Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2023 Legislative Session is in full swing and we are in the thick of working through measures in committees and on the floor. So much is happening at your State Capitol it is hard to capture it all. This newsletter provides some of the highlights.
February 21st marked the session’s measure introduction deadline. Moving forward, legislators have a limited number of bills they can submit as priority bills for the remainder of the session. As bills flooded in before the deadline, the Chief Clerk of the House described the volume received as a “mini-avalanche”. These new bills will add to the mountain of over 2,300 measures currently in play. March 17th is our next legislative deadline. In order for a bill to be heard in committee by the first chamber deadline (April 4), it has to be posted on an agenda for a work session by this date. This timeline does not apply to measures in Rules, Revenue, and Joint Committees.
In January, the Governor released her recommended budget, focusing on three core priorities: building more housing and reducing homelessness; improving access to mental health and addiction services; and improving outcomes in early literacy and K-12 schools. To see the Governor's full recommended budget, click here.
Though her budget does not call for tax increases or taking the Kicker, the Governor and her agencies could raise fees which would amount to a hidden tax increase on hardworking Oregonians.
I am currently sponsoring over 60 bills, serve on two policy committees and two budget committees. There is a lot to accomplish this session and I am excited to be working for my constituents and Oregonians across the state.
The legislative engine is revved, and it is full speed ahead until the session ends in June. Stay tuned in through my newsletters to come. If you have questions about proposed legislation, need help with the process, want to find out how to testify on a bill, or need assistance with a matter involving a state agency - please reach out to my office. We are here to help!
Sincerely,
 Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District
Previous newsletters can be viewed at: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis/Pages/news.aspx
My days at the Capitol are filled with back-to back-meetings. Two of my committees, House Judiciary and the Joint Ways and Means Public Safety Subcommittee meet four days a week. The House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans meet twice a week. The full Joint Ways and Means Committee is gearing up and we will begin meeting more regularly as the budget process gets further underway.
Since January, we have been debating and passing bills on the House Floor two days a week and we anticipate daily floor sessions will begin in early March.
When not in committees, on the floor, or in caucus, I am meeting with constituents, advocacy groups, lobbyists, legislators, agency officials, and stakeholders. This session begins my fourth term in the House of Representatives, and it is a honor to serve the citizens of House District 18.
It has been great to see folks in the Capitol that I have not seen in a long time and to experience the hustle and bustle of the session in-person again.
 Thank you Mayor Keyser and City Council President, Jody Newland (City of Molalla) for visiting during City Day at the Capitol.
 I also had the pleasure of visiting with Beaverton Mayor, Lacey Beaty during City Day. Although her city is not in my district, I have the honor of working with her on HB 2295 that I will talk about in my committee update below.
 I had a great conversation with parents of children participating in Clackamas County Children’s early care and education programs. Thank you all for sharing your stories! Click here to learn more about the services provided by Clackamas County Children’s Commission and the good work they are doing in our communities.
 House District 18 has a rich history in farming and agriculture and a visit from Oregon’s FFA Officers during National FFA Week is always welcome!
Thank you, Jessie and Kinsley, for your work and leadership that supports this important ag program throughout our state.
On February 22nd, the House and Senate Revenue Committees met to receive the quarterly Economic and Revenue Forecast. The main takeaways from the forecast indicate that our economy is stable, personal income forecasted is higher than expected resulting in nearly a $4 billion surplus kicker. We are seeing improved inflation numbers, but the labor market is still hot which will cause the Federal Reserve to take additional action to raise interest rates to cool the economy.
Oregonians continue to feel the pain of stretched budgets and financial uncertainty. Much of the historic infusion of federal funding has ended now. As we adjust to a baseline reality, the legislature must exercise fiscal responsibility to manage our state’s resources as we balance the budget. Difficult choices lie ahead, and state government must live within its means. That includes leaving the Education Stability and the Rainy-Day funds alone and returning the Kicker back to Oregon taxpayers where it belongs.
