|
Dear Neighbors,
The first weeks of April have been a flurry of activity as hundreds of bills move through House and Senate committees. This urgency is due to the “1st Chamber Deadline” that occurred on April 4th. If a bill has not passed out of committee by this day, it will not come before the full legislative body for a vote. Policy bills that require funding for their implementation must still go through the Joint Ways and Means Committee, but, with a few exceptions, if a bill did not get committee approval by the 4th, it will not pass.
I am truly grateful for the many phone calls and emails I have received from my constituents. Below you can find updates on some of the legislation I hear about most.
HB 2001 - $200 million housing and homelessness package. It passed both chambers and has been signed by Governor Kotek.
SB 4 - $190 million to support Oregon businesses applying for the $52 billion dollar in the Federal CHIPS Act. It has passed both the Senate and the House, and now goes to the Governor for her signature.
HB 3090 – Prohibits flavored tobacco products in Oregon. The bill passed the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care and is now in the Ways and Means Committee.
HB 3312 – Phases in taxes on alcohol to pay for recovery services. The bill did not move forward.
HB 2601 – Divests State Treasury funds from fossil fuels. The bill did not move forward.
SB 543 - Phases out polystyrene foam containers at food vendors by January 1st, 2025. It passed the Senate and is now in the House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee.
SB 611 - Limits annual rent increases to 5% + inflation or 10%, whichever is less. It passed the Senate Housing Committee and will go to the Senate Floor for a vote.
HB 2002 – Protects reproductive rights and gender affirming care. This bill passed committee and will now go to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 853 – Ends state reimbursement of commuting costs for out-of-state employees. Governor Kotek took this action by executive order, removing the need for the legislation.
SB 337 – Makes structural reforms to the public defense system. It has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and will go to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
The fate of some important issues, i.e. gun safety, school funding, "factory farms", is yet-to-be-determined. I'll keep you posted.
To follow the progress of bills from home, go to OLIS, the Oregon Legislative Information System. You can access information about legislation introduced this session by typing in the bill number or by searching the bill text for “key words”. Once you get to the page for the specific bill, there will be options to read the text of the bill, amendments, testimony, fiscal analysis, and more.
The Joint Ways and Means Committee determines the state budget for the next two years. The committee is hosting a series of public meetings across the state to hear from Oregonians about priorities for spending in the state budget.
In Portland, the meeting is:
Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Portland Community College PAC Auditorium, Sylvania Campus
12000 SW 49th Ave, Portland, OR 97219
It’s important for the committee to hear voices from our community. I encourage you to attend this meeting and let the budget writers know your priorities for state funding.
This month, I met with incredible staff from several local service providers, including the Miracles Club on MLK Jr. Blvd, the Irontribe Network in Gladstone, and Raphael House in our district on Hawthorne. These community members are working every day to help our most vulnerable Oregonians recover from mental health and substance use disorders. They are on the frontlines implementing Ballot Measure 110 and according to a recent report, over 60,000 people across the state have already been served by Measure 110 funds.
On either side of the Capitol Mall, one can find beautiful cherry blossom trees. It reminds me of the wonderful Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland. If you haven’t had a chance to see the cherry blossom trees yet, I would recommend checking them out!
Lastly, thank you everyone for your continued comments about legislation, about community concerns, and about the issues important to you. You can contact me by phone at 503-986-1721 or by email Sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov
It is honor to serve Senate District 21,
 Senator Kathleen Taylor
email: Sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1721
address: 900 Court St NE, S-423, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/taylor
| 
