June brings a focus on budget issues as we head towards Sine Die

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

June brings us closer to the end of the legislative session and Sine Die.  As a member of the full Ways and Means Committee, and as Co-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee on Education, this is the time in the Session when our work really ramps up.  We have been working hard on budgets for months, and in some cases years, and now is our opportunity to present them for votes in Committees and on the Floor.  Today I was especially proud to carry the State School Fund Bill (SB 5514), which funds K-12 at a record $9.3 billion over the next two years.  This is not the entirety of educational funding for the next biennium, but it is a substantial amount of K-12 funding.  Please read more about the passage of the $9.3 billion State School Fund budget in the "Updates From Salem" section below.

I am also excited to report that three of my bills have been voted out of the Senate in the last week and are now headed to the Governor's desk to be signed.  House Bill 3254 passed unanimously and will allocate important funding for Oak Grove Academy, which provides an invaluable residential treatment site that serves students with co-occurring mental health and developmental disabilities.  House Bill 2953, which promotes the oversight of community-based structured housing programs that provide wrap-around services to individuals living in these programs, passed the Senate with a vote of 23-4.  And finally, House Bill 3185, passed the Senate 21-1.  This bill provides statutory language specifying that material removed from traditionally maintained channels during maintenance activities cannot be placed on or in undisturbed wetlands, either temporarily or permanently.  This is a simple yet important clarification to ensure that the program honors the ecological values associated with ditches. I am very proud that House Bill 3185 is the result of extensive conversations involving the Oregon Farm Bureau, WaterWatch, The Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited to ensure that the fix put forward protects the intent of the Agricultural Channel Maintenance Program.

Rep. McLain

 

2021 Session Committee Assignments 

Joint Committee On Ways and Means

Joint Committee On Transportation - Co-Chair

House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources - Vice Chair

Joint Committee On the Interstate 5 Bridge - Co-Chair

Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Education - Co-Chair

2019-2020 Joint Emergency Board 

committee hearing

How to Participate this Session

Watch all Oregon State Legislature Live-Streams and Meetings HERE

 

Track all 2021 Session Bills HERE

 

Cartoon of a bill  

Instructions for how to testify:

 

English instructions here

Aquí están las instrucciones


June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!

Pride Month

 

June is Pride Month, a month to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual people, plus all other sexual orientations and genders. The month is celebrated in June in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, which kicked off the first major demonstrations for gay rights in America in 1969.

Resources for LGBT Youth and Friends/Supporters

Some LGBT youth are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience negative health and life outcomes. It is critical for the parents, guardians, and other family members of LGBT youth to have access to the resources they need to ensure their LGBT children are protected and supported.

  • Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Teens: Facts for Teens and Their Parents
    If you’ve ever wondered if you’re gay, lesbian, or bisexual, you’re not alone. Many teens ask themselves this question, and here are ways to find some answers. For parents and caregivers, finding out your son or daughter is gay, lesbian, or bisexual can present challenges. Learn more about how to be supportive.
  • Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN): Student Action
    As a student, you have the power to make change in many ways in your school and community.
  • Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network
    GSA clubs are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities.
  • HealthyChildren.org: Health Concerns for Gay and Lesbian teens
    Information for LGBT teens on sexual activity, substance use, mental health, discrimination, and violence.
  • It Gets Better Project
    The It Gets Better Project inspires people across the globe to share their stories and remind the next generation of LGBTQ+ youth that hope is out there, and it will get better.
  • Q Card Project
    The Q Card is a simple and easy-to-use communication tool designed to empower LGBTQ youth to become actively engaged in their health, and to support the people who provide their care.
  • Q Chat Space
    Q Chat Space is a digital LGBTQ+ center where teens join live-chat, professionally facilitated, online support groups. Also available in Spanish (disponible en español).
  • Stomp Out Bullying: Making Schools Safe for LGBTQ Community
    Schools should be a young person’s primary center for learning, growing, and building a foundation for success in the world. High school can be challenging for any student, but LGBTQ youth face additional obstacles of harassment, abuse, and violence.
  • The Trevor Project: Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention
    The Trevor Project is a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

Bill Updates and Highlights

McLain speaking

SB 398 A - Illegal to Display a Noose

The House passed SB 398 A, making it a Class A misdemeanor or crime of intimidation to display a noose with a punishment of 364 days imprisonment of $6250 fine, or both.  This bill is very personal to me and I was very proud to vote for it and speak in support of it on the House Floor (see video by clicking on image to the right).

