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Friends,
We are halfway through the long session, this is a good thing. We have had some success in our committees, and we are tracking bills outside our committees which have provided some concern.
As of April 4, work sessions needed to be held in the first chamber for bills to move forward. In the House Chamber, 1352 bills were introduced in policy committees, subject to the deadline. Out of those, 860 died, and 492 are still alive on the House side. Additionally, the number of measures introduced so far, including Memorials and resolutions, is 1717 on the House side.
The next deadline is May 5 for the second chamber posting of work sessions. Next week, we will be spending more hours on the floor than in committees to work on the backlog of bills.
I would like to bring your attention to two important dates. On April 12, Senator Findley and I will be hosting a Joint Virtual Town Hall. Then on April 28, I'll be in Ontario for the Joint Ways and Means Roadshow. More information is provided in the newsletter below.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help.
Be safe,
  A funny moment caught on camera while I was testifying on HB 3349, a bill I have Chief Sponsored with Representative Ken Helm, D-Beaverton.
I hope you will join me on Wednesday, April 12 at 5:30 PST for the next Joint Virtual Town Hall along with Senator Findley. We will catch you up as we pass mid-session deadlines, update you on bills, and answer your questions. We enjoy hearing from you and taking your questions. Registration is required to join or submit questions ahead of time.
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This week’s Student Spotlight is Logan Radinovich, a senior at Burns High School located in Harney County.
He is the current Burns senior class president and has participated in cross country, leadership, science club, High Desert Partnership's Mentor Match Entrepreneur Program and the Harney internship program during his last four years of high school. While participating in the entrepreneur program Logan created a side photography business called “Lradphotography” and currently serves as a mentor to younger students.
Robert Medley, his principal said, “Logan Radinovich is the type of student who only comes around once in a while during an educator’s career. The impact he has made on Burns High School over the last four years will be felt in our success for years to come.”
His mother Stephanie Frisbie could not be prouder of her son. She expressed, “He has this beautiful ability to make people laugh and feel at ease, and a heart for helping others without expecting anything in return.” Thank you Logan for being a light to your peers, we are excited to see what you will accomplish.
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The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a series of public hearings on the state budget. Members of the public will have the opportunity to testify at each of these scheduled hearings regarding their perspectives and priorities around the state budget.
For the first time, the Joint Ways and Means Committee will be visiting Ontario. I hope you will join me on Friday, April 28 at 5:00 (MST) at the TVCC Performing Arts Theatre for this very important public hearing and take the time to weigh in to the committee staff.
The event is free for everyone to attend, registration is required to provide testimony.
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 It means a lot to me when you make the effort to visit me in my office or schedule a meeting while I'm in Salem. Recently, I've had the pleasure of meeting with community members from north Lake County, John Day, and Harney County who stopped by while testifying on bills or exploring the area. If you find yourself in Salem, please drop by and my staff will do their best to locate me so I can personally greet you. And while you're here, don't forget to pick up a tractor - you'll have to come by to find out what that is!
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Oregon Seed Association members recently visited my office. Thank you for stopping by, I enjoyed visiting with you.
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Last week the House Chamber welcomed Vincent Raschio from John Day as an Honorary Page.
To learn more about the Honorary Page Program or to apply, visit the Office of the Chief Clerk. This program is a one-day, hands-on experience inside the workings of the Oregon House of Representatives. Program hours will be 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Monday through Thursdays. Honorary Pages are generally 12- 18 years old.
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 These are bills our team has been successful in leading, helping with the public hearings, working through the amendment process and are still alive.
Agricultural Water Management Technical Assistance Program (HB 3103): Oregon State University Extension Service and Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station to establish agricultural water management technical assistance program. Status: HB 3103 was amended in committee and then passed out with a “do-pass” recommendation to Ways & Means. (public hearing video)
Drought Relief and Water Security Package (HB 3124): Bipartisan Drought Relief and Water Security package of near-term relief and mid- to long-term actions that target root issues related to drought. It includes actions and investments aimed to produce “triple bottom line benefits,” for a sustainable water future for families, farms, and fish. The package components have been organized into seven main categories: Planning, Coordination, and Capacity; Data and Analysis; Water for Families: Drinking Water Security; Water for Farms: Agricultural Resilience and Food Security; Water for Fish: Instream Priorities and Watershed Health; Water Project Investments, and Outreach and Engagement. The total package investments total around $250 million dollars.Status: HB 3124 needs more work and to keep it alive after the deadline it has been moved out of the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water Committee and over to the House Rules Committee for further consideration. (informational meeting video)
Place-Based Water Planning (HB 3163): This bill appropriates money to OWRD for water planning. The drafted amendments to this bill, including adding a notification to counties within the boundaries of an application that an application has been filed prior to issuing funding. Status: HB 3163 passed out of committee as amended with a “do-pass” recommendation and is now in Ways and Means (public hearing video)
Vital Statistics Work Group (HB 2420) This bill initially started out to refine the process in which a person would obtain a birth certificate or death certificate from any county in the state after it came to my attention death certificates were taking a long time to acquire and holding up the process for estates and families to finish the grieving process. The bill has been turned into a work group and I look forward to the proposal from OHA on how to resolve this issue. Status: HB 2420 was passed out of committee with a “do-pass” recommendation and will be voted on in the House Chamber next week. (public hearing video)
Corporate Activities Tax (CAT) Exemptions (HB 2684): This bill would exempt receipts from sales of agricultural, floricultural, horticultural, viticultural or food products from commercial activity subject to corporate activity tax. Status: HB 2684 is in the Revenue committee and has not yet had a public hearing. Bills located in the Revenue Committee are not subject to the same deadlines as those in a policy committee.
