SD 23 Newsletter: Special Legislative Days Edition

Michael Dembrow

November 14, 2021

Dear Neighbors and Friends:

I hope you’ve been able to have a restful, enjoyable weekend, recharging the batteries in advance of the week to come.  For legislators and their staffs, this will be a particularly busy week: it’s one of our quarterly interim “Legislative Days,” when nearly all of our committees meet, receive updates on bills that were passed last session, and hear about issues that have emerged since adjournment at the end of June.  We’ll also be hearing about many of the topics that are likely to be addressed through legislation in the February session.

Two other noteworthy events occur during these Legislative Days:  First, the Senate will be meeting in person on the Senate floor on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. to vote to confirm (or not) a large number of appointments that the Governor has made to various boards, commissions, and executive positions.  The Senate Rules Committee will meet on Wednesday to interview the nominees and potentially send them on to the floor.

It’s a particularly large number of confirmations this time because we didn’t meet for confirmations in September, as we normally would have, because of interference from the special redistricting session.  The confirmations are required to be in-person votes; all other committee meetings will be held remotely due to ongoing COVID risks.

The second noteworthy event is the quarterly Revenue Forecast, presented to the Senate and House Finance/Revenue Committees by the state Office of Economic Analysis.  This one will be Wednesday at 12:45.  We’ll find out if the positive economic conditions, forecasts, and budget reserves that we’ve been experiencing recently will continue at the same level.

Joint Ways and Means and its various subcommittees will also be meeting to vote on a number of appropriations.

All of these hearings will be streamed live and recorded for future viewing.  All the meeting materials and other documents will be accessible at each committee’s website, which you can access through the meeting agendas.

In order to make all this easier for you (and for me!), I’ve put together a list (see below or here as a PDF document) of the different committees and the topics they’ll be covering, in order of appearance, with links to each of the agendas. You'll find links to Senate Committees, House Committees, Joint (Senate and House) Committees, and standing Task Forces.

I hope it will help you get a quick sense of the topics that will be covered, find the topics that interest you, and allow you to access the hearings quickly and easily.  If you have any difficulty accessing anything, or if you have any questions about the process or the topics, please send us an email, and Sierra or I will get back to you as soon as we can.

Until next Thursday’s newsletter, please stay healthy and safe, and again, let me know if you have any questions about information in today’s newsletter.

***Correction: I had an error in yesterday’s newsletter with the week-over-week data.  In the section on New Cases, I made the following statement: That’s an average of 8,097 per day for the 8 days since the last newsletter (vs. 1,050 per day the previous week). That was clearly a cut-and-paste error.  It should have said That’s an average of 897 per day for the 8 days since the last newsletter (vs. 1,050 per day the previous week).

This is particularly significant, as it’s the first time our daily average has dipped below 1,000 in months.  Let’s hope it continues.  (And thanks to Teri for noticing the error and letting me know!)

 

Monday, November 15

8:00-10:30

Senate Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation Committee

  • Ramos Decision (Potential Overturning of Cases Decided by Non-Unanimous Juries)
  • Ballot Measure 110 Update
  • Compassionate Medical Release Work Group Update
  • Implementation of Delta-9 Cannabis Regulations

House Housing Committee:

  • Update on Housing Planning and Zoning Requirements: HB 2001 (2019) and HB 2003 (2019)
  • Construction Costs and Regulatory Barriers
  • New Home Construction
  • Discussion of Committee Members’ 2022 Legislative Concepts

 

11:00-1:30

House Early Childhood Committee:

  • Update on Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Work
  • Update on Transition to the New Department of Early Learning and Care
  • Update on Suspension/Expulsion Prevention Work
  • Childcare/Early Learning Workforce Recruitment and Retention
  • A Survey of Universal Pre-K Provisions in Federal Reconciliation from the National Conference of State Legislatures

House Environment and Natural Resources Committee:

  • Reducing the Negative Health Impacts of Poor Air Quality and Extreme Temperatures through Weatherization Tools in Homes
  • Update on the Private Forest Accord
  • The Future of the Elliott State Forest
  • Discussion of Committee Members’ 2022 Legislative Concepts