The noose is a symbol of white supremacist violence used to intimidate Black, Indigenous and communities of color. According to the NAACP, between 1882 and 1968 alone, an estimated 4,700 people were murdered at the hands of white violence during public lynchings. Over 73% of these deaths were Black people.

 In the past several years, documented hate crimes have been on the rise. These incidents include the displays of nooses, which puts Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities’ wellbeing and safety at risk.

Senate Bill 398 A establishes the crime of intimidation by display of a noose is committed if a person, with the intent to intimidate another, knowingly places a noose on public or private property without consent and the display causes the other person to be reasonably intimidated or placed in fear of bodily harm by the display.

“This is a small and important step in the process of addressing generations of oppression against BIPOC Oregonians,” said House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner (D-Portland). “Hate crimes—including the display of instruments of racist violence, don’t just target a single victim, but entire communities. This bill sends a clear message that there’s no place for these symbols of hate in Oregon.”

The bill passed with unanimous support and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

 

House Bill 2168 - Juneteenth as Official State Holiday 

The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 2168, a bill to make Juneteenth an official state holiday every June 19 beginning in 2022. I was proud to vote for this bill in the House because this holiday will serve to honor the freedom of enslaved people in the United States, acknowledge Oregon’s racist roots, and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in the face of inequity and systemic oppression.

“The Emancipation Proclamation news arrived in waves to the enslaved Black women and men of my family,” said Senator Lew Frederick (D-N/NE Portland) who carried House Bill 2168. “Family stories say, ‘joy was the first emotion, and next skepticism’.”

“However, hope stood at the center of a possible future for my family and so many families,” added Senator Frederick. “That hope continues to this day. So does the skepticism. The two can dance together, and in that dance, we can progress, and we can amplify hope.”

On June 19, 1865 Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and issued General Order Number 3, which required the immediate freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas. Union troops marched throughout Galveston to spread the word that all slaves were free. Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day and Freedom Day.

In Oregon, the Peoples family are well known for their efforts to ensure Juneteenth is observed. “Miss Clara Peoples is foundational to Oregon, her family is the reason we have unofficially observed this holiday and the Peoples have remained central in framing the expectation of a more equitable tomorrow,” said Senator Frederick.

“Juneteenth is not the date all slaves were freed. Juneteenth is not the date that Black Americans, or Black Oregonians, were guaranteed comfort, relief or safety,” said Senator Frederick. “Also, Juneteenth was a step forward and a marker of hope, one we must continue to build upon. This official holiday will recognize that the people of Oregon, despite our past, can take the veil of ignorance away, and each year choose to have hope – on Juneteenth and every day thereafter.”

“With House Bill 2168, we can learn from another time. We can change the future now, in real time. We can work towards equality – even without a declaration or official holiday. We must. Celebrating Juneteenth will help each of us remember all that we can and must do to ensure a more just future,” concluded Senator Frederick.

House Bill 2168 passed the Oregon Senate unanimously, it now goes back to the House of Representatives for a concurrence vote.

 

House Bill 2935 - The Crown Act

The Oregon Senate passed the Create a Respectful and Open World Act, also known as the CROWN Act. House Bill 2935 prohibits race-based hair discrimination, including the denial of education or employment opportunities due to hair texture or style, and I was very proud to vote for it in the House.

“It is an act of self-love for the Black community to be able to show up at work and school in public places as ourselves,” said Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley), one of the bill’s chief sponsors. “This bill is part of a larger conversation we are having about who created the rules, and who benefits from those rules. It's time for people to be able to express themselves unapologetically. This bill will remove barriers to that, particularly for our young people, who should feel safe and welcomed in school sports and activities.”