District Water Management Flexibility in Deschutes Basin (HB 3365): This is a very important bill for Ag in Deschutes Basin and hopefully other basins in the future. It would allow water sharing among Ag users with accountability. As we move into more of a water constrained environment we are going to need tools like this for flexibility for Ag. Status: HB 3365 has been sent to Rules to stay alive in order to have further conversations on the bill.
Public Applicators Licensing (HB 2687): Authorizes State Department of Agriculture to issue public applicator licenses and public trainee certificates to employees of federally recognized Indian tribes for purposes of pesticide application on and other than Indian country. Status: HB 2687 passed the House unanimously and has moved to the Senate Natural Resources committee. (senate public hearing video)
Leasing of Water Rights for Split Use (HB 3164): Makes permanent provisions conditionally allowing water right lease to split use of water between existing water right and in-stream water right within same year. Removes prohibition on leasing water right for split use for period of more than 10 years. Status: HB 3164 passed the House and has moved to the Senate Natural Resource committee with a public hearing scheduled for April 12. (public hearing video)
Voluntary Ground Water Agreements (HB 3130): Appropriates moneys to Water Resources Department to fund staff position and allocate moneys for purposes related to voluntary agreements among ground water users in Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern. Status: HB 3130 passed out of committee as amended with a “do-pass” recommendation and is now in Ways and Means (public hearing video)
Mileage Reimbursement for Rural Personal Care Workers (HB 2500): Requires that mileage reimbursement be paid to home care workers, personal support workers and personal care workers who provide home care services to clients who live in remote locations. Status: HB 2500 passed out of committee as amended with a “do-pass” recommendation and is referred to Ways and Means (public hearing video)
Livestock Safety Fencing (HB 2799): Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Transportation for grants to erect and maintain livestock safety fencing along portions of state highway where there is high risk of conflict between traveling public and livestock. Status: HB 2799 passed out of committee as amended with a “do-pass” recommendation and is referred to Ways and Means (public hearing video)
Missing Endangered Person Alert System (HB 2764): Establishes Missing Endangered Person Alert System. Directs Superintendent of State Police to establish task force to develop system to enable rapid and effective dissemination of information pertaining to missing persons to public to facilitate rapid location and recovery of missing person. Sets forth criteria to be used to determine when missing endangered person alerts may be issued and when alerts may be terminated. Establishes immunity from liability for persons, organizations or entities that are involved in dissemination of missing endangered person alerts. Status: HB 2764 passed out of committee with a “do-pass” recommendation, had unanimous support on the House Floor, referred to Senate Business and Labor, passed out of committee with a “do-pass” as amended and is referred to Ways and Means. (senate public hearing video)
High School Equivalency Diploma (HB 3068): Provides that high school student in grade 11 or 12 may be awarded high school equivalency diploma if student has received certificate for passing approved high school equivalency test and meets other conditions. Status: HB 3068 was passed out of committee with a “do-pass” recommendation and passed the House Chamber unanimously and has been referred to the Senate. (public hearing video)
Statement of Economic Interest for School Board (SB 292): -A7 Amendment: Requires statements of economic interest (SEIs) only for board members of districts with 4,000 or more students until 2026. Reinstates SEI requirement for all school board members after January 1, 2026. Requires Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) to provide training about SEIs to school board members. Status: SB 292 was passed out of committee with a “do-pass” recommendation and will be sent to the Senate Floor for a vote, then head to the House. (senate work session)
 Reduction of Gun Violence Act (SB 348) Opponents of Measure 114 sued in Harney County Circuit Court, where a trial is pending. They argue that the measure’s restrictions violate the Oregon Constitution’s right to bear arms. The Oregon Department of Justice sought but failed to move the dispute directly to the Oregon Supreme Court, which has not ruled out doing so in the future. Its unsigned order Feb. 10 left current law in place while the case is pending in circuit court. Opponents of Measure 114 also filed a federal suit, but it was turned aside by a U.S. District Court judge in Portland. SB 348 is trying to circumvent the 3 branches of government and move forward before the court has made a determination. Status: SB 348 was amended in committee and then passed out with a “do-pass” recommendation to Ways & Means (committee meeting video)
Gender Modification for Minors and Reproductive Health (HB 2001): I categorically oppose this bill using state funds for gender modification for minors and making Oregon an abortion sanctuary state. (public hearing video) Status: HB 2001 was amended in committee and then passed out with a “do-pass” recommendation to the Joint Ways & Means Subcommittee on Human Services
Firearm Transfer and Sales (HB 2005): Adding more gun laws on law-abiding citizens will not stop criminals from being criminals.I support the second amendment fully and will oppose any further restriction of those rights. Status: HB 2005 was amended in the Joint Ways and Means committee and then passed out with a “do-pass” recommendation and will be headed to the House Floor for a vote.
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1460
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-475, Salem, OR 97301
Capitol Email: Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/owens
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