House passes Helt bill to boost Bend mixed-use housing

State Rep. Cheri Helt, R-Bend, carried House Bill 3450 on the House floor, where it passed with strong bipartisan support on a 56-1 vote. It was written as a pilot program that encourages the city of Bend to construct residential units in mixed-use near transit stops, stores and places of business.

This is one more tool that will be able to help address the housing crisis facing Bend, the first-term lawmaker said.

“I would like to thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives for supporting this bill and for recognizing the importance of increasing the housing supply in Bend.” Helt said,

“House Bill 3450 was the result of a lot of hard work and collaboration with the city of Bend, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, House leadership and my office,” she added. “I am happy to see that we were all able to come together to craft a bill that will be very good for Bend.”

House Bill 3450 is scheduled for a first reading in the Senate on Friday