Last Updated: 3/4/24 1:17 AM PST
Important Notice: If a bill comes in later than 5PM on Fridays, check here for updates & changes! We will not be sending additional emails!
Clicking the bill number will allow you access to more information on the bill via OLIS.
IMPORTANT: You have up to 48 hours on most bills after the Public Hearing to submit your testimony. Beware, the time could be 24 hours on some, so testify now!
Clicking Submit Testimony Button below each bill in the list will allow you to fill out the testimony form online or upload pre-written testimony to OLIS.
Links are provided for more information, testimonies on various sites, including OLIS as featured testimonies.
The bill text, any submitted amendments and testimony that may have already been submitted is available in the tabs at the top of the OLIS webpage.
By Clicking the “Register to Testify” tab on OLIS, you can fill out the form to sign up to testify remotely through Microsoft Teams for the bill either via Teams Video or on the phone.
The bills below, of course, do not incapsulate all the bills for the coming week. Bills could also be added to committee agendas at any time and after the work to put this list together.
Are we missing bill? SUBMIT A BILL every Friday by 5PM for distribution in the weekly alert!
Fight for Oregon, Senator David Brock Smith, Rep. Court Boice, Rep. Virgle Osborne, the ORP, Janice Dysinger, and Oregon Citizens Lobby, have provided the content this week. Listed below are Bills of Concern and Bills to Support that are coming up for Public Hearings this week and/or need your voice.
Your testimonies are greatly needed in the fight for Oregon! Our goal is to make it easy for you to testify and share! Anyone can subscribe or unsubscribe to these alerts! Encourage folks to subscribe!
Visit FightforOregon.com Weekly Alerts for a more updated version of this week’s bills! We are committed to NOT inundate your email box because these are a moving target and change daily, so the latest news will be on the website!
Please Review the Schedule, bills can be added at any time for Public Hearing
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/Committees/Meeting/List
Bills of Concern: **RED ALERT**
SB 1583 A – Public Hearing
The bills listed below are not all bills. Please view Senate 3rd Reading Notice for a more comprehensive list of bills.
Senate Convenes Monday @ 10AM
The bills listed below are not all bills. Please view House Third Reading Notice for a more comprehensive list of bills.
House Convenes Monday @ 11AM
Bills of Concern:
HB 4021 A – Governor appoints US Senator Vacancies
Although no one has submitted bills of concern, please view House Third Reading Notice
Press Release from Senator David Brock Smith
Oregonians Win as the Oregon Senate Recriminalizes Hard Drugs through Historic Vote in Repealing/Reforming Measure 110
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 1, 2024
SALEM – Today, the Oregon State Senate voted to repeal/reform Measure 110 and end the decriminalization experiment that has cost so many Oregonians their lives and has torn families and their communities apart.
“Since the Majority Party refused to address recriminalizing drugs in the 2023 Legislative Session, I called for a Special Session to repeal Measure 110 in October of last year, to save lives and give our law enforcement officers the tools they need to protect the health, lives, and safety of our residents, said Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford). As the Joint Committee On Addiction and Community Safety Response was formed and began their work, my Senate and House Republican colleagues joined Representative Reschke and I on the call for a Special Session to repeal the failed experiment that was Measure 110 and recriminalize hard drugs.”
Today’s historic vote (Click the link to the right to see my Floor Comments) is the culmination of hundreds of hours of work by a broad group of stakeholders including the Oregon State Sheriffs Association, the Oregon District Attorneys Association, the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, the League of Oregon Cities, the Association of Oregon Counties and many more departments, agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals.
“HB 4002 A goes well beyond a repeal of Measure 110 and is the first step for law enforcement to have the tools they need to save lives, get drug dealers off the streets, get users the treatment services Oregonians wanted and to begin to give back our communities to their residents and families. There is more work to be done, and I will continue to work with our law enforcement officers, community leaders and fellow elected officials to make sure we strengthen this work in the 2025 Legislative Session”, concluded Senator Brock Smith.
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Senator David Brock Smith represents Senate District 1, which includes Curry, Coos, and Douglas Counties. This press release and an archive of previous press releases issued by Senator David Brock Smith’s office are available on the web at: www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
Click Here for Senate Republican Leader Knopp’s Press Release.
Click Here for my original testimony to the Joint Committee On Addiction and Community Safety Response that starts at 8 minutes.
Click Here for my next testimony to the Joint Committee On Addiction and Community Safety Response where I discuss my two amendments below.
Click Here for my -4 Amendment that flag U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when a fentanyl dealer and manufacturer is in violation of federal immigration law.
Click Here for my Press Release with Representative Goodwin.
