Uphold Key Pillars of Sound Land Use Planning

Tell legislators to oppose SB 1522–1

SB 1522–1 is a four-alarm fire for Oregon’s land use system.

This bill would completely remove a key pillar of the urban growth planning process, allowing cities to jump straight to the “easiest” land to develop: undeveloped farm and forest land and skip other lands zoned to become a part of our cities. 

It also undermines the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) rules, which are a significant positive step toward expanding access to affordable, accessible, and diverse housing options in every Oregon community. Local communities and the state spent the past two years working on these measures, through a painstaking, mutli-stakeholder process. These rules were just adopted in December 2025. 

Please take two minutes to let Oregon legislators know that upholding the key pillars of our land use system matters to you. 

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How to Submit Comments:

1. Copy the sample testimony below.

2. Go to SB 1522-1 Testimony Page

3. Fill in your contact info and the relevant submission fields: 

   • Skip the “on behalf of” box—you’re submitting as an individual.

   • For “Position on Measure,” select Oppose

   • Choose "Text Testimony"

   • Then, paste the text below into the text box provided. Include your name and where you live.

• Sample Testimony to Personalize

  Hello Chair Pham and Committee Members: 

  Thank you for your service to Oregon's land, waters, wildlife and people! 

  I appreciate Oregon's thoughtful approach to land use and I hope you will reject SB 1522-1. 

  This bill removes one of the key pillars for Oregon’s land use system — the prioritization scheme. This approach ensures that when communities figure out where and how to grow with their Urban Growth Boundaries and Urban Reserves, they must consider a number of factors and balance development and urbanization with preserving our farm and forest lands. 

  Without the sideboards provided by this critical part of our land use system, cities would sprawl into farm and forest lands rather than onto lands already planned and zoned for residential or commercial uses.

  SB 1522-1 also undermines the many years of work recently completed by DLCD and stakeholders resulting in the December 2025 LCDC adoption of rules implementing the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis. 

  Please reject SB 1522-1. 

  Sincerely,