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More information about the quarterly revenue forecast can be found here.
The next revenue forecast will take place on May 17th. That forecast will set the stage for budgeting decisions made in the Ways and Means process. This information will be helpful in my role as a member of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and key in my evaluation and decision-making about the State’s 2023-2025 budget cycle.
The Oregon Revenue Forecast opens the revenue forecasting process to public review. It is the basis for much of the budgeting in state government. Forecast reports are issued four times a year: March, June, September, and December. Additional information can be found here.
During my time in the legislature, it has been a pleasure to serve on the House Veterans and Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Management Committees (predecessors of this committee). Those committees were committees of consensus and bipartisan work and were comprised of equal members from both sides of the aisle.
This session, with the addition of General Government, a change in the membership of the committee no longer represents an equal number of members from both parties. There is a broad array of issues making their way through this committee, including bills related to PERS, Self-Serve Gasoline, State Banking/State Treasury fiduciary responsibilities and more - some of which have more controversial sticking points and will bring forward robust discussions. To date, 130 bills have been referred to EGV and 16 of those have been reported out for further consideration.
I am sponsoring several bills this session that have made their way to this committee. A few of those bills are featured below:
HB 2295 Veteran Owned Business Procurements – AWAITING FLOOR VOTE
This matter was brought to my attention by Beaverton Mayor, Lacey Beaty, who is also a proud U.S. Navy combat veteran and an 18-year military spouse. It is an effort to level the playing field for military veterans and National Guard members who seek a government contract. Often, they are in direct competition with large businesses and face hardships in securing a contract due to deployment schedules.
HB 2764 Endangered person alerts - PASSED THE HOUSE
Establishes Endangered Missing Person Alert System. Directs the Superintendent of the State Police to establish a task force to develop a system to enable rapid and effective dissemination of information pertaining to missing persons to the public to facilitate a rapid location and recovery of the missing person. It sets forth criteria to be used to determine when endangered missing person alerts may be issued and when alerts may be terminated. It also establishes immunity from liability for persons, organizations or entities that are involved in dissemination of endangered missing person alerts.
The bill passed unanimously out of committee and off the House Floor. It is currently before the Senate Committee On Labor and Business for further consideration. You can read more about measures background here.
HB 2305 Veterans State Active Duty Tax Relief Exempts from state income tax military pay received by Oregon National Guard member while in active service of state or on state active duty. It applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The measure is a redraft of SB 1542 from the ’22 session and was brought forward at the request of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard in Oregon.
In recent years the Oregon National Guard has been increasingly used for state active-duty activations such as providing assistance with firefighting efforts, riot duty, assistance to the Employment Department and most recently with the pandemic. When members of the National Guard are activated for these in-state duties, they leave their civilian jobs and their families in service to the State.
HB 2305 would exempt from state income tax military pay from the state for those hours devoted to in-state active duty. The bill has bipartisan, bicameral support. It had a public hearing on 2/9 and is awaiting further action.
*HB 3000 Fallen Hero Roadside Signs & **HB 3001 Gold Star Family Signs
*Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Transportation to cover costs associated with Fallen Hero roadside memorial signs and veterans’ recognition registration plates.
** Directs Department of Transportation to waive fee for Fallen Hero roadside memorial highway sign if the applicant is Gold Star Family member and funds are appropriated or otherwise made available to the department for the purpose of paying fees. It directs department to waive surcharge for a Gold Star Family registration plate if the applicant is Gold Star Family member and the funds are appropriated or otherwise made available to the department for purpose of paying surcharge. Both measures passed out of committee and are before the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for consideration in the budget process.
I am humbled to lend my support as a sponsor of these measures and appreciate the family members who came to testify and shared emotionally moving stories in memory loved ones who lost their lives in service to our country.