First enacted in California in 2019, policies like the CROWN Act have been adopted by other states and municipalities and are currently under consideration in other jurisdictions. Oregon currently prohibits school and workplace discrimination based on race, but the applicable definitions do not explicitly include hair type, texture or style. The passage of House Bill 2935 will ensure that the definition of discrimination includes hair type, texture or style.

“This is a matter of fairness,” said Senator Lew Frederick (D-N/NE Portland). “Discrimination based on hair style is rooted in racism. To equate a protective hairstyle or wearing a natural hair style as an indicator of one’s professionalism or of one’s right to access opportunity is wrong. Black Oregonians should feel free to wear their hair any way they like without negative consequences.”

House Bill 2935 passed 28-1 and now goes to Governor Kate Brown for her signature.

 

HB 3026 - IDS for People Experiencing Homelessness

Yesterday I was proud to vote for HB 3026, a bipartisan bill that will waive application fees for state-issued IDs for people experiencing homelessness.  

Beginning January 1, 2022, HB 3026 will prohibit the DMV from charging the $44.50 ID card application fee, and would require it to issue up to two free replacement cards within a card expiration period, to people experiencing homelessness. Applicants could qualify for the fee-waiver by obtaining an attestation from a homeless services provider using a form that will be provided by the DMV. The fee-waiver will not apply to a driver’s license application.

 An ID is essential for daily life, yet many homeless people lack an ID card for various reasons, including loss, theft, or damage to the card, or an inability to pay for one. Not having an ID could preclude someone from accessing the most basic services and facilities that each of us relies on to live in society, including banking, housing, jobs, government benefits like Social Security and food stamps, and even government stimulus checks, thereby compounding the difficulties of homelessness and preventing people from getting back on their feet.

The bill is supported by homeless services providers throughout the state, including Central City Concern in Portland, Catholic Community Services of Lane County, and Riverfolk in Astoria. Many service providers already pay the ID fees out-of-pocket for their clients, which adds up to thousands of dollars per year for those organizations; by shifting the financial burden to the State, those organizations will be able to use that money for other vital services.

Several states and localities around the country, such as Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington, D.C., already have similar policies. HB 3026 complements Oregon’s existing law that allows individuals experiencing homelessness to get a free or reduced-cost birth certificate, which is often required to apply for an ID card.

HB 3026 is now awaiting the Governor’s approval.

 

HB 3275 - Support for Affordable Permanent Housing 

House Democrats passed HB 3275, which would exempt the land under a home that is subject to an affordable housing covenant from property taxation. Through the Community Land Trust model, by which a non-profit organization owns the land under homes and the homebuyer owns the house, low- to moderate-income individuals and families are able to purchase a home at an affordable price, creating economic opportunities for families to build generational wealth and equity. In exchange, the homeowner agrees to sell to another low-income buyer at an affordable price, fostering a cycle of opportunity and affordability for multiple buyers.

Currently, owners of community land trust homes are required to pay for property taxes on the assessed value of both the house and land. To ensure these homebuyers do not take on additional property taxes incurred from the land, HB 3275 would institute fair taxation by providing a partial exemption on property taxes. 

The legislation also looks to address racial disparities in homeownership, which have increased since the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. In 2019, Black homeownership was at an all-time low at just 40.6%, a stark contrast to white homeownership at 73.1%. The pandemic has since exacerbated these inequities.

The bill passed 42-17 and now heads to the Senate for consideration. 


Updates from Salem

House Democrats Pass Record State School Fund

Senate Bill 5514 A sets the budget for the State School Fund at a record $9.3 billion

SALEM, OR—The Oregon House voted today to pass Senate Bill 5514 A, which sets the budget for the State School at a record $9.3 billion. That is a 3.3% increase in the State School Fund budget from the 2019-2021 biennium. Those funds will be combined with almost $4.6 billion in property taxes and other local revenues for distribution through the school revenue formula.