Click Here for my -39 Amendment that would require trial lawyers in Oregon to have training in criminal defense law and then to provide 120 hours of public defense services before December 31, 2027. As the Republican Senator on the Joint Ways & Means Committee on Public Safety and the Council of State Governments West
This is by far the most support on a single Floor Letter that I have ever witnessed in my 14 Oregon Legislative Sessions in the Capitol. Thank you for all of your collaborative work.
How HB 4002 A, our Measure 110 Repeal/Reform Legislation, brings more tools to our Law Enforcement Officers and District Attorneys than just a straight repeal of Ballot Measure 110. Thank you to Clatsop County Sheriff Phillips for putting together this comparison and all who worked on this critically important fix for our communities, their residents and the businesses that support them.
–Senator David Brock Smith
Monday - March 4, 2024
Bills of Concern
House Committee on Rules 8:00 am
SB 1538 A – Digest: The Act makes many changes to election laws. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.8). [Specifies the information to be included in county voters’ pamphlets.] Permits an agent of a candidate to file a translation of a candidate statement with the Secretary of State. Permits candidate statements, certain arguments regarding measures and legislative arguments in support of statewide measures to be translated into the most commonly spoken languages of each county in which the statements will appear in a voters’ pamphlet. Specifies the information to be included in county voters’ pamphlets. Removes the requirement for a repeat public certification test of a vote tally system immediately before ballot scanning begins. Reduces the limitation on the number of voter registration cards that may be requested. [Establishes that the two-year term of certain members of the financial estimate committee begins on July 1 of an even-numbered year.] Permits the Secretary of State to issue a certificate of ascertainment of presidential electors in accordance with the requirements of federal law. Increases the limit of aggregate contributions and expenditures before certain requirements apply. Becomes operative on January 1, 2025. Changes the civil penalties and legal expenses that can be paid with contributions received by certain persons and committees. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: Janice Dysinger in Opposition
This is a work session for this bill, Conact Committee Members:
Chair: Representative Julie Fahey
Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1414
Vice-Chair: Representative Jeffrey Helfrich
Email: Rep.JeffHelfrich@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1452
Member: Representative Jason Kropf
Email: Rep.JasonKropf@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone:503-986-1454
Member: Representative Rob Nosse
Email: Rep.RobNosse@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone:503-986-1442
Member: Representative Anna Scharf
Email: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone:503-986-1423
Member: Representative Andrea Valderrama
Email: Rep.AndreaValderrama@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone:503-986-1447
Member: Representative Kim Wallan
Email: Rep.KimWallan@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone:503-986-1406
“
I am asking PCPs to oppose SB1538A.
In Section 3, paragraph 2, would remove the public test right before the ballot count would start. It is the 2nd test. We need this test in a year of a contentious election.
Also we are asking that the Rules Committee let SB1589 be allowed a vote. It would allow in-person voting in the precinct with ID on election day only. All ballots would have to be in by 8 PM on election day.
All of this can easily be done by going to www.citizenactionforce.org . Just add your comments to the form or send what is already in the queue.
Thank you,
Janice Dysinger”
HB 4024 – Digest: Tells the Secretary of State to study money in voting. (Flesch Readability Score 61.3). Requires the Secretary of State to study how best to improve the campaign finance system in the State of Oregon. Directs the secretary to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to campaign finance not later than September 15, 2025.
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: Brian Boquist in Opposition
“It’s a death warrant for Oregon Republicans, basically bans every tool Republicans have to fund raise.”
Please take a few minutes and submit your testimony. even if all you write is “I strongly oppose” takes less than 5 minutes.
This bill will limit free speech this time though limiting contributions by the average citizens to the candidate of their choice and give the rich and more organized groups a larger contribution voice. Unlimited donations from the party institutions would require more loyalty to the party over loyalty to the voters.
–Alex
“Dear SCC and PCPs, as a former candidate / nominee to the U.S. Senate, I, Jo Rae Perkins, am sharing with you the campaign finance for federal candidates Individuals the amount changes each year – for 2024 the maximum a person can contribute is $3,300 per election cycle. The primary is one cycle. If the candidate wins their primary then the same individual can contribute another $3,300. If an individual contributes more than $3,300 in the primary , the additional amount cannot be spent by the candidate…. see the additional info on the link below.
The other very important part of the contributions limits, NO, ZERO, NADA, ZILCH from C or S corporations! $5,000 limits on PACs… see the link below for additional details.