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HB 2426 Consumer Choice in Fueling (Self-Serve Gas)
The measure allows gas stations statewide to offer drivers a choice to pump their own gas. As businesses across the state struggle to achieve full employment, this modified approach strikes a balance between the needs of consumers, businesses, and employees. It is a consumer choice approach, simplifies a regulatory patchwork on self-serve gas and creates a uniform system statewide. While the bill offers freedom of choice, it also guarantees that both options are available to consumers. Fuel prices will remain the same for full and self-serve options. The measure is a bipartisan and bicameral piece of legislation. It received a public hearing on 2/21 and is awaiting further action.
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HB 2146 Gold Star Families Memorial Highway
This measure was introduced as a committee bill. It provides that portion of U.S. Highway 30, beginning where the highway intersects with U.S. Highway 101 and ending at the Idaho state line, shall also be known as Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway. This piece of legislation is meaningful to families who have lost of a loved one in their immediate family who died as a direct result of their military service. I was honored to carry the bill on the House Floor where it passed unanimously. The measure is in the Senate Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs for further consideration and I look forward to its passage in the Senate.
More information about the bill and my floor remarks honoring gold star families is detailed in the “On the Floor” section below.
HB 3173 Task Force on Tribal Consultation
The bill establishes a Task Force on Tribal Consultation and specifies the task force membership. It requires the task force to identify and clarify requirements of state agencies to engage in tribal consultation. It further requires the task force to report findings and recommendations on tribal consultation to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to government by September 15, 2024. The measure had a public hearing on 2/14 and is awaiting further action.
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 The House Judiciary Committee is exceptionally busy and covers issues pertaining to the criminal justice system, procedural matters related to the practice of law, public safety, juvenile justice policy, and matters related to court administration just to name a few. To date, 186 bills have been referred to this committee and 15 of those have been reported out for further consideration. The House Judiciary and the EGV Committee are where the majority of the bills I have introduced have been referred. A handful of my sponsored bills are highlighted as follows:
HB 2732 Children’s Advocacy Centers Funding
The measure provides funding to protect access to Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC’s). CAC’s provide child abuse medical exams, forensic interviews, therapy, and additional family support services when child abuse is suspected or confirmed. When kids are unable to access a Children's Advocacy Center for a child abuse assessment, child welfare caseworkers are forced to make placement decisions without necessary information. This means unnecessary family separation, or kids left in dangerous situations. The measure was voted unanimously out of committee on 2/9 and is before the Joint Ways and Means Committee for budget consideration
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HB 2933 Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Funding
The bill provides funding for services and support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The bill passed out of committee on 2/9 and is in the Joint Ways and Means Committee for budget consideration.
HB 2405 Fitness to Proceed (Mosman Decision)
This is an important bill to assist Marion County, home of the Oregon State Hospital (OSH), cope with the effects of the Mosman Decision. The Federal Judge’s decision allows early release from the OSH of approximately 109 individuals from various parts of the state accused of crimes but found unfit to stand trial because of mental health issues. 23 of these individuals have been identified of committing violent crimes are expected to be released into the Salem area. The measure’s focus is to ensure that individuals who are charged with a crime and referred to OSH for treatment for being unable to Aid and Assist will be sent back to the charging jurisdiction or to their home jurisdiction as opposed to simply being released into Marion County. The bill was heard on 2/21. Stakeholders are continuing to work together to craft language to bring the bill back before the committee for a work session.
HB 2400 Ballot Measure 110 Failure to Appear for Class E Violation
The bill seeks to fix a problem with the implementation of Oregon Ballot Measure 110 that decriminalized the possession of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs making possession a Class E Violation. The bill creates a consequence for the chronic issue of persons that have failed to appear after being issued a ticket for this violation. The bill has had no action and must receive a public hearing and be passed out of committee on or before 4/4 to move forward.
Ballot Measure 110 was voted into law by Oregonians and Oregonians deserve to be heard on how they feel the measure is working. There has been a great deal of media coverage on this issue. The measure was sold to voters with the concept of treatment vs. punishment. Not only did the recent Secretary of State's audit reflect a failing roll-out of Ballot Masure 110, but my research indicates it’s failing… It’s all carrot, no stick, to borrow a phrase from KGW Anchor, Pat Dooris, who has had a lot to say about the issue. Listen to his segment on “The Story” here.
