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Hello Friends and Neighbors, ,
It’s been a busy few weeks: Oregon turned 161 years old, bills are moving forward, and committees are preparing recommendations to address the most pertinent challenges that affect our communities.
Since my last newsletter, my staff and I have visited neighborhood associations, attended education forums, and met with constituents who came to the Capitol to talk about healthcare, safe storage, climate change, education, Individual Development Accounts, support for people with developmental disabilities, and much more!
CAPITOL UPDATES
HB 4005:Safe Storage Bill
We must take a public health approach to dealing with the public health crisis that is gun violence. HB 4005 moved ;ast week from the House Judiciary Committee to the Rules Committee (where I serve) after much discussion and debate.
I believe that the legislature has a responsibility to address gun safety and ensure guns are kept out of the hands of those might do harm to themselves or others.This bill requires an owner or possessor of firearm to secure firearm with trigger or cable lock, in a locked container or in a gun room except in specified circumstances.
Happy to see friends and constituents from Moms Demand.
SB 1530: Cap and Trade Bill
We must act now to respond to the devastating effects of climate change. I was proud to support HB 2020 in the 2019 legislative session, and my top priority in this 2020 session is to pass SB 1530, cap and invest legislation that seeks to reduce our carbon emissions while also allowing us to invest in impacted communities. I've been hearing from a lot of my constituents who share this concern, and I want to share a quote from one of them.
"I've seen first hand how climate change has affected Oregon and we need to act now to address this problem. My family’s dependence on the timber industry is that my father worked for saw manufacturers. We spent a heck of a lot of time driving around on logging roads, and I’ve definitely put my time in picking fruit and working in canneries." (Frank G.)
Last week the Senate moved the bill to Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources. It will hopefully be on the Senate floor very soon.
Expanding Affordable Housing
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Everyone deserves to have access to stable housing and to feel safe in their community. This session HB 4001 declares an emergency, recognizing the state's homeless crisis. This legislation would provide resources to communities and make it easier to site emergency shelters. This is currently in the House Committee on Rules and scheduled for a public hearing on February 18th. |
Housing advocates from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
HB 4075: Ends Coyote Hunting Contests
HB 4075 prohibits a person from conducting or participating in a contest, competition, tournament or derby that has the objective of taking coyotes for cash or prizes. This bill successfully passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee and is headed to the floor early this week for a vote.
Please visit the Oregon Legislative Information Service (OLIS) to follow updates on bills during this session.
CONSTITUENT SPOTLIGHT
I had the pleasure of welcoming six students from Beverly Cleary School to the Capitol this week who participated in the Honorary Page Program.
All Oregon students ages 12-17 are invited to participate as an Honorary Page in the House of Representatives or the Senate during the legislative session.As a page, you will have an action-packed day, including an official swearing-in ceremony, a classroom session about the Legislative process, working on the chamber floor with the Legislators, and many more exciting opportunities. Apply here today!
Thank you for staying engaged in your state government. Always feel free to reach
out to my office with issues you or your community are facing or to share your
opinions on legislation.
Sincerely,
 Representative Barbara Smith Warner
House District 45
email: Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1445
address: 900 Court St NE, H-295, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithwarner
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