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Friends and Neighbors,
Today marks the start of the third full week of the Legislative Session, and I am keeping very busy with meetings, briefings, and committee sessions.
A highlight of Opening Day in the Legislature was a wonderful opening ceremony by Imam Muhammad Najieb of the Muslim Community Center of Portland. His presentation was insightful, and really sent a message in the Capitol and across the state that people of all religions and backgrounds are welcome and celebrated here. Additionally, a Naturalization Ceremony was held on the floor of the House just this past week, which formalized the citizenship of fifteen new citizens of the United States. This was the first time a ceremony of this type has occurred on the floor of the House of Representatives, and I hope it will not be the last. I celebrate and support these ceremonial indicators of the Legislature’s inclusiveness, and look forward to backing them up with legislative action that protects and defends the rights of all Oregonians.
 Joint Ways and Means:
I am grateful to those who
participated in the Budget Town Halls that have taken place in Portland, Salem,
and Hermiston (pictured above). There was overwhelming support from the public to raise revenue,
especially corporate taxes, to help fill the $1.8 billion budget shortfall. I
will be attending the final three sessions upcoming in Ashland, Eugene and
Tillamook.
Revenue Committee:
The powerful call from the public at
the Budget Town Halls has continued to motivate me to work to raise revenue
within my capacities on this committee this session. Both House and Senate
committees are reviewing the current business tax structure and options for
other systems that are less vulnerable to manipulation.
Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on
Education:
The Education Subcommittee has heard
a series of public testimonies from relevant public boards, and will now begin
to enter the budget overview process for education services.
Rules Committee:
The committee is finishing up
information sessions and has begun several honorary and electoral public
hearings. I look forward to future committee conversations regarding equitable
election law and the potential for reform.
Joint Committee on Transportation,
Preservation, and Modernization:
I am serving on the work
group on Traffic Congestion and Freight Mobility with my colleagues Sen.
Boquist, Sen. Johnson, and Rep. McLain. We continue to use the information we
gathered on our tour of the state last year to put together a broad-based
transportation package.
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I had the pleasure to meet with four young Oregonians from the Oregon Foster Youth Connection. They were advocating for the Foster Sibling Bill of Rights, SB 2216, which I was happy to sign on to as a co-sponsor. |
Below are some details about the
bills on which I am currently a Chief Sponsor. The deadline to introduce bills
to the House Floor is February 28th, at
which time I may be taking the lead on a few more bills. Additionally, I have sponsored many other bills which can be referenced on the OLSHowever, as the chair
and vice-chair on two committees, and a member of four more, much of my work is
focused on my committee roles to develop effective and relevant legislation in
cooperation with my colleagues.
HB 2130 - Child Access Protection
- This bill makes it a crime to
endanger a child by allowing access to a firearm, and is now in the House
Judiciary Committee.
HB 2131 - Oil Train Safety
- This is the next step after the law
that we passed in 2015 that established a Hazmat Rail Coordinator within
the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office and coordinated response training. HB2131
directs the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt rules for additional
oil spill prevention and emergency response planning requirements along high
hazard train routes across the state, and is now in the House Energy and
Environment Committee.
HB 2763 - National Board
Certification for Teachers
- This bill would establish
Accomplished Teaching Program within Department of Education to encourage
and assist teachers in earning national board certification. It was
referred to the House Education Committee.
Please save the morning of 3/25 for a Constituent Coffee event with myself and my staff. The location and exact timing is to be determined, but will be located within District 45. My next newsletter
and Facebook
page will include the confirmed details for the event as they are
arranged. I hope you can join me for this mid-session check in!
Please keep in touch and continue to stay engaged with your government, at every level.
Sincerely,
 Representative Barbara Smith Warner
House District 45
email: Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1445
address: 900 Court St NE, H-275, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithwarner
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