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 Let your voice be heard by contacting the Committee Chair, members of the House Judiciary Committee and your legislator. Ask for a hearing and a work session. Sign up to get alerts on the bill’s status so that you know when it gets scheduled for a hearing. Come testify remotely or in person to express your support, and/or submit written testimony through OLIS. Find out how to do all that and more here.
There are many ways to address Oregon’s drug problems and the exploding opioid crisis to save lives. Education, prevention, access to life saving overdose medication, access to mental and behavioral health are critical… and the balance of accountability must also be a part of the equation. That is why I introduced this measure.
We have a big problem, friends, and a balanced approach provides an important path to the solution. “All carrot” is clearly not working. HB 2400 restores that critical balance.
 CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER
HB 2906 Taylor’s Law
Taylor’s Law creates an enhanced sentence for individuals who deal controlled substances that cause the death of another person
“Taylor's Law” is named in honor of Taylor Martinek, who died after a drug dealer sold him fentanyl instead of oxycontin. The law applies exclusively to drug dealers who sell controlled substances for consideration. Currently no law exists in Oregon to charge or penalize a person for causing the death of another via the sale of controlled substances. The sale of narcotics, particularly opioids and fentanyl, is a widespread epidemic in our state that endangers and ends the lives of Oregonians every single day. Those who sell these substances experience little to no accountability for their role in the deaths of our community members.
In 2020, 472 Oregonians died from unintentional opioid overdoses. In 2021, that number rose to 745 deaths. Although fatality data for 2022 is not yet available, the number of overdose-related hospital and urgent care visits in 2022 far eclipsed previous years, showing 250-350 overdose visits per month in Oregon. HB 2906 provides another tool and a pathway to address this widespread problem taking the lives of so many.
The bill is awaiting action. It has bipartisan support and I look forward to working the bill and its passage in both chambers this session.
I would be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to provide educational resources on an issue as important as this. Please take a look at the resource links provided below.
“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison. We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose death and poisonings from claiming scores of American lives every day.”
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Through its One Pill Can Kill campaign, the DEA is working to alert the American public of the dangers of fake prescription pills.
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Lastly, I want to draw your attention to information just released in the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) quarterly report below that shows the volume of drugs that were seized from being circulated throughout our state only last year.
HB 2304 – K-9 Cares Act
This measure directs the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) to establish a program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations to fund the care of Oregon retired law enforcement dogs. The bill had a public hearing on 2/6. Minor amendments are proposed for adoption and a work session is scheduled for 3/1.
I appreciate Darin Campbell with Working Dogs Oregon for bringing this concept forward and the support and care it will provide for Oregon’s K-9 public safety partners when they are no longer able to serve. The bill has a subsequent referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for consideration in the budget process.
Over the past several weeks, the Public Safety Subcommittee has been in learning mode. A number of executive and judicial branch agency directors have introduced themselves, provided overviews of their work and performance measures, and presented their legislative budget asks and policy option packages.
In total, the committee expects to hold 77 meetings this session. The bulk of our time will be hearing from our state’s public safety agencies who are under the Governor's control. We will also hear public testimony and presentations from the Department of Administrative Services, the State's Chief Financial Office.
The subcommittee has 14 public safety program area budget bills to work, as well as other policy bills, fee bills, budget note reports, and federal grant applications that get assigned. The educational part of the process is expected to last through mid-April. We will have a short period of time to get follow-up questions answered by the agencies, then work sessions will begin early-May for the smallest of agencies. In mid-May, after the Revenue Forecast is released, bringing the state budget into focus and resources available, we will move bills out of committee in earnest.
This session is unique, as we have two extra budget bills with OSFM and ODEM that became stand-alone agencies, previously under the purview of OSP and the Oregon Military Department respectively. This was accomplished under HB 2927 (2021) to centralize their functions.
