SB 1503 Task Force on Gun Violence and Suicide Prevention

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Donna | 2 Comments

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…

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HB 4081 EMS data updates disadvantage disabled

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

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…

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SB 1548 Multi-State Effort for Standard Time

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Donna | 3 Comments

This bill is introduced by Senator Kim Thatcher: Sen.KimThatcher@oregonlegislature.gov “Oregonians have long-expressed their desire to stop changing the clock,” said Thatcher. “Some prefer keeping daylight saving time over standard time, and many don’t care which – they just want to stop changing the clock. Since daylight saving time is just not possible without congressional approval, and after waiting five years for Congress…

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SB 1587 Immunity for children advocacy workers and centers

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Donna | 2 Comments

Signed into law by Gov. Kotek 3-27-24, effective immediately 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…

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HB 4083 Prohibits investments in thermal coal companies

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Donna | 3 Comments

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…

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HB 4080 Offshore wind energy construction standards

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Donna | 4 Comments

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…

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SB 1537 Reforms land use and funds housing

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

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…

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HB 4032 removes “incumbent” identifier from the ballot

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Donna | 2 Comments

Judges are the only candidate on the ballot with the title of “Incumbent”. House Rules is sponsoring this committee bill to change Oregon law to remove ‘incumbency’ identifier from the ballot for judges. This bill takes away the demand for certain judge candidates’ names to be marked as “incumbent” on a ballot.

HB 4002 reform Measure 110 – Democrat

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

This bill has a 137 page amendment in -24 as the basis of what goes forward that House leadership write behind closed doors. This is only the start of keeping the public at arm’s length. This may be the only chance to testify if it is passed to Ways & Means to approve funding. The proposal is a Band-Aid that…

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SB 1593 Severance tax on timber harvest to replace harvest tax

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

SB 1593 started off as an attempt to raise taxes on timber harvests and defund the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, but the votes weren’t there. So, instead, the bill has proposed amendment to just “study” the concept of a severance tax for separate private an public as a permanent funding for forests, fire safe communities, county services and drinking water…

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SB 1589 return to in-person voting

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Donna | 12 Comments

This bill makes voting in person the normal method for voting. Requires voters to show picture ID when voting or requesting a ballot. 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…

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HB 4059 Extends sunset on canola land in Willamette Valley

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill is amended to extend the 500-acre authorization to June 30, 2023, and in 2023, Senate Bill 789 extended the 500-acre authorization to July 1, 2024. The amended bill modifies the definition of canola related to canola laws for the Willamette Valley Protected District (WVPD), changes the licensing requirement to grow canola in the WVPD to a permitting requirement,…

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SB 1508 Quality of life scoring for healthcare

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill was amended to limit the use of evidence by the Health Evidence Review Commission and use of econometric model, the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY), which has been shown to discriminate against people with different health conditions. Additionally, the HERC may be presented with a meta-analysis, which is a study to systematically assess previous research, further complicating efforts…

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HB 4036 Reform of Measure 110 – Republican

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Donna | 3 Comments

This bill is the Republican’s solution to amend Measure 110. House Republican Leader Rep. Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) issued the following statement. “A 1500% increase in overdoses is the direct result of Oregon enabling drug use with Measure 110. People will keep dying at nation-leading rates as long as this failed policy remains in place,” said Leader Helfrich. “The majority…

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HB 4106 Establish sustainable timber harvest levels

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill directs the State Forester to establish sustainable harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and develop a timber inventory model to inform sustainable harvest levels. Directs the State Forester to offer timber for sale at the sustainable harvest level, annually report on sales of timber relative to the sustainable harvest level and address any shortfall in timber…

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SB 1538 Removes public certification test on voting machines

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Donna | 3 Comments

No where in the bill summary does it say that a certified test in Section 3 is removed. The public relies on the summary as an explanation of what a bill does, and to be silent doesn’t just go against transparency, but it is deceitful. Section 3, 2nd paragraph lines 26-29 elimination does away with the language of the public…

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SB 1577 Extends auto voter registration to college applicants

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Donna | 4 Comments

This bill extends automatic voter registration to applicants for admission to public institutions of higher education, and give Secretary of State access to tax records requiring the Department of Revenue to provide the Secretary of State with records containing information related to voter registration. They cracked the door by passing auto voter registration in medical provider offices last session, which…

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HB 4078A Develops system for sharing student private information

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

Th amended bill directs e Legislative Policy and Research Director to undertake a study of the creation of a statewide student information system, and establish goals and recommendations for legislation. Establishes the Task Force on a Statewide Student Information System to review the study. the J.N. v. Oregon Department of Education class-action lawsuit, the neutral expert hired by the court…

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SB 1553 Crime to consume illegal drugs on public transportation

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill expands the crime of interfering with public transportation to include when a person, while in or on a public transit vehicle or public transit station, knowingly consumes a controlled substance that is not lawfully possessed by the person. Provides that a conviction for interfering with public transportation established by this measure shall be classified as a designated drug-related…

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HB 4129 Caregiver service employment model

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

The bill defines “agency with choice services” as personal care services for older adults, individuals with physical disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health needs that are provided under self-directed service delivery model of co-employment for direct support workers. The measure requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to adopt rules for the licensing of…

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SB 1559 changes greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