You can verify this information at Contribution limits for 2023-2024
I bring this up because I will be sending in my testimony against HB4024. We do not need Corporations and NPOs funding our elections. I hope you will join me. – Jo Rae Perkins, Secretary, ORP
–Jo Rae Perkins
Senate Committee on Rules 5:00pm
HB 4130 B – Digest: Stops people in charge of companies that do medical work from running both the company and other business that does work that is not medical work. Stops the people in charge from hiring, firing or telling medical workers when and how to do their jobs. Stops companies from giving control of the company to other businesses that do work that is not medical work. Lets the Secretary of State punish bad actors. Stops companies that give medical care from telling their workers that they cannot work for someone else, say that the company is bad or speak out about the company’s bad acts. Stops companies from punishing those who speak out. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7). Prohibits a shareholder, director or officer of a domestic or foreign professional corporation organized for the purpose of practicing medicine or naturopathic medicine, or for the purpose of allowing physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to jointly render professional health care services, from owning or controlling shares in, serving as a director or officer of, being an employee or contractor of or otherwise participating in managing both the professional corporation and a management services organization with which the professional corporation has a contract. Prohibits shareholders, directors or officers from participating in hiring, terminating or specifying the terms of employment for medical professionals that the professional corporation employs or with which the professional corporation has a contract for services while owning or controlling shares in, serving as a director of or being an employee or contractor of a management services organization with which the professional corporation has a contract. Specifies exceptions. Prohibits a professional corporation from relinquishing or transferring control over the professional corporation’s assets, business operations, clinical practices or decisions or the clinical practices or decisions of medical professionals the professional corporation employs or with which the professional corporation has a contract. Specifies examples of prohibited methods of transferring control and exceptions to the prohibition. Provides that requirements that apply to domestic and foreign professional corporations organized for the purpose of practicing medicine or naturopathic medicine, or for the purpose of allowing physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to jointly render professional health care services, also apply to domestic and foreign limited liability companies, partnerships, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships organized for a medical purpose. Provides the Secretary of State with authority to enforce violations of the requirements by administratively dissolving or revoking or inactivating the registration of entities that engage in violations. Voids noncompetition agreements, nondisclosure agreements and nondisparagement agreements between certain business entities and medical professionals, with specified exceptions, and prohibits the business entities from retaliating against the medical professional for violating the void agreements. Punishes retaliations as an unlawful employment practice. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: Telehealth in Opposition
Message from Senator David Brock Smith:
I recommend that you read some of the opposition testimony in the links below to see how this legislation will hurt our small medical practices and providers in our rural communities and to help you craft a letter of opposition to submit.
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Downloads/PublicTestimonyDocument/114684
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Downloads/PublicTestimonyDocument/115239
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Downloads/PublicTestimonyDocument/114446
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Downloads/PublicTestimonyDocument/114492
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Downloads/PublicTestimonyDocument/114508
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Downloads/PublicTestimonyDocument/114699
-- Senator David Brock Smith
Bills to Support
House Committee on Revenue 8:30 am
SB 1520 – Digest: Exempts award from wildfire suit from income tax. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.8). Creates Oregon tax subtraction for amounts received in [settlement] resolution of a civil action arising from wildfire. Allows taxpayer to amend return to claim refund for earliest tax year in which subtraction is allowed. Applies to declarations and executive orders issued on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2026, and to amounts received in tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020 [, and before January 1, 2026]. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: Dole Coalwell Attorneys in Support
Senate Committee on Rules 5:00pm
SB 1589 – Digest: Makes voting in person the normal method for voting. Requires voters to show picture ID when voting or requesting a ballot. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.2). Makes in-person voting on the date of an election the standard method for conducting an election. Allows an elector to request a ballot that may be voted by mail if the elector is unable to vote in person on the date of the election. Retains vote by mail as the primary method for conducting elections for military and overseas electors and for electors who have a mailing address outside of Oregon. Requires electors to present valid government-issued identification when appearing in-person to vote or when requesting a ballot be sent by mail. Requires all ballots to be returned by the date of an election. Removes a requirement that the state pay postage for ballots returned by mail.
********* WE NEED YOUR HELP ON THIS BILL *********
We are asking for this bill to be allowed a vote!
Contact Senate Committee on Rules:
Chair: Senator Kate Lieber
Email: Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
Vice-Chair: Senator Tim Knopp
Email: Sen.TimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1727
Member: Senator Bill Hanell
Email: Sen.BillHansell@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Member: Senator James Manning, Jr.
Email: Sen.JamesManning@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Member: Senator Elizabeth Steiner
Email: Sen.ElizabethSteiner@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
“
I am asking PCPs to oppose SB1538A.
In Section 3, paragraph 2, would remove the public test right before the ballot count would start. It is the 2nd test. We need this test in a year of a contentious election.
Also we are asking that the Rules Committee let SB1589 be allowed a vote. It would allow in-person voting in the precinct with ID on election day only. All ballots would have to be in by 8 PM on election day.
All of this can easily be done by going to www.citizenactionforce.org . Just add your comments to the form or send what is already in the queue.
