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Good afternoon,
As I have mentioned to many of you, I am trying to stay ahead of some Bills of Concern that are coming up for Public Hearings. I am sending you this information so that you may have an opportunity to bring your voice to the Legislative Process.
Please forward this to your friends and neighbors that might offer their testimony as well.
Thank you for all of your work for our beautiful state. It is greatly appreciated.
Be Safe and God Bless.
Legislation of Concern for the Coming Week
March 13th through 16th
Clicking the bill number will allow you access to more information on the bill. The bill text, any submitted amendments and testimony that may have already been submitted is available in the tabs at the top of the webpage. By clicking the “Register to Testify” tab, you can fill out the form to sign up to testify remotely through Microsoft Teams for the bill either via Teams Video or on the phone. If you would like to submit written testimony, click the “Submit Testimony” tab and then either fill out testimony form or upload your written testimony.
This of course does not incapsulate all the bills for the coming week. Bills could also be added to committee agendas at any time and after the work to put this list together.
Monday
House Committee On Business and Labor 8:00 am
HB 2921 - Requires hospitals to file certain reports showing demographics of hospitals' workforces with Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries for posting to Bureau of Labor and Industries' website.
HB 2922 - Increases bond amounts that persons licensed by Construction Contractors Board must maintain.
Senate Committee On Natural Resources 8:00 am
SB 85 – This bill deals with CAFO’s and has democrats attacking our dairies, chicken and cattle farms and ranches. As they do, the bill itself is just a “study” but the amendment goes far beyond that and will shut down current farming operations. Please see the link to the amendment and part of the language of that amendment below.
“SECTION 2. (1) The Department of Environmental Quality and the State Department of Agriculture may not issue or renew a license or permit to allow the construction or operation of: “(a) A new industrial confined animal feeding operation; “(b) An addition to, or expansion of, an existing industrial confined animal feeding operation; or “(c) An addition to, or expansion of, an existing livestock farm if the addition or expansion would cause the livestock farm to become an industrial confined animal feeding operation.”
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/22773
If you cannot sign up to testify or submit testimony, you can also email the Committee Chair at: Senator Jeff Golden Sen.jeffgolden@oregonlegislature.gov
Senate Committee on Health Care 1:00 pm
SB 520 - Establishes Medical Release Advisory Committee within State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision. Specifies qualifications of members of committee. Establishes procedures by which adults in custody may apply for early medical release from custody and standards by which committee recommends release. Establishes cap on number of applications per month committee may consider until January 1, 2026. Provides for appointment of attorney upon release recommendation. Directs board to accept release recommendation of committee unless person poses danger to another person or public that outweighs compassionate reasons for release. Directs board to refer applicant to sentencing court for sentences requiring court authorization for early medical release. Establishes procedures for sentencing court to consider motion authorizing early medical release and enter supplemental judgment. Directs Department of Corrections to inform adults in custody concerning early medical release process and ensure application forms are available to all adults in custody. Authorizes department to directly refer adults in custody to committee for early medical release. Directs department to refer to committee certain adults in custody with terminal illness. Specifies release process when early medical release is ordered or authorized. Directs committee to annually report data concerning early medical release to committees of Legislative Assembly related to judiciary. Prohibits prosecuting attorney from conditioning plea offer on waiver of early medical release eligibility. Increases maximum number of board members from five to six. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.
House Committee On Climate, Energy & Environment 3:00 pm
HB 3152 - Permits Public Utility Commission to institute one or more proceedings to ensure commission's regulations, rules and orders, and programs overseen by commission, align with greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements and targets established by statute or executive order, do not impede or delay timely and equitable implementation of greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements and targets, and mitigate energy burden and risks of stranded assets for residential utility customers. Declares that policy of state is to protect residential utility customers from risks of stranded fossil fuel assets and potential increases in energy burden while achieving state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Prohibits, on or after January 1, 2026, use of funding from ratepayers to provide incentives or subsidies for the purchase or installation of gas appliances or devices for use by residential utility customers or line extension allowances for new gas line extensions that support use of gas in residential buildings.
