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Hi Folks,
Before I get into it, I wanted to highlight that I am having a constituent coffee this Saturday, from 8:00 to 9:30 AM, at The Livingroom Coffeehouse in Sellwood. I hope you can make it!
Time goes quickly in the long legislative session which runs from January through June. Especially as a freshman legislator, the onboarding and practice of law-making results in days that begin before sunrise and end long after the sun goes down. We experience 3 seasons over the course of the 6 months we work. From winter to summer, the days move from short to long, through equinoxes and all the way through the summer solstice. Our charge is to keep Oregonians healthy and that includes making sure we tend to our planet, too.
I promised to keep you all informed and hopefully impart the lawmaking knowledge I am gaining here so that you too can feel confident engaging with the process of turning ideas into law. It’s important that we all have access to the roots of our democracy so we can collectively grow a future that benefits all life on this earth. Falling in love with this incredible planet and its creatures as a former professional photographer is what guided me into politics and I am reminded of the immediate need we still have to protect it as the world springs back to life. With that said, here are a few of my updates from the legislative world.
The minimum wage bill (HB 2699) looks like it’s on track to get an informational hearing in upcoming weeks. As a reminder, I first arrived at this concept two years ago; in a nutshell, it ties a region’s minimum wage to the average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment in that region. I see this as a critical homelessness-prevention measure. Except for the very wealthy, housing is nearly always the largest cost impacting an Oregon family. I firmly believe that this concept will not only prevent a huge number of Oregonians from being shoved out onto the street, but will also enable many folks who are currently houseless to rebuild their livelihoods and move back into shelter. The upcoming informational hearing on this bill will germinate a conversation and bring together a diverse group of folks affected by this legislation. Stay tuned for an exact date if you want to weigh in. You can track the date and time by checking in at: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1
One of my favorite parts of being your representative is getting to hear from all of you. We’ll be holding a constituent coffee on April 8th from 8:00-9:30 AM at The Living Room Coffeehouse in Sellwood and I hope to see and hear from many of you then. A legislator is only as representative as their constituents are engaged so bring your ideas, questions, concerns, and comments-there’s room for all of them.
On the specific bills front, we’ve had a number of bills fail to meet the deadline to pass out of committee and some notable advances on others. It’s important to me that you know what has failed as well as succeeded because a lot of good ideas don’t get the air time they deserve. When folks know that, they can resurrect them for another go-around next session. Alternatively, when a bill is picking up steam, it’s a good signal to build community support or opposition depending on what’s at stake. Without further ado, here are some updates:
Alive bills:
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HB 2763, State Bank Task Force - Passed out of its first committee on 3/9/23 and is now in Ways and Means. This bill is the first step to creating a public bank in Oregon, which could save billions in public dollars and enable us to reinvest in things like affordable housing and badly needed infrastructure.
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HB 3482, Pre-development Cost Programs - Passed out of its first committee on 3/28/23 and is now in Ways and Means. This bill establishes a grant and a loan program to help non-profits, churches, housing authorities, and more overcome barriers they face, before they can actually start building housing on their land. It could open up thousands of acres in ideal locations all around the state for affordable housing.
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HB 2571, E-bike Rebate - Passed out of its first committee on 3/29/23 and is now in Ways and Means. Similarly to how Oregon’s EV rebate promoted wider adoption of electric vehicles, this bill aims to increase the adoption of electric bicycles. E-bikes are fast, convenient, and potentially a key ingredient in the recipes for climate-smart cities and carbon emission reductions. HB 2571 passed out of committee on a strong bipartisan vote and I will continue pushing for it to become law.
Dead bills:
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HB 2713, Cities’ Right to Electrify - Failed to pass out of the Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee. This bill would have clarified that Oregon cities and counties already have the right to regulate new methane gas infrastructure within their jurisdictions. A growing body of science proves that methane gas, also known as “natural” gas, not only is 86 times more powerful of a greenhouse gas when leaked into the atmosphere, it also has harmful health impacts and the industry is spending millions of dollars to try and squelch those reports and justify its continued existence. I will continue this fight by convening a work group and working with the building trades so that we can bring further legislation to a future session.
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HB 2601, Divest Oregon - Failed to pass out of the Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans Committee. I was proud to join Rep. Khanh Pham’s heroic effort to disassociate Oregon’s billions in investments from the fossil fuel industry. Right now, the State Treasurer has placed large portions of our public dollars in problematic, environmentally destructive, and financially risky sectors. Our time is running out before the planet is irreparably damaged and we simply cannot afford to continue propping up these industries. HB 2601 may be dead (for now) but the fight will continue.
 Photo credit: Jonathan Maus, Bike Portland
Finally, I want to encourage you to visit the Oregon Legislative Information System here. We are fortunate to have one of the most transparent and accessible legislatures in the country and we are here to help you learn how to use it and participate proactively with your lawmakers. Knowing how to interact and take direct action with the legislative process is something that I believe all Oregonians should feel confident doing. This website is a wonderful tool for learning what is being discussed, when, and where. If you would like a tutorial on how to make the most of this system, please contact my office and one of my staff members will be happy to walk you through it! You can email us at: Rep.MarkGamba@oregonlegislature.gov
We live at a time where coming together as a community and learning to honor each voice is more critical than ever. Oregon is our home state and Earth is our home planet and I believe that everyone belongs here and has the capacity to make a positive difference. With your continued input and collaboration, we’ll make good decisions and grow a healthier world for everyone.
All my best,
Mark
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-477, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.MarkGamba@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/gamba
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