Portland Official Notices: Infrastructure Updates, Public Safety, and 2026 Legal Changes

Service Alert: Water Bureau System Maintenance

The Portland Water Bureau has issued a service notice regarding planned system maintenance scheduled for early morning on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., customers will be unable to view or pay their bills online. This outage also affects the 24-hour automated payment line. Officials apologize for the inconvenience and recommend that residents complete any urgent transactions outside of this three-hour window.

Public Safety: Incident Management in South Waterfront

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) remains active in the South Portland neighborhood following the activation of an Incident Management Team on Saturday, January 24. As of early Sunday morning, January 25, the Bureau has reported four arrests related to protest activity near the Elizabeth Caruthers Park and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Resources including the Rapid Response Team and Dialogue Liaison Officers continue to monitor the area to ensure public safety and manage traffic flow in the South Waterfront district.

Health Advisory: CDC Monitoring of Parasitic Larva

A nationwide health advisory remains in effect following a recent alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the New World Screwworm. Health authorities are urging medical professionals and the public to remain vigilant as cases of the parasitic larva have been identified near the southern U.S. border. While primarily a threat to livestock, the CDC notes that the flies can affect humans. Residents are advised to keep open wounds covered and use appropriate insect repellent when traveling or working with animals.

Transportation: Winter Visibility and Safety

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has released its January 2026 Vision Zero update, emphasizing the heightened risks associated with limited winter visibility. PBOT is currently prioritizing visibility improvements on high-crash streets, including enhanced street lighting and signal upgrades. With temperatures dropping to 25°F this morning, PBOT also reminds commuters to carry snow chains and maintain an emergency kit in their vehicles, as winter weather patterns remain unpredictable through the end of the month.

Upcoming City Council Business

Portland City Council has published its agenda for the sessions on January 28 and 29, 2026. Key items for public testimony include:

• Privacy and Data Protection: An ordinance to establish a new City Data and Privacy Office to safeguard personal information and manage risks from data brokers.
• Housing Allocation: A resolution to establish priorities for $20.7 million in unspent Rental Services Office funds.
• Street Renaming: A proposal to rename a portion of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street to align with local community requests.

New State Laws Now in Effect

Residents are reminded that several major Oregon laws took effect on January 1, 2026. Notably, hospitals and clinics are now prohibited from reporting unpaid medical debt to credit reporting agencies. Additionally, new protections against AI-generated sexual images (deepfakes) and updated regulations for removing unauthorized occupants from private property are now legally enforceable across the city.