislation and other referenced Oregon statutes to HUD in Washington D. C. for their determination of whether the bill as passed is actually substantially equivalent to federal fair housing law. If HUD’s review confirms equivalency, the next step will be negotiation and signing of an operating agreement with HUD (which will include funding for training and complaint processing reimbursement rates).

Because of these additional steps, BOLI likely will not actually assume processing for fair housing complaints for many months (My personal guess is that state complaint processing would not begin until sometime during mid to late 2008).

Nonetheless, if and when these additional steps are successfully completed, for the first time in 20 years (since 1988) Oregonians will have state laws legally equivalent to federal fair housing law, and state BOLI staff will be investigating fair housing complaints.

My congratulations to the Governor, the Legislature, Senator Carter, Commissioner Gardner, the Fair Housing Council of Oregon, HUD, and other supportive individuals and organizations for moving forward on this long overdue legislative update.