The Public Safety Subcommittee doesn’t have the power to hold or table anything assigned. It must move each measure to the full Ways and Means committee or recommend moving to another subcommittee for further consideration.
We are diving in and I am asking important questions that will help determine and manage state resources and investments in the full Ways and Means process, where I also serve as a committee member.
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This committee, also referred to as “Full Ways and Means,” has held two meetings to date. We will begin meeting more regularly as budget bills are passed out of the various subcommittees. This is the legislative budget committee where decisions are made about how your tax dollars are spent by agencies who provide services to our state.
The legislature has a constitutional responsibility to balance the state’s budget. The graphic below is a good visual illustration of the process.
Look for future newsletter updates about what’s happening in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Until then, let me know what your investment priorities are. You can email my office at Rep.RickLewis@Oregonlegislature.gov.
 View floor speech at: https://youtu.be/KQqGeEvhvLo.
HB 2146 Gold Star Families Memorial Highway – PASSED THE HOUSE
On February 2, 2023, it was my privilege to carry HB 2146 on the House floor to honor Oregon Gold Star Families. Click here to view a replay of my floor speech.
The measure designates U.S. Highway 30 between the intersection with Highway 101 and the Idaho border as the Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway. A Gold Star Family is a family that has experienced the loss of a loved one in their immediate family who died as a direct result of their military service.
Starting in World War I, the families of US soldiers and sailors often flew flags that had a blue star for each member of the family that was serving in the military. If one of them died in battle, the blue star was changed to a gold star. In August of 1947, the United States Congress authorized the military to present a gold star lapel pin to the family members of those killed in action. That first pin was a simple gold star on a purple background with a laurel wreath around the star. Another pin—this time a gold star with a gold background and four oak sprigs around the star—was authorized by Congress in 1973. It was awarded to the next of kin of service members who died during military service. Nationwide, more than 472,000 families are designated as Gold Star Families. While conducting research for the Vietnam War Memorial to be located on the Capitol grounds, it was learned that Oregon has four families that lost two sons during the Vietnam War.
Since 2009, 8 highways in Oregon have been designated to honor veterans who served their country in the Armed Force of the United States. One such highway, the Medal of Honor Highway, should soon extend across the country to Boston. The -1 amendments in HB 2146 contain a whereas clause to encourage states to continue the Gold Star Families Memorial Highway across the country as well.
The Gold Star Families Memorial Highway will be the first in Oregon to recognize and honor the sacrifices of the families of those who lost their lives in service to their country while serving in our nations’ military.
The signs for the highway designation are paid for through donations. I am grateful for the hard work of retired Army Lt. Colonel Dick Tobiason, chair of Bend Heroes Foundation, for his tireless efforts to see this project and other veteran highway designation projects through over the past 14 years. Dick Tobiason is a true champion for veterans. Read more about Dick’s work here.
 In case you missed it.
New signal at Aurora-Donald Interchange off I-5 helps clear congestion Dept. of Transportation (ODOT), Oregonian, I-5, Traffic Lights
In the news - Oregonian/Oregon Live published an article about the new signal at the Aurora-Donald Interchange off 1-5 that I want to share with you as follows:
The busy Aurora-Donald Interchange on Interstate 5 south of Wilsonville now features a new traffic signal helping to move the more than 30,000 vehicles, many of which are commercial trucks, that travel that ramp daily.
The Oregon Department of Transportation has been working to redesign the bustling area that has had to deal with increasing traffic flow, many intersecting roads and business access points, and visibility issues that lead to congestion and long lines of vehicles backing up onto the southbound lanes of I-5 especially in the afternoons.
The signal will direct traffic at the new Bents Road NE and Ehlen Road NE intersection. ODOT estimates approximately 32,000 vehicles use Exit 278 Aurora-Donald or travel past the ramps entering and exiting I-5. Phase 1A of the project addressed some of these issues including the redesign of the northbound exit from I-5, the construction of a new Bents Road and Ehlen Road intersection, and the building of a sound wall along the northbound off-ramp.