“We are creating record investments in our public school system this session,” said Rep. Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro), who carried the bill on the House floor. “We know so many Oregonians are struggling right now, which is why each and every one of us is working hard to ensure we can meet everyone’s needs, especially those of our BIPOC and low-income communities, who have disproportionately been impacted by the multiple crises this past year.”

In addition to the funds contained in this bill, schools continue to receive funding from the landmark Student Success Act, which directs corporate tax revenue to classrooms and school programs with an emphasis on meeting the needs of Oregon’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students. The Student Success Act continues to provide targeted funds to expand early education access, add mental health resources for students, fund culturally specific programming, and restore art, music, PE, and career training.

“When I pushed for the landmark Student Success Act in 2019, I did so because I knew we couldn’t continue with the status quo,” said House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner (D-NE Portland). “At this moment we are facing one of the hardest economic recessions in our lifetimes, a pandemic, and many families and small businesses are still recovering from the wildfires. A $9.3 billion State School Fund budget will help Oregon’s nearly 200 school districts move forward with plans to support students, families, and teachers.”

“The budget that we passed today stabilizes our education fund at a time when Oregon students need that stability and support, and it does so without requiring cuts to our other essential services,” said Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon (D-Woodburn), who serves as Chair of the House Committee on Education. “As a legislative body, we have an opportunity to invest in a public education system that works for all—especially our Black children, Indigenous children, children of color, low-income children, children in rural communities, children experiencing disability, and immigrant and refugee children. This budget moves us in that direction, and we all know there will be more work going forward to help us achieve equitable outcomes for Oregon’s BIPOC children.”

SB 5514 A, which passed 36-20, now heads to the Governor’s desk.

 

Education funding

Vaccination Information

Keep your vaccination card safe

At your vaccination appointment you should get a vaccination card that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it.

If you’re fully vaccinated, you may be able to enter some indoor places without wearing a mask, but only if you show them your vaccination card. Here are some tips about your vaccination card:

  • Keep your vaccination card in a safe place.
  • Take a picture of your vaccination card as a backup copy.
  • Don’t laminate your card in case another shot may need to be added to it.
  • Keep your card in a waterproof container.
  • Don’t share your card on social media unless you cover your personal information.

 

Things to know this week

Washington County Logo

Washington Co. Vaccine Information:

Every Oregonian age 12 and up is eligible for a vaccine. Twelve to 14 year-olds must be accompanied by either a parent, guardian or someone designated by the parent. If someone other than a parent or guardian accompanies the 12 to 14-year-old, they will need to provide proof of parental/guardian consent. 

Proof of consent is either:

  • A signed consent form (available in English and Spanish on the All4OR.org site) 
  • A written or typed note that includes the parent/guardians name, relationship to the young adult, their date of birth, a statement saying they consent to young adult being vaccinated and the parent/guardian signature.

Fifteen-year-olds do not need to be accompanied, and do not require parental consent in the state of Oregon.

You can now WALK IN to the Oregon Convention Center for a vaccination, or you can schedule your own first-dose COVID-19 vaccination appointment there via this new website. It works best using Chrome, Edge or Safari. From June 1-19, the OCC will offer the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Get Vaccinated Oregon Sign up here and you will be sent an invitation when a vaccine appointment is available to you. Appointments are for the Oregon Convention Center as well as other locations, including some in Washington County. 

OHSU drive-thru clinics at Hillsboro Stadium and PDX Airport Red Economy Lot: Schedule online via OHSU's tool. New appointments are released at 9 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays at the very least. Other days are often added at the last minute, so you might want to visit OHSU's page weekdays at 9 a.m. if you are looking for an appointment. 

Washington County-sponsored community clinics open to public:  Appointments are preferred at our clinics, but you can walk in up to an hour before the clinic closes. Further details for the following clinics are available at the scheduling link

  • 6/5 Johnson & Johnson @ Hillsboro Senior Center 

Neighborhood Health Center and Tigard/Tualatin School District clinic: June 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tualatin High School campus parking lot. First dose Pfizer vaccine for ages 12+. Drive through or schedule an appointment by calling 503-848-5847. Second doses will be offered at this location on June 26. You do not have to have insurance in order to receive a vaccine. If you have insurance, please bring your card with you. Remember, vaccines are free!