Global warming is not panning out for the liberals so rather than see the deceptiveness in the concept, they pursue, full-steam ahead, under Climate Change. The Act changes the term “global warming” to “climate change” in some laws. The Act declares an emergency and takes effect when it passes. Modifies state greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The first change comes…

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SB 1550 Merges Teacher Standards & Practices with DOE

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill merges the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) within the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). The proposed cost would be $1.9 million dollars above the cost of what it would take to continue to operate TSPC as a stand-alone agency. There are duplication of work by TSPC and ODE.  The merging of the agencies could potentially hinder the…

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SB 1582 Funding for cultural organizations

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill dedicates out of the General Fund, the amount of $27,414,113.59 to bailout Oregon arts organizations and declares it an emergency. To be eligible for a grant, an Oregon cultural organization must demonstrate to the department’s satisfaction that, at any time during fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2023, the organization experienced a significant loss in earned revenue because of…

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HJR 201/HB 4075 State property tax to fund public safety

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Donna | 9 Comments

This bill is a disguised state property tax outside the limits for property taxes in the name of public safety. Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution requiring the Legislature to create an administrative authority for funding public safety in this state. Directs the Legislature to impose a state property tax to fund public safety in this state. Allows the…

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HB 4086 Study of a child’s problematic sexual behavior

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill -1 Amendments directs the Department of Human Services to study the scope of child abuse investigations via a contracted facilitator to study Oregon’s response to children exhibiting problematic sexual behavior with advise from two different committees to: “(a) Identify the current scope of mandatory child abuse investigations that must be conducted by the Department of Human Services. “(b)…

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HB 4161 expands school choice with education savings

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Donna | 3 Comments

HB 4161 increases the number of students that may enroll in virtual public charter school that is not sponsored by the student’s resident school district without first receiving approval from the school district – extends the cap from 3 to 6% in school year 2025-26. Requires school districts to participate in open enrollment, but may apply for a waiver if…

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HB 4133 Changes to forest products tax

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

The Act makes changes related to a forest products tax. The Act creates a new fund related to wildfire costs. The Act makes changes related to forest protection districts. Increases the portion of the Forest Products Harvest Tax dedicated to the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund from $0.625 to $1.00 per thousand board feet and then indexes the tax to…

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SB 1532 Develops education plan for immigrants

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

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…

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SB 1572 Task force for commuter train between Portland and Salem

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill is a repeat of HB 2662 from 2023 that passed out of committee, but not without  objection from those testifying. It creates a multi‐organizational task force—the Westside Express Advisory Committee—composed of local governments, transit agencies, railroads and public‐interest groups to study extending the current rush‐hour‐only Westside Express Service (WES) commuter train from the current southern terminus in Wilsonville…

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SB 1571 Labeling on campaign ads designed by AI

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

This bill requires labeling on campaign ads designed by Artificial Intelligence.  SB 1571 summary reads, “Requires a disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence in campaign communications. Provides for the enforcement of the requirement. Subjects a violation of the requirement to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.” “Artificial intelligence” means digital technology used in…

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HB 4112 State purchases and grants to lenders of clean energy technology

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill furthers the agenda of government choosing winners and losers. It’s a rip-off of taxpayers. This bill requires Oregon Department of Administrative Services to make rules that say how the agency will buy products and services from clean energy technology (-3 adds manufacturing) companies to create and retain high-skilled manufacturing jobs. (-3 expands its definition to include equipment for…

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SB 1542 Reduction in CAT tax

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Donna | 4 Comments

The Corporate Activities Tax is a gross receipts tax where it taxes revenue instead of profit and has been extremely punishing to businesses especially if they are losing money or in a small margin business like health care, restaurants. Senate Bill 1542 would reduce the CAT tax on small businesses.  It’s summary reads,   “Starts with tax year 2025.  Increases the exempt amount…

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HB 4021 Authorizes Governor to fill U.S. Senate vacancy

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Donna | 6 Comments

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…

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SB 1555 Creates crimes related to controlled substance

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

The Act creates new drug crimes and increases penalties for some drug offenses. This bill makes changes to Ballot Measure 110, including changes to treatment funding. The Act also creates a new diversion program and a process for setting aside certain drug convictions. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. Creates the crime of using or possession…

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HB 4057 Makes teacher participation in strikes unlawful

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

This bill would make it unlawful for teachers to participate in a strike. Expands the statutory list of strike-prohibited employees to include teachers employed by a common school district or a union high school district. Imposes a civil penalty of $500 per day against an individual or labor organization that participates in an unlawful teacher strike. Strikable conditions and pay…

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HB 4085 Provides grants for immigrate citizenship

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Donna | 0 Comments

This bill directs the Department of Human Services to provide grants to assist individuals who are noncitizens and who do not possess valid immigration documentation to change their immigration status or obtain lawful permanent resident status. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die. The Department of Human Services shall provide grants from $750 to $1,500 to cover…

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HB 4096 Firearm hold agreement

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Donna | 1 Comments

The Act allows “Federal firearms licensee” (a person licensed as a dealer, manufacturer or importer) to enter into agreements with a firearm owner to hold guns for safety. The Act also directs OHA to develop a firearm safety pamphlet. Prohibits a civil cause of action against a licensee who takes possession of a firearm pursuant to a firearm hold agreement…

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