 

11:00-12:15

Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Human Services Subcommittee:

  • Consent Grants:
    • Oregon Health Authority - Health Insurance Marketplace
    • Oregon Health Authority - Climate and Health Program
  • Individual Items
    • Oregon Health Authority - Mobile Crisis Services
    • Oregon Health Authority - Provider Relief Fund
    • Oregon Health Authority - COVID-19 Federal Awards

 

12:45-2:00

Senate Rules and Executive Appointments Committee:

  • Appointments to Boards and Commissions and Executive Appointments that Require Senate Confirmation. (See agenda for list of appointments.)

 

Joint Ways and Means, Education Subcommittee:

  • Consent Grants
    • Higher Education Coordinating Commission - Comprehensive and Accessible Reemployment
    • Higher Education Coordinating Commission - Fostering Access, Rights, and Equity
    • Higher Education Coordinating Commission - AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund
    • Department of Education - Preventing School Violence
    • Individual Items:
    • Department of Education - Summer Learning Grant Programs
    • Department of Education - Department of Early Learning and Care and ERDC Transfer
    • Department of Education - Child Care Development Fund Cash Flow

 

Joint Ways and Means, Public Safety Subcommittee:

  • Consent Grants
    • Criminal Justice Commission - Smart Probation
    • Criminal Justice Commission - Project Safe Neighborhoods
    • Military Department - Regional Catastrophic Preparedness
    • Individual Items
    • Judicial Department - Elder Justice Innovation Department of Corrections - Overtime Usage
    • Military Department - Ten-Year Capital Construction Plan
    • Department of Justice - Housing Stabilization for Survivors
    • Department of Justice - Child Support Payment Processing Services

 

2:30-5:00

Senate Education Committee:

  • K-12 School Reopening
  • Prison and Reentry Education Programs
  • Summer Learning
  • SB 283 (2019) Report: Concerns Regarding the Health Impacts of Wireless in Schools

 

Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery Committee:

  • Organic Food Production in Oregon
  • Private Forest Accord
  • 2021 Oregon Fire Season
  • SB 762 (2021) Implementation:
    • Updates: Wildfire Oversight:
      • Wildfire Programs Director and Council
    • Updates: Fire-Adapted Communities
      • Wildland-Urban Interface & Statewide Map of Wildfire Risk
      • Emergency Planning
      • Electric System Plans
      • Health Systems for Smoke
      • Defensible Space
      • Building Codes
      • Land Use
    • Updates: Hazardous Fuel Reduction
      • Fuel Reduction Activities
      • Oregon Conservation Corps

 

House Business and Labor Committee:

  • Recovery of Workers’ Compensation Benefit Overpayments
  • Data Broker Registration
  • Worker Classification
  • Discussion of Potential Concepts for the 2022 Legislative Session

 

House Human Services Committee:

  • Oregon Department of Human Services Updates
  • Oregon State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
  • Support Services for Afghan Arrivals

 

Tuesday, November 16

8:00-10:30

Senate Energy and Environment Committee:

  • Oregon Clean Fuels Program
  • Oregon Global Warming Commission Natural and Working Lands Report
  • Biennial Zero Emissions Report
  • Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub Risk Analysis and Recommendations

 

House Agriculture and Land Use Committee

  • Impact of Natural Disasters on Oregon Agriculture
  • Risks to Agricultural Ownership and Land Use Patterns
  • Oregon Agricultural Heritage  Program

 

House Health Care Committee:

  • Oregon’s HealthCare Workforce Crisis
  • Transforming Care: Role of the Oregon Health Policy Board
  • Update on the Coverage/Access Landscape
  • Discussion of Member Legislative Concepts for the 2022 Legislative Sessions

 

8:00-9:30

Joint Legislative Audits Committee:

  • 2022-23 Audit Plan Risk Assessment: Committee Member Input and Requests - Secretary of State Audits Division
  • State of Oregon Financial Condition and Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports - Secretary of State Audits Division
  • Oregon Government Ethics Commission (Report 2021-14) - Secretary of State Audits Division
  • ODOT Wildfire Debris Removal Advisory Report (Report 2021-30) - Secretary of State Audits Division

 

11:00-1:30

Senate Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee:

  • COVID-19 Testing – Veterans and the General Population
  • Veterans’ Housing and the Impact of COVID-19

 

House Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee

  • Veterans’ License Plates
  • The New Department of Emergency Management – Implementation of HB 2927
  • Discussion of Grant for State Preparedness & Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE)
  • Treatment of Military Members Assisting with COVID-Related Missions In-State
  • Fire Season Update – Now and Future
  • Veterans’ Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Landscape
  • Grant Program Updates

 

House Economic Recovery and Prosperity Committee:

  • Business Oregon Program Updates
  • Economic Development Tools for Local Jurisdictions
  • OLCC Updates and Cannabis Regulation Overview
  • Update on Study of System Development Charges Required by HB 3040 (2021)

 

11:00-12:15

Joint Ways and Means, Natural Resources Subcommittee

  • Consent Grants
    • Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Outreach and Training
    • Department of Agriculture - Animal Disease Response
    • Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - LIDAR Acquisition
    • Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - 3D Elevation Program
    • Department of State Lands - Wetland Program Development
    • Individual Items:
    • Department of Agriculture - Seafood Processors Pandemic Assistance
    • Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - State Map Program
    • Department of Forestry - 2021 Fire Season

 

Joint Ways and Means, Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee:

  • :Consent Grants:
    • Employment Department - Short Time Compensation
    • Employment Department - Unemployment Insurance Accessibility
    • Department of Transportation - Transportation Innovation Council
    • Department of Transportation - Advanced Congestion Management Technologies
    • Department of Transportation - Accelerated Innovation Deployment
    • Individual Items:
    • Housing and Community Services Department - Housing Stability Counseling
    • Oregon Business Development Department - Broadband Infrastructure
    • Oregon Business Development Department - Pandemic Economic Recovery Planning
    • Department of Veterans' Affairs - Provider Relief Fund
    • Department of Transportation - Bus and Bus Facilities Program Department of Consumer and Business Services - Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Activities
    • Department of Consumer and Business Services - Workers' Compensation Premium Assessment

 

12:45-2:00

Joint Information Management and Technology Committee

  • Cybersecurity, Ransomware, and Cybersecurity Education & Workforce Development: Impacts on public and private sector organizations

 

Joint Ways and Means, General Government Subcommittee:

  • Individual Items
    • Public Employees Retirement System - Changes to Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
    • Department of Administrative Services - Lottery Bond Refunding
    • Department of Administrative Services - Article XI-G Bond Refunding
    • Department of Administrative Services - Compensation Plan Changes
    • Judicial Department - Compensation Plan Changes

 

2:30-5:00

Senate Labor and Business Committee:

  • Farmworker Overtime
  • Delta-8 Cannabis Regulation
  • Administration of the Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Tax Rates
  • Oregon Workplace Fairness Act

 

Senate Health Care Committee

  • OHA COVID Update
  • Brain Injury Trust Legislative Concept
  • In Vitro Fertilization Legislative Concept
  • Health Equity Data Mapping
  • Task Force on Universal Health Care

 

House Education Committee:

  • K-12 Update
  • College/University Reopening
  • Update on HB 2835 (Benefits Navigators)
  • State Financial Aid Programs
  • Implementation of HB 2166 (2021): Diversifying the Educator Workforce, Limiting Suspensions/Expulsions

 

House Judiciary Committee:

  • Ballot Measure 110 Update
  • Public Defense Services Commission Update
  • Update from the Department of Justice Labor Trafficking Task Force
  • Discussion of Proposed 2022 Legislation

 

Wednesday, November 17

8:00-10:30

Joint Committee on Ways and Means:

  • Approval of Grants and Reports from Subcommittees
  • Individual Items
  • 1. Judicial Department - Compensation Plan Changes
  • 2. Judicial Department - Elder Justice Innovation
  • 7. Department of Education - Summer Learning Grant Programs
  • 8. Department of Education - Department of Early Learning and Care and ERDC Transfer
  • 9. Department of Education - Child Care Development Fund Cash Flow
  • 11. Oregon Health Authority - Mobile Crisis Services
  • 13. Oregon Health Authority - Provider Relief Fund
  • 14. Oregon Health Authority - COVID-19 Federal Awards
  • 17. Department of Corrections - Overtime Usage
  • 19. Military Department - Ten-Year Capital Construction Plan
  • 20. Department of Justice - Housing Stabilization for Survivors
  • 22. Department of Justice - Child Support Payment Processing Services 25. Housing and Community Services Department - Housing Stability Counseling
  • 26. Oregon Business Development Department - Broadband Infrastructure
  • 27. Oregon Business Development Department - Pandemic Economic Recovery Planning
  • 28. Department of Veterans' Affairs - Provider Relief Fund
  • 31. Department of Agriculture - Seafood Processors Pandemic Assistance
  • 34. Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - State Map Program
  • 36. Department of Forestry - 2021 Fire Season
  • 40. Department of Transportation - Bus and Bus Facilities Program
  • 41. Department of Consumer and Business Services - Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Activities
  • 42. Department of Consumer and Business Services - Workers' Compensation Premium Assessment
  • 43. Public Employees Retirement System - Changes to Actuarial Methods and Assumptions
  • 44. Department of Administrative Services - Lottery Bond Refunding
  • 45. Department of Administrative Services - Article XI-G Bond Refunding
  • 46. Department of Administrative Services - Compensation Plan Changes

 

11:00-1:30

House COVID-19 Committee:

  • OHA Update
  • K-12 School Update
  • COVID-19 Variant and Outbreak Update
  • Health System Update
  • Vaccine & Testing Verification Processes

 

House Water Committee:

  • 2021 Drought
  • Update on Community Water Systems Affected by 2020 Wildfires
  • Framework for Conversations about Oregon’s Water Future, 2021-2023

 

House Wildfire Committee:

  • 2021 Investments in Wildfire Impacted Communities
  • Update: Housing Related to 2020 Wildfire Recovery

 

12:45-2:00

Senate Finance and Revenue Committee with House Revenue Committee:

  • December Economic and Revenue Forecast

 

2:30-5:00

Senate Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery Committee:

  • Overview of Developmental Disabilities System and “Agency with Choice”
  • Oregon LGBTQ+ Older Adult Survey
  • Refugee Resettlement
  • Youth Voices

 

Senate Housing and Development Committee:

  • Current Eviction Landscape
  • Rental Assistance and Wildfire Recovery
  • Panel on Homeownership

 

House Behavioral Health Committee:

  • Behavioral Health Package of Resources Update
  • Update on Ballot Measure 110 Implementation
  • 9-8-8 Workgroup Update
  • Behavioral Health Systems Needs
  • Oregon State Hospital Update

 

Joint Transportation Committee:

  • ODOT Projects and Programs Update
  • DMV Status Report Update
  • Renewable Fuels Briefing
  • Transportation Equity in Oregon
  • Wildfire Cleanup and Recovery Update

 

Thursday, November 18

11:00-1:00

Task Force on Underrepresented Students in Higher Education:

  • Task Force Work Plan
  • Orientation by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission on Current Conditions for Underrepresented Students

 

 

Want to See Past Newsletters?

If there was COVID-related information or any other information in a past newsletter that you want to go back to, but find you’ve deleted it, you can always go to my legislative website (senatordembrow.com), click on “News and Information,” and you’ll find them all there.  Also, if someone forwarded you this newsletter and you’d like to get it directly, you can sign up for it there.

 

Best,

dembrow signature

Senator Michael Dembrow
District 23


email: Sen.MichaelDembrow@oregonlegislature.gov
web: www.senatordembrow.com
phone: 503-986-1723
mail: 900 Court St NE, S-407, Salem, OR, 97301