Committee adopts staff federal priorities, adds housing ask for NLC Hill Day

The City of Portland’s legislative nominating committee voted to accept staff‑recommended federal priorities and to incorporate a housing priority drafted by a council member for next week’s National League of Cities (NLC) Hill Day.

Mayor Mark Dion called for a motion to accept staff priorities and to add the housing priority; a motion and a second occurred and the committee approved the combined priorities by voice vote. Dion asked staff to ensure the city manager and housing staff received the proposed housing language so it could be included in Hill Day materials.

Committee members discussed logistics and strategy for the Hill Day meetings: who will attend (Portland typically seeks separate one‑on‑one time with the delegation because of the city’s size), the limited speaking opportunities during the NLC meetings and the value of preparing a short packet to hand to delegation staff. Kate Knox and Alicia Malnik, the city’s contract lobbyists from Bernstein, said they will monitor floor action and follow up with additional materials after members meet with the delegation.

Other items the committee flagged for continued monitoring included a newly released jail funding bill (LD 2232) and the nonprofit property tax exemption conversations discussed earlier in the meeting.

Next steps: Bernstein will prepare materials and monitor the session; council members attending Hill Day will carry the agreed priorities to meetings with the federal delegation.