Columbia Sportswear drive-through clinic in Beaverton: June 6-7. Pfizer vaccine for ages 12+. Make your appointment here!

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Centers: All vaccination events are open to the community, do not require an appointment, and do not require you to be a Virginia Garcia patient. You do not have to have insurance in order to receive a vaccine. If you have insurance, please bring your card with you. Remember, vaccines are free!

Local pharmacies: As of April 27, 2021, pharmacies are required to offer second/boost doses to people who received their first dose somewhere else.

How much does the vaccine cost?  Vaccines are provided free of charge to the recipient. If you have health insurance, you may be asked to provide that information so the vaccinator can bill your insurance an administration fee. 

 

Vaccinations in Oregon

Vaccination progress by county

Vaccinations in Oregon by age

COVID-19 Updates

National Numbers: 

  • Confirmed Cases: 32,734,972
  • Deaths: 588,705
  • These national numbers come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  You can view their national and state by state data here.
COVID rates in the US
COVID Deaths in US

 

Oregon Status Report: 

  • Oregon now has 202,078 total cases (confirmed and presumptive) of COVID-19.
  • Today we have 317 new confirmed and presumptive cases, and 6 new deaths
  • A total of 2,706 Oregonians have died from COVID-19 (previous daily case updates from OHA here)
  • Washington County has 26,394 confirmed cases, including 242 deaths.  
  • The Oregon Health Authority provides a Public Health Indicators Dashboard to enable communities across Oregon to monitor COVID-19 in the state. The dashboard, which will be updated weekly on Thursdays, provides a transparent report that presents complex epidemiological data in an interactive, easy-to-understand way on a state and county level
Oregon Risk Spots

Oregon Covid rates

Covid rates

 

Updated county risk levels take effect Friday, June 4

Governor Kate Brown today announced updates to county risk levels under the state's public health framework to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. Effective Friday, June 4, through Thursday, June 10, there will be 13 counties in the High Risk level, 4 at Moderate Risk and 19 at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available here.

"Thanks to all the Oregonians who have been vaccinated so far, Oregon’s case rates have continued to decline, said Governor Brown. “But, COVID-19 remains a serious threat to unvaccinated individuals and communities with low vaccination rates. If you have been waiting to get vaccinated, go get your shot today. It's never been easier to get vaccinated, and you may just win $1 million through the Take Your Shot, Oregon campaign."


Around Washington County

ROSA

 

 

Congratulations to our local 2021 Amazing Kids Honorees!

Lizbeth Bucio-Perez

Lizbeth Bucio-Perez of Cornelius 

Lizbeth Bucio-Perez is a typical 18-year-old. She likes music, spending time outdoors and school — to an extent.

But what in many ways separates her from the same people she rubs shoulders with in the hallways at Forest Grove High School is her understanding of who she wants to be and how she plans to get there. And she's not afraid of what it will take to make both happen.

"I used to be really shy," Bucio-Perez said. "But through school and the things I've done and experienced with my church and the Cornelius Youth Advisory Council, I've really matured and it's helped me get better and work towards my goals."

One of those goals is to become a physician. Bucio-Perez plans to attend George Fox University in Newberg next fall, where she plans to study biochemistry. After that, she'll be aiming at medical school with the intent of pursuing a career as a cardiovascular physician or gastroenterologist.

Read more about this amazing young woman in the Forest Grove News-Times

 

Joseph Buliga

Joseph Buliga of Banks 

Despite living in very challenging times, Joseph Buliga is up to the challenge.

The Banks High School senior is scheduled to be one of his graduating class' valedictorians, he's student body president, and he's taken most of the school's advance placement and honors courses en route to a grade point average exceeding 4.0. Additionally, he plays for the Braves' state-power basketball team, competes in track and field, and works a full-time job at the local grocery store where he was just promoted to assistant manager — all amidst a pandemic that's turned teenagers lives upside down.

