Mid Valley Reporter

Dec. 22, 2022 Capitol Connect Newsletter

Gas-Powered Car Ban: The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission on Dec. 19 approved a rule banning the sale of gasoline-powered cars, SUVs and light-duty trucks by 2035. According to The Oregonian, the Advanced Clean Cars II rule echoes a California rule requiring manufacturers to sell an escalating percentage of zero-emission vehicles, beginning with 35% in 2026 and increasing to 100% by 2035. You can read the rule here.

Employment in the Trades: The number of young Oregon workers entering the trades has been climbing steadily since the Great Recession and is at its highest point since the 1990s, The Oregonian reports. The fastest growth among young workers, who range in age from 19 to 24, has been in retail distribution warehouses. This sector enjoyed Oregon’s fastest wage gains in 2021, increasing by 11%.

Community College Audit: An audit of Oregon’s community colleges released by the Secretary of State’s Office Dec. 19 calls for greater transparency and accountability, according to The Oregonian. The audit notes, among other things, that student outcomes remain lower than in other states and that the state has offered little oversight or guidance on financial sustainability.

Housing Affordability: Josh Lehner with the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis has released housing-affordability charts for several markets, including Portland, Bend and Salem. In all of these markets, the percentage of households that could afford to buy a median-priced home with a 5% down payment without exceeding 30% of income has dropped substantially since the start of the year. In Bend, one of Oregon’s most expensive markets, only 14% of households could afford to buy a median-priced home without crossing the 30% threshold. OBI’s Growth and Innovation Roadmap includes several policy recommendations to increase housing affordability.

Original source can be found here