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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you in good spirits and ready for springtime. We are now well into the 2019 Legislative Session, so I would like to update you on the progress we have made on our priorities:
I have had the pleasure of meeting with many of you from Senate District 18 so far this session and I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn about what matters most to you. Last weekend, I had a Town Hall with Senator Wagner, where we discussed what is still to come in these last two months of the 2019 session. In addition, members of the ACLU, Partnership for Safety and Justice, Moms Demand Action, the Oregon Realtors Association, educators from the Tigard-Tualatin School District and many others have visited my office to inform me of their work and what they hope to accomplish this session. Together, we discussed implications of the Legislature's work on education funding, gun reforms, housing and other issues critical to Portland, Tigard and our state.
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This session has already been a huge success with the passage of Senate Bill 608, of which I was a chief sponsor. SB 608 will provide crucial protections for vulnerable tenants in Oregon by making no cause evictions illegal in most circumstances and limiting the amount that rent can be increased each year. Given that one of my main goals was to address Oregon's housing crisis, the passage of the nation's first and only rent stabilization bill was a tremendous accomplishment. I could not have been prouder to stand by Gov. Kate Brown when she officially signed it into law. While more work will be needed beyond this bill to continue addressing the housing crisis, this is a great first step.
Rep. Jennifer Williamson and I are co-chairs of the Joint Capitol Culture Committee. Our committee has developed a new workplace policy to make the Legislative environment safer, more inclusive and respectful, as well as increase the reporting of harassment, discrimination and disrespectful conduct. We will continue working at all levels for the culture change Oregonians deserve in their State Capitol.
As a strong supporter of responsible gun ownership, I introduced multiple bills this session that would have made our community safer without infringing on important constitutional rights. Regulating guns in any way is one of the most controversial topics in our state. Successfully passing such legislation requires bold action, but also necessitates an approach that includes people with diverse views regarding guns. Senate Bill 978 accomplishes this balance by taking several crucial steps to ensure our community is safer from guns without regulating the ownership of any firearm or ammunition. It includes requiring the safe storage of firearms and allows more public entities the option to regulate who is carrying firearms on their campuses and in their public buildings.
On Tuesday, I had the honor of voting yes on SB 1008, which provides sweeping reforms to the juvenile justice system in Oregon. This bill gives youth who have committed a crime a second chance at a productive life, instead of further incarceration because of strict mandatory sentences. I am proud to say that SB 1008 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and is now headed to the House of Representatives for consideration.
I am excited to announce that I am serving as one of the chief sponsors of HCR 23, a resolution to designate April 13, 2019, as Curtis Tigard Day. Curtis Tigard was born on April 13, 1909, in Tigard. The city is named for his grandfather, Wilson Tigard. Throughout his life, Curtis Tigard was a supporter of his country, his state and his community. HCR 23 has passed out of the House and is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Rules Committee, which I chair.
I want to hear from you this session! Please follow me at Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on my work. You also can call my office at 503-986-1718 or email me or my legislative assistant, Chelsea Punian, at sen.ginnyburdick@oregonlegislature.gov.
Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in my work. It is an honor to represent Senate District 18, and I will continue doing the work that best serves the interests of all Oregonians.
All the best,
 Senate Majority Leader
Senate District 18
email: Sen.GinnyBurdick@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1718
address: 900 Court St NE, S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/burdick
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