⚖️ A court battle over Gov. Kotek’s housing bill

Gov. Kotek’s Housing Law Sparks Fight

There’s a court battle starting over one of Gov. Tina Kotek’s signature housing initiatives. The newly passed law that allows housing development in designated rural areas included a less high-profile provision that barred voter referendums on urban growth boundary expansions. That’s immediately an issue in North Plains, where a May ballot measure could potentially double the size of the town. Proponents of the expansion have challenged the constitutionality of House Bill 4026 in an attempt to keep the measure on the ballot. [Oregonian 🔒]

Will Tolls Come Back?

The Oregon Transportation Commission, which sets state transportation policy, is leaving open the possibility that state highways will have tolls even after Gov. Tina Kotek ended the current plans. This sets up a political fight for next year, when the Legislature needs to find new money for transportation as gas tax revenues decline. Currently, projects such as the I-5 expansion at Rose Quarter and I-205’s Abernethy Bridge have a funding gap. [OPB]

Second Youngest Is Now Majority Leader

In a surprise, Oregon House Democrats have picked their second-youngest member, Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, as their new majority leader. It’s a powerful post previously held by high-profile elected officials like Gov. Tina Kotek and Congresswoman Val Hoyle. Bowman, 32, is in his first term and ran unsuccessfully for Oregon Senate in 2020. But he’s also a savvy politician, who previously worked as a legislative staffer and is a former chair of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board. [OPB]

• Plus: He replaces Rep. Julie Fahey, who is now House speaker. State Reps. Andrea Valderrama, D-Portland, and Jason Kropf, D-Bend, lost out to Bowman. [OPB]

Changing the Portland Clean Energy Fund

City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez wants to overhaul the tax for the Portland Clean Energy Fund, and community groups are lining up to oppose the changes. That’s part of this week’s Friday news roundup. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

A Controversial New Police Unit, PCEF Tax Questioned, and What Is a Soho House?

On this week’s Friday roundup, there's possible changes to the Portland Clean Energy Fund tax (PCEF), as well as the new City Council-approved crowd control unit in the Portland Police Bureau, and the opening of the Soho House, an exclusive social club. Willamette Week’s City Hall reporter, Sophie Peel, joins City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza and producer Giulia Fiaoni.