Two members of Oregon’s legislative leadership have announced plans to eliminate a little-known exemption in the state’s public-records code that shields the financial details of subsidized housing projects. Rep. Pam Marsh who chairs the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, told reporters she will introduce a bill next session to end the practice of hiding how taxpayer dollars are spent on low-income apartments.
Marsh, a Democrat from southern Oregon, said she only learned about the exemption after reading a recent investigative piece. She noted that even former chairs of her committee were unaware of the rule. “I think this is an issue that will have very broad interest” she said, emphasizing the public’s right to see where money goes.
Legislative effort to lift the exemption
In the Senate, State Sen. Khanh Pham chair of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development, echoed Marsh’s concerns and pledged to bring the matter before lawmakers in the upcoming session. In a written statement, Pham declared, “It’s imperative that Oregonians can trust that our state government is investing in affordable housing as cost-effectively as possible.” Both officials argue that transparent reporting would allow policymakers, providers, researchers, and citizens to pinpoint where the system succeeds and where it falls short.
Marsh indicated she would amend the rule so that every financial report submitted to the state’s Housing Stability Council be posted online, rather than kept behind a redacted curtain. She described the current situation as a “black box” that makes it impossible to justify investments or assess whether the soaring per-unit cost—now about $540,000—reflects sound budgeting.
Industry backs the move toward openness
Surprisingly, the proposal has earned the backing of Housing Oregon a lobbying coalition representing developers, lenders, and other stakeholders in the low-income housing market. Spokesperson Kevin Cronin said the group wants “more consistent reporting of costs and outcomes” and believes transparency can coexist with protecting truly proprietary data.
“Oregon’s affordable housing providers share the public’s interest in ensuring that public investments in housing are used effectively, responsibly, and with visibility” Cronin explained, adding that the recent investigative report highlighted a $1.4 billion infusion of state funds since 2021 and an upcoming $850 million pipeline of projects. He warned that without clearer data, the state risks repeating cost escalations that have already nearly doubled the price of building a low-income unit.
Other states, such as Washington and California, openly publish comparable financial disclosures without hindering housing production. The Oregon Sunshine Committee, which reviews exemptions, has opened an examination of the housing-cost provision following the same report, according to co-chair Charlie Fisher.
Historical context and agency stance
The exemption dates back to a 1997 amendment championed by the state housing agency now known as Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). The agency routinely cited the law to redact large portions of developers’ cost filings when media outlets requested them. Andrea Bell OHCS’s executive director, told reporters she is “committed to transparency,” but affirmed the agency must comply with the existing statute.
When asked whether OHCS would support the repeal, a spokesperson replied that state agencies do not take positions on legislation, though they “appreciate the opportunity to review the legislation” slated for introduction in 2027.
With the combined pressure from legislators, industry groups, and watchdog entities, Oregon appears poised to reconsider a rule that has kept the public in the dark about the exact cost of building affordable homes. If the bill passes, detailed financial statements could become part of the public record, enabling Oregonians to track how billions of dollars are allocated and whether the soaring per-unit costs can be curbed.