For most people, such a schedule would seem daunting, but for Buliga, he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I really do like staying busy," Buliga said. "I don't necessarily like to be stressed, but when pushed to do something, I work better. So if I stay busy, it keeps me motivated and at my best."

Read more about this remarkable young man in the Forest Grove News-Times

 

Stay safe and cool in hot weather

The US National Weather Service is forecasting hot weather in much of Oregon this week with many parts of the state expected to see temperatures in the 90s.

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe and cool in hot weather:

  1. Stay somewhere air-conditioned (you can find local cooling centers by contacting 211info or visiting https://www.211info.org/coolingcenters).
  2. Limit exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest.
  3. Wear loose-fitting clothing.
  4. Avoid hot foods and heavy meals.
  5. Drink plenty of fluids.
  6. Avoid alcohol or liquids containing large amounts of sugar
Beat the Heat!

Wildfire Recovery Updates

Evacuation tips: Be prepared so you are ready to go

With wildfires in parts of the state, it's important for everyone to be prepared so you are ready to go. We also want to acknowledge the importance of taking care of your mental health in stressful situations like these. This is especially important if you're still recovering from last year's wildfires. Taking care of your mental health could look like making a self-care plan, getting support in your community or talking with people who care about you. For more mental health resources, visit our Safe+Strong website.

If you must evacuate for any reason, be sure to bring:

  • An emergency food and water supply: https://bit.ly/3bT5G9P
  • An emergency medicine supply: https://bit.ly/2F4ihej.
  • Make a plan to keep medications that need refrigeration cold.
  • Emergency power sources for medical devices and flashlights: https://bit.ly/2FptO7t (don’t forget extra batteries).
  • Safety and personal items, including a face covering and hand sanitizer to protect against COVID. Face coverings do not protect against wildfire smoke.
  •  Important documents, including medical documents, wills, passports and personal identification: https://bit.ly/3k1n0Mn.
  • Reduce smoke in your vehicle by closing your windows and vents and running your car’s air conditioner in recirculate mode to lower air intake from outside and to stay cool.

Check www.tripcheck.com to help plan a safe route.

 

Evacuation list

 

Did you lose a birth certificate or other vital document due to a wildfire? Have it replaced free of charge

Many Oregon families may have lost all vital documents due to the Oregon wildfires. Family members may also have died in the wildfires. Starting June 1, 2021, the Center for Health Statistics will provide up to three certified copies of Oregon vital records free of charge to individuals or families who have been impacted by the Oregon Wildfires.

Certified copies of vital records free of charge for Oregonians affected by the wildfires will be available through October 28, 2021.

More information is available at this link or you can call  971-673-1190.

Replacing birth certificate

 

Wildfire Recovery Resources

OEM has put together this list of contacts to help speed up the process of replacing these documents:

The Governor’s office has put together a Wildfire Resources page that you can access from the Governor’s home page.  It has links to many of the most important updates about the status of fires and resources for evacuees.  This website will be updated regularly.  

Legal ResourcesOregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Program, Oregon lawyers, through the Oregon State Bar, are partnering with FEMA and the American Red Cross to provide legal assistance on FEMA claims, contract claims, insurance claims, landlord-tenant matters and more.

The Department of Forestry’s Wildfire Response and Recovery Overview has ongoing updates about firefighting efforts, damage reports, and more.  

FEMA UpdatesFEMA has provided several different Fact Sheets and resources for accessing benefits, determining eligibility and avoiding scams.


Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) helps eligible low-income households with their past due rent and utilities. This program uses funds from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which allocated a collective total of $280 million to Oregon, the City of Portland, and multiple counties in the state. In most cases, approved applications will result in payments made directly to landlords and utility providers.

Oregon Emergency Rental Relief Program

OHCS Rental Relief Chart

Tenant Assistance Information Session

Help is available for Oregon renters! The federal and state government are distributing millions of dollars in assistance to tenants who are struggling with rent or utility costs, and tenants will have more time to pay back rent after the eviction moratorium ends on June 30th. Join Senator Jama and Representative Fahey on Thursday, June 10th, to learn more about how to get help. Experts from Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Oregon Law Center will present information and answer questions.