Thank you,
Janice Dysinger”
Tuesday - March 5, 2024
Bills of Concern
****RED ALERT****
House Committee on Rules 8:00 am
SB 1583 A – Digest: This Act does not allow a board or a person to choose or not choose materials that are used in a school when the choice is discrimination. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.5). Prohibits discrimination when selecting textbooks, instructional materials, program materials or library books that are used in the public schools of this state. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: Oregon Republican Party Opposes!
Senate Floor - Third Reading Alerts!
Senate Measures
Note: The following bills are listed as they appear on OLIS and in no particular order.
SB 1548 A-Eng. – Wagner
“For the part of the state located in the Pacific Time Zone, abolishes the annual one-hour change in time from standard time to daylight saving time and maintains the Pacific Time Zone portion of Oregon on standard time for all 12 months of the calendar year, if California and Washington make the same change within the next 10 years.”
Senate Measures of Concern
SB 1503 B-Eng. – Wagner
” Establishes the Task Force on Community Safety and Firearm Suicide Prevention and requires the task force to report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health care.”
* Contact All Legislators – After Senate Floor vote it moves to House Floor!
AMENDMENT ADOPTED TO LOWER ALLOTMENT TO $250,000.
The bill was amended to establishes a 17-member Task Force on Gun Violence and Suicide Prevention and requires the task force to report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health care. Appropriates money for research on gun violence and suicide prevention ordered by the task force. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Guns aren’t the cause of suicide, it is only the tool. Take guns away and a different tool will be used. Shouldn’t this task force focus on the cause and not the means? After all, all suicide is tragic.
Section 2 of the bill says:
In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropriated to the Department of Justice, for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of $400,000, (amendment reduced to $250,000)which may be expended for the purpose of paying a third party for research ordered by the Task Force on Gun Violence and Suicide Prevention, as authorized under section 1 of this 2024 Act.
The language of the bill puts no cap on how much money the Department of Justice will get to crush gun rights in Oregon. The Oregon DOJ has already squandered millions of dollars in an effort to implement a gun ban in Oregon, and they are not done yet. Who is going to put forth their ideas to end the rampant gun crimes that is encouraged by the refusal to meaningfully hold criminals accountable?
If you believe in your constitutional right of the 2nd Amendment, there is an ulterior motive behind every gun restricting bill that is unconstitutional.
Oregon Citizens Lobby
SB 1532 A-Eng – Jama
Digest: Directs ODE to make a plan for the education of students who are immigrants. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.7). Directs the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide education plan for students who are asylum seekers, refugees or any other immigrant
* Contact All Legislators – After Senate Floor vote it moves to House Floor!
Directs the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide education Student Success Plan for students who are asylum seekers, refugees or any other immigrant.
Requires Student Success Plan for immigrant and refugee students to address academic disparities, historical practices, and educational needs based on culturally responsive best practices. Requires plan to provide strategies to meet specified goals.
Forms an advisory group on the plan and to award grants to entities providing services.
Oregon’s immigrant population to have been approximately 386,400 in 2022, with the highest numbers in Washington and Multnomah Counties.
The proposal is to give immigrants the same special education privileges as resident minorities plus give schools and organizations grants to accommodate them.
CONTACT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
| Chair | Senator Michael Dembrow |
| Vice-Chair | Senator Suzanne Weber |
| Member | Senator Dick Anderson |
| Member | Senator Lew Frederick |
| Member | Senator Sara Gelser Blouin |
Oregon Citizens Lobby
SB 1533 – Jama
“Increases, from 5 to 10, the number of the most commonly spoken languages in each county, other than English, that the Secretary of State must include on a publicly available list and into which the secretary must translate voters’ pamphlets. “
* Contact All Legislators – After Senate Floor vote it moves to House Floor!
House Measures of Concern
HB 4016 A-Eng. – Golden
Digest: The Act makes certain changes to a program for planned fires. The Act directs an agency to extend the deadline for a grant program for protecting homes from fire. The Act directs agencies to report on creating a program for protecting homes from fire. (Flesch Readability Score: 70.8). [Digest: The Act makes certain changes to a program for planned fires. The Act directs an agency to extend the deadline for a grant program for protecting homes from fire. The Act directs agencies to report on creating a program for protecting homes from fire. The Act creates a fund related to responding to wildfire smoke. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.3).] Makes certain changes to the Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program. Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services to allow a person to apply for a grant under the Fire Hardening Grant Program on or before December 31, 2025. Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Department of the State Fire Marshal to report, on or before September 15, 2024, to committees or interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural resources on a proposal for a proactive home hardening program. [Establishes the Smoke Preparedness and Response Fund in the State Treasury. Continuously appropriates moneys in the fund to the Department of Environmental Quality for assistance with community smoke response plans.] Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.”
PASSED HOUSE
This bill makes certain changes to a program for planned fires under the Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program. Maximum claim is limited to $1 million. Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services to allow a person to apply for a grant under the Fire Hardening Grant Program designed to make a home more resistant to fire on or before December 31, 2025. Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Department of the State Fire Marshal to report, on or before September 15, 2024, to committees or interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural resources on a proposal for a proactive home hardening program.
Amendment removes the Smoke Preparedness and Response Fund that continuously appropriated moneys in the fund to the Department of Environmental Quality for assistance with community smoke response plans.
The criterial for filing a claim for economic and property damage is that it relates to a prescribed fire or cultural burn conducted in accordance with the provisions of any applicable burn plan or permit and any other applicable conditions or Requirements.
It allows the State Forester or a forest protective association or agency to make claims for the actual costs incurred in controlling or extinguishing the prescribed fire or cultural burn, but only to the extent that such costs would be recoverable from an owner or operator of forestland pursuant to ORS 477.068 and 477.120. This provision allows OSF to make a claim and recover cost from the owner giving them double benefits.
Isn’t this putting the wolf in charge of the hen house seeing that the State Forestry Department operates prescribed burns, is eligible to claim damages from the program and owner, and self-certify the claim for payment.
--Oregon Citizens Lobby
HB 4083 A-Eng. – Golden
“Digest: The Act tells the State Treasurer to stop investing moneys in companies that deal in thermal coal. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.1). Directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to make efforts to eliminate certain investments in thermal coal companies. Provides that divestments must be accomplished without monetary loss to the investment funds. Provides that investments may be retained in a thermal coal company that is transitioning to clean energy. Requires an annual report to the Legislative Assembly on actions taken pursuant to this Act.”
This bill directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to make efforts to eliminate certain investments in thermal coal companies. Provides that divestments must be accomplished without monetary loss to the investment funds. Provides that investments may be retained in a thermal coal company that is transitioning to clean energy.
This is a violation of fiduciary responsibilities and requires a glass ball to predict if an investment will accomplish no monetary loss. Political agendas do not mix with best practices for investments violating fiduciary oaths.
Treasurer Read is leading efforts to:
- Support the transition of OPERF to a net-zero carbon emission portfolio by no later than 2050.
- Set baseline emissions measurement and interim targets for managing climate risks and identifying opportunities for expanded investments in low-carbon solutions.
- Create methodologies and frameworks to measure progress on meeting interim targets and timelines for review of investments in carbon intensive activities like thermal coal, tar sands, and fracked natural gas.
--Oregon Citizens Lobby
House Measures to Support
HB 4145 B-Eng. – Manning Jr
“Digest: The Act creates new crimes concerning visual displays of animal abuse. The Act creates exceptions to the new crimes. The Act amends related animal cruelty laws. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.6). Criminalizes the creation of a visual recording of aggravated animal abuse. Punishes by a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both. Creates the crime of encouraging aggravated animal abuse in the first degree. Punishes by a maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both. Creates the crime of encouraging aggravated animal abuse in the second degree. Punishes by a maximum of six months’ imprisonment, $2,500 fine, or both. Establishes certain exceptions to the new crimes. Establishes certain changes related to a prohibition against possession of the same genus or domestic animal against which a crime was committed or involved.”
House Floor - House Bill 3rd Reading Alerts!
House Measures of Concern
HB 4021 – Digest: The Act requires the Governor to appoint a U.S. Senator when a vacancy happens in the office. The Act states when the appointment ends and when a special election must occur. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.8). [Digest: The Act requires the Governor to appoint a U.S. Senator when a vacancy happens in the office. The Act states when the appointment ends. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.7).] Requires the Governor to appoint a United States Senator when a vacancy in the office occurs. Requires that the appointed Senator be of the same political party as the elected Senator who vacated the office. Requires the Governor to call a special election within a specified period after the vacancy occurs. Requires the appointment to end [when the term of office ends or] when a replacement is elected [, whichever comes first].
This bill requires the Governor to appoint a United States Senator when a vacancy in the office occurs. Requires that the appointed Senator be of the same political party as the elected Senator who vacated the office. Requires the appointment to end when the term of office ends or when a replacement is elected, whichever comes first.
Currently a special election is held if more than 61 days before an election. This is a step towards voters losing control of Senate elections. History has shown that judges resign just prior to deadline so the Governor can appoint a replacement, which gives them an advantage in the next election. The Governor is required to fill from the same party, but that is open for manipulation appointing weak candidates if of the opposite party.
Thanks to Thom Bradley for pointing out it’s unconstitutional. “The US Constitution makes it very clear that only legislative assemblies of the several States can elect senators. That was true until I believe 1916. It was amended to allow popular vote of senators. Nowhere in the original Constitution or the amendment that followed gave governors any authority to fill Senate vacancies.”
--Oregon Citizens Lobby
Notable House 2nd Reading Alerts!
Senate Measures of Concern
SB 1537 A – Digest: The Act establishes a housing office to support and enforce housing laws; lets home builders use updated local rules; awards lawyer fees for more housing appeals; assists with infrastructure for housing; creates a fund for grants to developers of affordable housing; makes cities approve changes to housing rules; makes cities expedite applications to build housing; lets cities change their growth boundaries; and gives money to DLCD, BO and OHCS for this Act. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.4). Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Department of Consumer and Business Services to jointly establish and administer the Housing Accountability and Production Office. Requires the office to assist local governments and housing developers with housing laws. Authorizes the office to take certain actions to enforce housing laws. Becomes operative on July 1, 2025. Allows a housing developer with a pending application to opt in to amended local land use regulations. Expands eligibility for attorney fees on appeal of the approval of a residential development proposal to include local governments and allÙ affordable housing or housing within urban growth boundaries. Creates the Housing Infrastructure Support Fund to allow the Oregon Business Development Department to provide capacity and support to local governments in developing infrastructure to support residential development. Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development to bienniallyÙ report to the Legislative Assembly before 2025 on proposed infrastructure projects that may support residential development. Authorizes cities and counties to adopt a program for awarding grants to developers of affordable housing and moderate income housing projects to finance certain costs associated with such housing projects. Directs the Housing and Community Services Department to develop a revolving loan program to make interest-free loans to participating cities and counties to fund the grants. Imposes an annual fee on each grantee developer in repayment of the loans. Provides for the distribution of the fee moneys first to fire districts for ad valorem property taxes and then to the department in repayment of the loan that funded the grant awarded to the developer. Requires local governments to approve certain adjustments to land use regulations for housing development within an urban growth boundary as a limited land use decision. Establishes an exemption process. Requires reporting to the Department of Land Conservation and Development on the use of adjustments. Requires the department to report biennially to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly. Sunsets on January 2, 2032. Requires local governments to process certain applications relating to housing development as limited land use decisions. Develops alternative processes to amend urban growth boundaries to include up to 100 net residential acres per city. Provides for limitations and review by counties, Metro and the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the courts. Sunsets on January 2, 2033. Appropriates moneys to the Oregon Business Development Department, Housing and Community Services Department and Department of Land Conservation and Development for purposes of the Act. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Through Senate Bill 1537 and budget request, Kotek had asked for $600 million in funding, including $200 million for revolving loans developers could use to build homes for middle-income Oregonians, $200 million to help cities and tribal councils pay for infrastructure needs, $65 million to keep existing homeless shelters running and $35 million for eviction prevention. The Senate Housing and Development Committee cut her request almost in half on Tuesday when it unanimously approved an amended version of the bill and a separate budget measure, Senate Bill 1530, with a total of $350 million.
This bill is another attempt at the 2023, HB 3414, which didn’t pass and argues that it undermines the 50-year-old land use process by which communities make land available for housing construction. However, out of 63 million acres, land use laws have restricted use for development to 35,000 acres. Grabbing farm and forest land may not be the answer without building regulation reform, UGB infill abilities, and a reduction in many of the laws that are driving up labor and material costs.
There are three physical inputs to the housing supply process: land, labor, and materials. There is also an intangible factor that is even more important: government regulation. SB 1537 doesn’t help much in these areas. The UGB expansions may increase housing supply slightly, but that gain is offset by the affordable housing and density mandates in the bill.
This measure appropriates a total of $89,507,088 million General Fund to three different state agencies in the 2023-25 biennium. The agencies receiving appropriations include the Oregon Business Development Department (OBDD), the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) , and the Housing and Community Services Department (HCSD). The measure creates the following new funds separate and distinct from the General Fund, with each fund continuously appropriated to its respective agency:
(1) Housing Accountability and Production Office Fund (HAPOF) in DLCD: The measure includes two General Fund appropriations to the Fund, with $5.0 million for technical assistance and grant funds, and $5.6 million for administrative and programmatic expenditures.
(2) Housing Infrastructure Support Fund (HISF) in OBDD: General Fund in the amount of $3.0 million is appropriated to OBDD for the HISF and the agency’s administrative costs to provide grants to municipalities for capacity building and support for infrastructure planning.
(3) Housing Project Revolving Loan Fund (HPRL) in HCSD: A $75.0 million General Fund appropriation to this Fund is included in the measure, to provide no interest financing of loans for eligible infrastructure costs to local sponsoring jurisdictions and provides for additional fees to cover jurisdiction and county costs associated with making grants from the Fund. The Fund has a sunset date of June 30, 2025.
CASCADE POLICY INSTITUTE’S ARTICLE
Until public safety is funded to help enforcement continue taking down cartel, it is hard to support socialism takeover of construction.
