02/19/2026 - Board of Commissioners - Legislative Update

The Board of Commissioners held a Legislative Update meeting on February 19, 2026, focusing on several legislative bills and policy issues relevant to Deschutes County. Key procurement-related discussions included support for Senate Bill 1544, which would allow the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) to serve as the qualified entity to accept transit taxes directly, reducing administrative burdens and potentially saving costs for East Cascades Transit and the county. The board agreed to draft a letter of support for this bill to be reviewed promptly due to legislative deadlines. Other legislative topics included House Bill 4082 concerning urban growth boundary expansions for senior and manufactured housing, and House Bill 4070 addressing behavioral health system technical fixes, including funding and telehealth service regulations. The commissioners also discussed the state's transportation funding package, the local transient lodging tax bill (HB 4048), and the state's budget deficit and bonding requests. No direct contract awards or vendor selections were reported, but the meeting highlighted policy and funding decisions that could impact future procurement and capital projects in transportation and behavioral health sectors.