RSVP here: bit.ly/OregonTenantAssistance 

tenant relief townhall flyer

Apply to the Landlord Compensation Fund

Round three of the Landlord Compensation Fund program will open June 1, 2021 and will include at least $60 million in assistance covering rent-owed by eligible tenants that was accrued from April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

The Oregon Legislature allocated a total of $150 million to the Landlord Compensation Fund (LCF), to be distributed in multiple rounds. “This is the final opportunity for landlords to apply to get assistance to cover rental debt for all tenants, regardless of income. We encourage landlords to apply by June 18. All funds must be awarded by June 30,” said Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Margaret Salazar.  

Oregon's Landlord Compensation Program is designed to provide relief to residential landlords who have been unable to collect rent due to tenant hardships. Participating landlords can receive up to 80% of rent owed from April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 for qualifying residents. For the first time, landlords can apply for LCF funds to cover former renters.

Oregon Housing and Community Services’ website includes updated Declaration of Financial Hardship for former tenants. To be eligible for assistance for rent owed by a former tenant, the landlord must provide the Declaration of Financial Hardship and the current address of their former tenant.

As outlined in statute, landlords may be eligible to receive funding for an amount equal to 80% of the rental debt owed by qualified residents. Participating landlords must agree to forgive the remaining 20% of the tenant's debt as a condition of receiving payment.

Landlord Compensation Fund

Other Assistance Information

Business Oregon Launches New Grant Funds

Business Oregon has opened the final portion of a program to provide grants for small businesses to help with commercial rent and operational costs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board allocated approximately $100 million for the program to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic and the restrictions it necessitated. Following two rounds of distribution of Commercial Rent Relief assistance grants, approximately $28 million remains to be distributed in this final round through the Operational Cost Assistance Grant.

The Operational Cost Assistance Grant is designed for businesses with 100 or fewer employees in industries that were particularly affected by the pandemic, including those that:

  • Offer the consumption of food and or drink on premises.
  • Provide specified indoor physical exercise, recreational or family entertainment.
  • Provide specified personal services.

Restaurants, bars, gyms, brewpubs, theaters, bowling centers, and salons are some of the more common examples of eligible businesses. Full details of the program, including eligible industries, is available on Business Oregon’s website and in application materials. Applicants must have faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon.

Applications for the Operational Cost Assistance Grant will be accepted from May 26 through June 6.

More program information, eligibility details and the application link are available on Business Oregon’s website, www.oregon4biz.com, or call 503-986-0123.

 

SNAP Benefits Increasing in June 

Most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments in June.  The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020, to give SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June, approximately 521,000 SNAP households will receive $70 million in emergency allotments in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.  Emergency allotments will be available on June 11 for current SNAP households. New SNAP households will receive the emergency allotments June 29 or July 2.

SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.

More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/About-SNAP.aspx.


American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Resources

American Rescue Plan Information

Additional resources:

American Rescue Plan and Asian American & Pacific Islander Communities

American Rescue Plan and Women

American Rescue Plan and Black Communities

American Rescue Plan and Latino Communities

American Rescue Plan and Native Communities

American Rescue Plan and Small Businesses

American Rescue Plan and Health Care Costs & Disparities

American Rescue Plan and the Marketplace

American Rescue Plan and Rural America

American Rescue Plan and Housing Provisions

American Rescue Plan and Veterans

American Rescue Plan and Indian Affairs Programs


Additional Resources

Employers and Employees

The following list of resources is from Oregon’s Secretary of State’s Office. The fastest way to get in touch with the SOS team is by emailing business.sos@oregon.gov, using the “Need Help?” button found on most state agency websites or visiting www.oregon.gov/smallbusiness.

Education Links

Local Government

Utilities Assistance

Food and Housing Assistance


Governor

Emergency

Oregon Health Authority

CDC

Beautiful tribute to our fallen soldiers on Memorial Day

Memorial Day

 

Yours truly,

Representative Susan McLain

Representative Susan McLain
House District 29

email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-376, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain