Upcoming Town Hall (2/22/23)!

I want to invite all of our community members to join an upcoming, virtual town hall to be held next Wednesday, February 22nd, from 7-8:30 PM. This town hall will be hosted by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and I will be participating alongside House Majority Leader Julie Fahey and Representative Nancy Nathanson. We welcome you to join us for what I’m sure will be a wonderful, informative evening surrounding the Oregon Conservation Network’s Priorities for a Healthy Oregon. Please click the graphic below to register!

New Year, New Laws

A belated Happy New Year to Senate District 7 friends and neighbors! I hope you enjoyed a warm and wonderful holiday season with loved ones. As we move further into 2023, I’d like to take one more look back at some of the work we did in 2022. Below, I’ve highlighted a selection of new laws that took effect statewide this January 1st, 2023:

Senate Bill 1574: Ensure Proper Medical Forensic Care for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Survivors of sexual assault seek care from Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and Sexual Assault Examiners in hospitals across Oregon. It is often assumed that the evidence collected in hospital exams is included in the SAFE Kit, but sometimes it does not get included. SB 1574 ensures that the Medical Forensic Examination Forms are included in the SAFE Kit prior to transferring it to law enforcement.

House Bill 4002: Farm Worker Overtime

Both state and federal law establish a maximum hour requirement of 40 hours per week and require employers pay one and one-half times the regular rate for all hours worked over 40 hours. However, agricultural workers were exempt from both the state and federal maximum hour requirement laws and therefore were not entitled to overtime pay. This inequity was accentuated by the intense manual labor, extreme heat and chemical exposure that farmworkers often face. HB 4002 remedies this inequity by phasing in overtime limits over several years, starting at 55 hours in 2023 and reaching 40 by 2027. Farmworkers will be entitled to one and half times pay for each hour beyond these limits. HB 4002 also allocates $55 million in tax credits and $10 million in grants or loans to help farm owners make this transition.

House Bill 4138: Injured Worker Parity Bill

Often, injured workers must rely on workers’ compensation benefits to replace their wages while unable to work. Once that worker reaches maximum improvement, the worker's compensation benefits end. At the same time, workers often find that their maximum improvement has been determined earlier than the doctor's final ruling, and they are faced with overpayments by the insurance company that paid out these benefits. HB 4138 provides worker protection by creating restrictions and extending time periods for backdated maximum improvements.

House Bill 4113: Worker Compensation for Firefighters with Ovarian Cancer

Oregon workers’ compensation laws establish that certain cancers, including oral and male reproductive cancers, are presumed to be a compensable occupational disease for non-volunteer firefighters who have been on the job for at least five years. HB 4113 adds bladder and female reproductive cancers to this list. 

Senate Bill 1538: Dental care for the Compact of Free Association Communities

SB 1538 Establishes a dental program through the Oregon Health Authority for low-income citizens of Pacific Island countries in the COFA community who reside in Oregon.

Signing my oath of office. Photo cred: Matt Keating

2023 Legislative Session

SB 702

While many features, functions, and practices of the housing and real estate markets have shifted to meet an increasingly virtual world, appraisers continue to maintain a necessary, often in-person role. Assessors are charged with impartially assessing the current and/or long-term values of a property or residence for any variety of reasons or uses, directly impacting buyers, sellers, and owners alike. SB 702 will empower the Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board to require training on implicit bias and state and federal fair housing laws for real estate appraisers, fostering greater equity and fairness in real estate and housing markets.

SB 704

In November’s election, Oregon boldly and proudly made clear that healthcare must be a fundamental human right enjoyed by all Oregonians. SB 704 will further our pursuit of statewide, universal healthcare by building upon the trailblazing efforts of past legislative sessions, workgroups, and community-based coalitions of health advocates. Once passed, SB 704 will establish a Universal Health Plan Governance Board, which will be charged with creating a comprehensive plan for implementing the Universal Health Plan beginning in 2027.

Moreover, I would like to inform everyone of SB 704’s recent Public Hearing, which took place across February 13th and 15th. This week’s hearing was yet another opportunity for our state and community to take proud, bold steps forward towards realizing healthcare as a fundamental human right for all Oregonians. While the options and opportunities to support this continued effort seem nearly endless, some specific ways to still get involved in the SB 704 public hearing process include:

• Writing or calling the offices of those senators serving on the Oregon Senate’s Committee on Healthcare to voice your support; etc.
• Signing up for e-updates on OLIS as the bill moves through the legislative process.

While work remains before we finally put this necessary legislation into law, we have come far on this road to ensuring institutional health protections for all Oregon community members. I have no doubt that our continued, collective efforts will steer statewide Universal Healthcare to the finish line—and I look forward to the continued opportunity to stand alongside my constituents and Oregon family as we march on in this work. 

Myself and Rep. Travis Nelson testifying in support of SB 704 during this week's public hearing. Photo credit: Matt Keating

A big thank you to the advocates who came to Salem to show support for SB 704. Photo credit: Matt Keating

SB 786

Fair pay is essential to ensuring that the Oregon Legislature is an inclusive, accessible institution for all people aspiring to public service. Currently, we hear far too many stories of past, current, or potential electoral candidates who are unable to represent their communities in either Oregon’s House or Senate due to the current compensation being cost-prohibitive for those outside of a certain economic and/or employment status. SB 786 will contribute towards a long-term, equity-oriented solution by establishing an annual salary for members of the Legislative Assembly, equal to the annual average wage for all covered employment in Oregon for the prior year. I am confident that this measure will do much to dismantle economic barriers and foster increased possibility for our future’s next generation of lawmakers. 

HB 2005

Nationwide, communities have seen an uptick in unregistered, untraceable firearms informally known as “Ghost Guns.” These 3-D printed and unserialized weapons present dangers not only to civilians and communities, but equally to public safety officials that risk responding to a situation or entering an environment without adequate knowledge of the potential dangers they might face. While “Ghost Guns” have not yet become prevalent in our community, it is imperative we take proactive, protective measures to ensure we can best protect ourselves and each other. In concert with recent rules adopted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms at the Federal level, HB 2005 will define the term "undetectable firearm, while punishing the manufacturing, importing, offering for sale, or transferring of undetectable firearms. 

HB 2305

Wherever possible, it is essential that we continue to pay forward our recognition and appreciation for the contributions of our service members, both on and following their active duty service. HB 2305 does just this, and I am proud to be championing legislation that will exempt pay received by Oregon National Guard members while in active service of state or on state active duty from Oregon income taxes. This meaningful change will ensure that we not only acknowledge the bravery and necessity of these public servants, but continue to build a state that uplifts all those who answer the call to serve.

Updates from the Department of Revenue

In addition to the above law-changes that have taken effect in our new year, below, I’ve highlighted some other relevant and timely information to keep in mind as 2023 continues building momentum!

Tax Season begins January 23

The Oregon Department of Revenue will begin processing 2022 state income tax returns on January 23, 2023, the same day the IRS will begin processing federal returns.

Returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t begin to issue personal income tax refunds until February 16. Once the department begins processing returns, filers can check Where’s My Refund? on Revenue Online to see the status of their refund.

E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit, receive their refund sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.

Free and reduced-cost filing options

Several free or low-cost preparation options for both federal and Oregon tax returns are available for taxpayers who meet the qualifications.  All Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns can file electronically at no cost using Oregon’s free fillable forms. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.

Supporting our Veterans Facing Mental Health Crisis

In other new changes, as of last month, veterans in acute suicidal crisis are now able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost — including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.

Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use this benefit. This expansion will increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA system.

Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:

•     Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
•     Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
•     Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.

If you or someone you know is struggling: Don’t wait. Reach out. Visit www.va.gov/REACH for resources and information or call 988 (then press 1) to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7.

Staff Information

Kenzy Seifert Chief of Staff Kenzy.Seifert@oregonlegislature.gov (she/her)

Miles Rowe Pendleton Legislative Assistant Miles.RowePendleton@oregonlegislature.gov (he/him)

Matt Keating Policy Advisor Matt.Keating@oregonlegislature.gov (he/him)

Capitol Phone:  503-986-1707    District Phone:  541-321-5082
Capitol Address:  900 Court St. NE, S-209, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email:  sen.jamesmanning@oregonlegislature.gov

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