--Oregon Citizens Lobby
SB 1587 – Digest: The Act protects a children’s advocacy center from legal action for looking into the abuse of a child if a nationwide group says that the center meets certain standards. The Act protects the center’s employees, too. The Act does not protect a center from legal action based on its employees’ adverse treatment of a person on the basis of a protected class. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.6). Grants certain immunities to children’s advocacy centers and to employees and designated agents of children’s advocacy centers. Requires applicants for funds to establish and maintain a children’s advocacy center to include evidence of the center’s accreditation with a nationally recognized organization. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
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This bill grants immunities to children’s advocacy centers and to employees and designated agents of children’s advocacy centers protecting them from legal action for looking into the abuse of a child if a nationwide group says that the center meets certain standards. The Act protects the center’s employees, too. It does not protect a center from legal action based on its employees’ adverse treatment of a person on the basis of a protected class. The Act declares an emergency so voters cannot over turn it. This bill creates a class of immunity from legal processing under the law. We have those laws for protection of both parties and providing immunity on one side tips the scale of justice. For what reason should they be allowed to commit crimes they want immunity from? This is a protective measure to protect the unspoken abuse against children being coached to transition in our schools. Having immunity means they don’t have to report everything, they don’t have to follow investigative laws, the can abuse parental rights, and are not subject to privacy laws. Amendment declares children’s advocacy centers rely upon state funding and provide statutorily-mandated services. This bill opens a can of worms that really doesn’t protect our children like it’s presented.
HB 4080 B – Digest: States a state policy on offshore wind energy. Tells the state agency on energy to make a road map on standards for offshore wind energy. Makes a person involved in an offshore wind energy or port project meet certain labor and supply chain standards. Tells the state agency on land use to assess state policies that may be used in federal reviews of offshore wind leasing decisions. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.0). Declares a state policy to support engagement between offshore wind developers and impacted organizations, communities and tribes. Declares a state policy regarding offshore wind energy development and labor and supply chain standards. Declares a state policy that the interconnection of offshore energy projects be carried out in a manner that promotes electric grid reliability and resilience. Directs the Land Conservation and Development Commission to exercise its rulemaking authority to support these state policies. Directs the State Department of Energy to develop an Offshore Wind Roadmap that defines standards to be considered in the processes related to offshore wind energy development and approval. Requires a developer or contractor involved in an offshore wind energy project, port development project that is necessary for the development of an offshore wind energy project or project related to manufacturing or supply chain that is located on port property and that facilitates the construction, operation or maintenance of an offshore wind energy project to meet certain labor and supply chain standards. Allows a developer or contractor to use a workforce development agreement to comply with the requirements. Directs the Department of Land Conservation and Development to conduct an assessment of the state enforceable policies that may be used in the federal consistency review of offshore wind leasing decisions and related actions. Directs the department to submit a report on the department’s activities to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to marine renewable energy and coastal resources not later than September 1, 2025. Modifies certain biennial appropriation made from the General Fund to the Department of Land Conservation and Development. Modifies limitation on expenditures for certain biennial expenses for the Bureau of Labor and Industries. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
This bill creates a state policy on offshore wind energy. Tells the state agency on energy to make a road map on standards for offshore wind energy. Makes a person involved in an offshore wind energy or port project to meet certain labor and supply chain standards. Tells the state agency on land use to conduct, or support, federal reviews of offshore wind leasing decisions.
-1 Amendments adopted
Declares a state policy to support engagement between offshore wind developers and impacted organizations, communities and tribes, , as well as interconnection of offshore wind energy with the Oregon Coast electrical grid. Directs the State Department of Energy to develop an Offshore Wind Roadmap that defines standards regarding the development of offshore wind energy. Authorizes DLCD to solicit and accept moneys from public and private sources, and to adopt rules, to carry out provisions of measure. Directs DLCD to conduct assessment of state policies that may be used, with focus on adequacy of existing enforceable policies and agency capacity.
Requires a developer or contractor involved in an offshore wind energy project or port development project that is necessary for the development of an offshore wind energy project to meet certain labor and supply chain standards. Directs the Department of Land Conservation and Development to conduct, or support, consistency reviews of offshore wind leasing decisions and related actions. Directs the department to submit a report on the department’s activities to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy and development not later than September 1, 2025. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Requires developers and contractors involved in offshore wind and related projects to participate as training agent for apprentices; establish outreach and recruitment plan for women, minorities, and veterans; and comply with specified wage standards, hours worked, and occupational safety and health. Sets requirements for domestically-produced construction materials for projects over $250,000. Allows for workforce development agreements to comply with provisions. and specifies such agreement must include a project labor agreement, a labor peace agreement, and an agreement to use or develop domestic supply chains. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
It is not possible to have an accurate environmental risk assessment or estimated production output of these wind farms due to the lack of long-term studies on floating wind farms. There have only been a handful of 5-year studies using prototypes and some of those prototypes were disassembled and recycled after 5 years of use. All prototypes are estimated to have a life span of only 15 years.
