Which five state grant programs are covered by the reduced match requirements in SB 1585?

Senate Bill 1585 changes how much money small incorporated cities in Oregon must contribute to qualify for certain state infrastructure grants. The law specifically targets five existing grant programs, lowering the local cash match from previous highs of 20% to 50% down to a range of 3% to 12%. This change applies only to cities with populations of 20,000 or less, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census Enrolled Bill Text, Sections 1-9.

Short answer

The five state grant programs covered by the reduced match requirements in SB 1585 are School Safety Improvement Projects, Connect Oregon Transportation Projects, the Multimodal Active Transportation Program, Levee Project Grants, and Water Resources Feasibility Studies.

What the bill or law says

The enrolled text of SB 1585 amends several sections of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) to establish new matching fund caps for small cities. For each of the five programs, the bill replaces fixed high-percentage matches with a tiered system based on city population and, in some cases, total project cost.

  1. School Safety Improvement Projects: Administered by the Oregon Transportation Commission, these grants support safety features like sidewalks and crossings near schools. The previous 40% cash match requirement is replaced by the new tiered caps Enrolled Bill Text, Section 1.
  2. Connect Oregon Transportation Projects: These grants fund various transportation initiatives. The prior 30% match for most public bodies is reduced for eligible small cities Enrolled Bill Text, Section 2.
  3. Multimodal Active Transportation Program: Supporting bicycle and pedestrian projects, this program’s previous 30% match requirement is also lowered for small cities Enrolled Bill Text, Section 3.
  4. Levee Project Grants: Managed by the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority for flood control, these grants previously required a 20% match. SB 1585 reduces this burden for cities protecting populations under 20,000 Enrolled Bill Text, Section 4.
  5. Water Resources Feasibility Studies: These grants fund studies on water conservation and storage. The previous 25% match requirement is adjusted downward for eligible small cities Enrolled Bill Text, Sections 8 and 9.

How it works in practice

For all five programs, the new match rates follow the same population-based structure. Cities with 5,000 residents or fewer pay no more than 3% for projects costing $100,000 or less, and 5% for larger projects. As population increases, the cap rises to 7%, 9%, and finally 12% for cities between 10,001 and 20,000 residents Enrolled Bill Text, Sections 1-9. Additionally, the bill allows these cities to use grant funds for planning and engineering phases, not just construction.

What the source does not answer

The provided legislative text does not specify how state agencies will adjust their application portals or timelines to implement these changes. It also does not detail whether the total funding pools for these five programs will increase to accommodate the higher state share, or if fewer projects might be funded due to budget constraints.

Sources