The next phase of the project will be the construction of a “diverging diamond” interchange (see map) to help move the large volume of traffic through the intersection. Projects include:
- Replace the I-5 bridges over Ehlen Road with one new bridge.
- Reconstruct the I-5 travel lanes to match the new I-5 bridge.
- Changing the section of Ehlen Road under the I-5 bridge to have two lanes of traffic in both directions and new accesses to the I-5 on and off-ramps.
- Lengthen and widen the southbound off-ramp, the southbound on-ramp and the northbound on-ramp.
- Relocate the Dolores Way and Ehlen Road intersection to the east.
For more information on ODOT’s plans for the area, visit the project page: oregon.gov/odot/projects
I’d like to hear how you are experiencing these improvements, the good, the bad and the ugly. I welcome your feedback at: Rep.RickLewis@Oregonlegislature.gov
On Valentine’s Day, I hope Oregonians felt all the love as we celebrated our 164th year of statehood. Oregon was founded on Feb. 14, 1859 and was the 33rd state admitted into the union. In 1860 Oregon was home to over 54,000 residents. Today, around 4 million people call Oregon home.
This year, the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, has a number of cultural and heritage organizations, as well as some of Oregon's tribes, that provided online activities and learning opportunities for the public. You can explore links and activities here.
April 15th is just around the corner and tax season is underway at the Department of Revenue. For faster service and potential refunds, the Oregon Department of Revenue encourages taxpayers to file electronically. Helpful resources are available on their webpage including an interactive map showing locations for free tax help and access to free file tax preparation software.
By filing a tax return low-to moderate-income Oregonians can claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other state and federal refundable tax credits.
The EITC is available for people making less than $59,187 in 2022. Families may be eligible for a maximum EITC benefit of $6935 on their federal tax return, and a maximum Oregon Earned Income Credit of $807 on their state tax return. Certain taxpayers without children may also be eligible for these credits.
Individuals may qualify for the EITC and the Oregon EIC even if they are not required to file. To receive the refundable credits, however, they must file a federal and state tax return.
More information about EITC, Oregon EIC, and other refundable credits is available on the Tax benefits for families page of the Department of Revenue website.
The Oregon surplus kicker credit, known as the “kicker," is a way for state government to return some of your taxes to you when revenues are more than predicted. Every two years, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) determines whether there is a surplus and the amount to be returned to taxpayers as a kicker. If there's a surplus, the kicker may be claimed on the return as a refundable tax credit or donated to the State School Fund. The kicker credit is available only on the return for an odd-numbered year. If there's no surplus, or if the tax year is even-numbered, no kicker is available. Taxpayers are predicted to receive nearly $4 billion back into their pockets in the 2024 tax year.
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Last week, I offered my support as a sponsor of SB 990, a bill that would return your Kicker in the form of a check instead of a credit. Working Oregonians deserve a tangible break from the persistent burden of inflation and high costs. Cash in hand can go a long way to providing just that.
Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program has been helping Oregonians access their unclaimed funds for more than 60 years. The Dept. of Treasury began managing the program in 2021, with the goal of connecting more Oregonians with money the state is protecting on their behalf. Over the last 25 years, the Unclaimed Property Program has returned more than $500 million back to individuals. Nearly 1 in 7 people have unclaimed property.
Unclaimed property is any asset — such as uncashed checks, forgotten security deposits, tax refunds, and more — being held by a business, nonprofit, or government entity for which the owner cannot be found. When an organization is unable to contact or return unclaimed property to an owner after some time, usually 1-3 years, they must report the property to Treasury to be held until claimed by its rightful owner.
Go to Unclaimed.Oregon.gov to search for any unclaimed property under your name. Searching is free and easy, and you never know how much unclaimed funds Treasury might be holding for you.
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 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-385, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis
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