The Pacific Ocean is the most powerful of all open oceans and the most destructive. When considering the breakdowns, failures, and fluid leaks that occur within the lifespan of a wind turbine, there is a high probability of environmental damage requiring high maintenance, and failures and leaks will be significant if there is a viable turbine able to withstand the Pacific Ocean for any period.
Some studies show wind turbines in the summer only produce 17% of what they produce in the winter. That means Oregon can only rely on 17% of the actual maximum output or be subject to rolling blackouts every summer.
-8 Amendment to fund $998,072 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions and increased by $199,192, for workload related to apprenticeship and prevailing wage as related to offshore wind energy development.
For more talking points, see this Northwest Observer article.
--Oregon Citizens Lobby
Message from Senator David Brock Smith
Oregon Coastal Caucus Urges BOEM to Address Concerns Before Advancing Offshore Wind Projects
Time to Submit Testimony to BOEM Ends March 15th
As I stated in a recent Press Release, (Click Here for the link) Federal BOEM has moved forward in their designated Wind Energy Areas (WEA) off of the southern Oregon Coast. My Coastal Caucus colleagues and I continue to be opposed and push back on BOEM to have honest engagement with us, our fishing and ocean users and other stakeholders.
Please see the link above that will take you to the Press Release from our Legislative Coastal Caucus Chair, Representative Gomberg and myself. There are links within the Press Release that will take you to our recent letter to BOEM Director Klein. You can also Click Here for an article on our collaboration with our fishing industry stakeholders and others, as well as the previous letter of opposition to Director Klein and a link to that letter within the article.
The 30 day BOEM comment period will end on the 15th of March.
Click Here to go to BOEM’s website.
Click Here for more information on BOEMs WEA.
Click Here for additional information and the link on page 19 to submit your comments.
Thank you again for all of your incredible advocacy in opposition to this project. Please remember that this is a federal agency proposing a project in federal waters. We are State Legislators and have no control over federal projects. That said, our combined efforts have produced results by reducing BOEMs Wind Energy Areas by 86% from what they originally proposed!
I want to also personally thank Englund Marine for all of their work and support. i am truly honored to work with you and your team on these and other critical issues for our residents.
HB 4081 A – Digest: The Act makes a program and an advisory board in the Oregon Health Authority to make it easier to get fast health care. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.4). Establishes the Emergency Medical Services Program and Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board within the Oregon Health Authority. Directs the authority to designate emergency medical services regions within the state. Directs the authority to designate emergency medical services centers for the provision of specific types of emergency care. Requires the program to establish and maintain an emergency medical services data system. Becomes operative on January 1, 2025. Repeals existing State Trauma Advisory Board and related boards. Becomes operative on January 1, 2027. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
This bill modernizes Oregon’s emergency medical services (EMS) system by establishing a program and advisory board supported by the advice and technical expertise of advisory committees, which will support regional advisory boards responsible for the development and oversight of regional emergency medical services plans. It also directs the new EMS program to establish and maintain and EMS data system.
Disability Rights Oregon is objecting to Section 14, which makes “all data, including written reports, notes, records and recommendations, received or compiled by the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board or a regional emergency medical services advisory board… are confidential, privileged, inadmissible, and undiscoverable.” It significantly reduces transparency and accountability for people with disabilities who use emergency medical services in Oregon. When a person with a disability is harmed by the negligent action of an emergency medical service provider, that individual and their family deserves to learn what happened so they can make an informed choice about how they can be made whole. Under the proposed language, an entity that was involved in or tolerated egregious behaviors, such as sexual harassment or neglect, would proceed to hand over information to the Advisory Board and in doing so hide information and evidence—and shield themselves from litigation. We ask the Committee to remove Section 14, however the proposed amendment does not remove this section. Another testimony cited a case in which this happened.
They also ask for the removal of Section 16, which has not happened. “(1) An emergency medical services provider may not be held liable for acting in accordance with approved emergency medical services plans. (2) A person who in good faith provides information to an emergency medical services data system is immune from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed with respect to provision of the information.” This section creates a loophole in Oregon’s liability framework by shielding people who act in accordance with approved emergency medical services plans—even when those plans are insufficient to prevent neglect or abuse. Liability laws create an incentive for businesses to prevent harm to patients. This section of HB 4081 undermines the basic concept of liability in Oregon and rebalances incentives in favor of businesses who are negligent, at the cost of people who use emergency medical services. This section will make it more difficult for people with disabilities who are harmed through negligence to get access to justice.
--Oregon Citizens Lobby
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