Tuesday
Senate Committee on Labor & Business 8:00 am
SB 850 - Requires public body that procures construction services for certain qualified projects that use $750,000 or more in funds of public agency or moneys made available to state under federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to enter into project labor agreement that, at minimum, provides for payment of wages at or above prevailing rate of wage, to use apprentices to perform at least 15 percent of work hours that workers in apprenticeable occupations perform on project and to establish and execute plan for outreach, recruitment and retention of women, minority individuals and veterans to perform work on project.
This will increase costs for local governments. This puts smaller contractors at a disadvantage.
SB 851 - Requires Bureau of Labor and Industries to study matters relating to psychological abuse occurring in workplaces in Oregon.
The -1 Amendment, once again as the democrats like to do, replaces the “study” portion of the measure and creates laws that will impact every business in the state, regardless of size. It also will not apply to democrats major contributors, collective bargaining unions.
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Downloads/ProposedAmendment/22980
Senate Committee On Education 3:00 pm
SB 575 - Directs Department of Education to develop and implement statewide education plan for students who are eligible for special education and who have experienced disproportionate results in education due to historical practices. Requires school districts to establish special education advisory council. Authorizes use of moneys from Student Investment Account for councils. Requires all statewide education plans to include strategies that provide for alignment with other statewide education plans. Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2023.
Click Here to read the submitted testimony in opposition.
Wednesday
Thursday
Senate Committee On Labor and Business 8:00 am
SB 907 - Provides employee with right to refuse to perform task assigned by employer under certain circumstances. Protects employee against disciplinary action for exercising right. Prohibits employer from retaliating or discriminating against employee for invoking right. Allows employee to use sick leave to cover period when employee is not working due to employee's exercising right to refuse to perform assigned task.
SB 925 - Makes unlawful practice for employer or employment agency to advertise job, promotion or transfer opportunity without disclosing pay range and employment benefits in job posting. Requires employers to maintain certain employment records for each employee. Makes violation unlawful practice. Permits Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to assess civil penalty against employer or employment agency for violation. Makes employment agencies subject to prohibition against inquiries regarding salary history and past criminal convictions. Becomes operative on January 2, 2024.
House Committee On Judiciary 8:00 am
HB 3214 - Prohibits person from using specified types of animals in traveling animal act. Provides certain exemptions from prohibition. Punishes by maximum of six months' imprisonment, $2,500 fine, or both. Authorizes court to require person convicted of violation to forfeit animal used in violation.
House Committee On Rules 1:00 pm
HB 2004 - Establishes ranked choice voting as voting method for selecting winner of nomination for and election to offices of President of United States, United States Senator, Representative in Congress, Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Attorney General. Authorizes cities, counties, metropolitan service districts and local government and local service districts to elect to use ranked choice voting to nominate or elect candidates for relevant offices. Moves election for Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to general election, where election is conducted using ranked choice voting.
HB 3509 - Establishes ranked choice voting as voting method for selecting winner of nomination for and election to nonpartisan state offices and county and city offices except where home rule charter applies. Establishes ranked choice voting as voting method for selecting winner of nomination by major political parties for federal and state partisan offices.
Friday
Bills of Concern to Watch
Bills to Support
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Senate Committee On Judiciary 1:00 pm
HB 2645 A - Increases penalties for possession of certain amounts of fentanyl. Punishes by maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both. Provides that delivery of fentanyl may be charged as commercial drug offense in specified circumstances. Increases sentencing guidelines crime category level for delivery of fentanyl for consideration. Adds alternative manner of measuring fentanyl for purposes of calculating crime category level for certain offenses involving possession, delivery or manufacture of fentanyl.
Friday
Yours Truly,
 Senator David Brock Smith
Together, We Will Build a Better Oregon
 Senate District 1
Curry, Coos, and Douglas Counties
Southwest Oregon’s Fish, Farm, and Forestry District.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-316, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.DavidBrockSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
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