Oregon governor signs nation’s first statewide rent control bill

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed a bill into law on Thursday that creates mandatory, statewide rent control. 

The bill makes it illegal for landlords to raise rent by more than 7 percent plus inflation each year and goes into effect immediately. This is the first statewide rent control law in the country. 

{mosads}”Every Oregonian should have access to housing choices that allow them and their families to thrive,” Brown tweeted with a video of her signing the bill into law. “Today I signed the country’s first statewide rent control bill, providing immediate relief to Oregonians struggling to keep up with rising rents.”

The bill was passed in February by both chambers of the state legislature. The bill was largely supported by Democrats, who hold majorities in both chambers, and opposed by Republicans. 

The West Coast has been plagued by rising housing costs, causing homelessness to surge.