🌸 We’re Over Halfway Through Session!

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

Happy Spring! We recently passed the halfway point of the busy legislative session and we have many successes and stories to share. In this newsletter, I’ll update you on some of my legislative work, share some images of the past few months and invite you to upcoming events.

What We’ve Been Up To

The first half of the session has flown by with events, town halls, advocacy days, bill carries, and so much more! 

Legislative Updates 

My colleagues and I are spending considerable time on the House Floor for voting House Bills over to the Senate. Early in session we prioritized housing and homelessness response, as well as semiconductors. In the coming weeks, we anticipate more contentious chamber votes on reproductive healthcare and gun safety. For my part as Chair of the House Education Committee, I have prioritized stable school funding, workforce support, school safety, and education initiatives that can support our most critical learning needs. 

April 4th marked a major deadline of the session where bills must be heard and passed from their first chamber committee. We now have many bills up for consideration on the House floor. Many of my bills are still alive. Some are in Ways and Means, others are in Rules or Transportation (which have different timelines), while others are going directly to the House floor for their first chamber vote. 

Sen Woods and I testified in Joint Transportation for Wilsonville’s priority transportation legislation. 

Specific Policies I am Working On

Preservation of Publicly Supported Housing (PuSH) Statute Amendment, HB 3042  

My bill to stabilize low-income Oregon renters in publicly supported housing passed the House and is now headed to the Senate! We know that over the next 10 years, publicly supported housing use restrictions will end on over 7,400 rent subsidized apartments. This means that rent could rise from affordable rates to market rates for these individuals and families. This bill will protect thousands of Oregonians living in affordable housing units by: 

1. Requiring tenants be notified at least 20 months before affordability-use restrictions expire,
2. Ensuring a three-year safe harbor period where rent increases of 5% or more are reviewed by the Oregon Housing and Community Services, 
3. Extending the right of first refusal from two to three years to get these properties into the hands of housing providers who are committed to keeping them affordable.

You can watch my floor speech and closing remarks in this video or read this press release. 

Toxic Free Kids Modernization Act, HB 3043 

As a former educator and a mom, I am focused on keeping our kids healthy and their toys and products safe. I introduced HB 3043 to modernize our Toxic Free Kids Program. Children are more vulnerable to toxins and harmful chemicals, which is why it is so important for us to allow the Oregon Health Authority to remove classes of harmful chemicals like lead, arsenic, and other carcinogens from children’s products. 

The bill passed with bipartisan support from the House Floor and will be heading to the Senate Energy and Environment committee. If you would like to testify in support on April 20th at 1 pm, please sign up here. This bill is part of a package of bills making their way through the legislative process (Toxic Free Cosmetics, SB 546 and Toxic Free Schools, SB 426) 

Universal School Meals, HB 3030 

In late March, the USDA announced that they will be making it easier for schools to qualify for an expansion of their school meal programs through Community Eligibility Programs! This notice of rulemaking came months earlier than anticipated and will bring us closer to universal school meals in partnership with federal funding. We will set HB3030 aside, as we focus on the expanded service that our Oregon school nutrition programs will now be able to offer. This is fantastic news as the Oregon Food Bank estimates that more than 114,000 children in Oregon live in households that struggle to afford food. 

This work builds upon the critical work of the Student Success Act (2019). I believe that it’s critical that students have access to food and nutrition, and I remain committed to the goal of eliminating childhood hunger. You can read more about HB 3030 and the USDA proposed rule in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle.

Recognizing Classified School Employees Week, HB 2708 

My bill that establishes the first full week of March as Classified Employee Week is scheduled for a Senate vote. When passed, it will be my first bill through the entire legislative process this session.

Our critical frontline classified employees are the most diverse component of our educator workforce and perform many vital duties to make sure that students are safe, cared for, and fed. As an educator, I want to honor our classified employees who keep Oregon’s schools running by declaring the first full week in March as Classified Employees Week.

Outdoor Preschool Licensure, HB 2717 

One of my top priorities this session is to expand access to affordable preschool for Oregon’s families. HB 2717 creates a path to licensure for outdoor preschool programs which will allow them to have access to federal funding, operate for full days, and expand their services to serve more families. This is a win-win solution that will help outdoor preschool programs offer Oregon children access to the outdoors.

Government Ethics Bill, HB 2805 

In collaboration with Rep Sosa, I introduced HB 2805 (a polished reintroduction of HB 4140 from the 2022 session) that holds elected public officials accountable when they intentionally violate public meeting laws and allows the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to step in and respond to complaints. Every Oregonian should be able to report violations of open meeting laws and that our system should be designed to respond appropriately.

School Bus Cameras, HB 3036  

This bill was brought to us by a student constituent whose friend was put in danger when a car sped past a stopped school bus. HB 3036 would allow school districts to install stop arm cameras on school buses in Oregon. With HB 3036, Oregon will join 24 other states who allow school bus stop-arm cameras with similar laws that prioritize the safety of our students.

NASDPTS says the Number of School Bus Stop Arm Violations is Increasing

Coming up on the House Floor and Heading to the Senate 

Humane Cosmetics, HB 3213

My bill to prohibit the sale In Oregon of cosmetics tested on animals beginning 2024 will be considered on the House Floor in the next few days. There are many safer and cheaper alternatives to animal testing and with this bill, Oregon will join 10 other states and 30 other countries that have passed similar laws. You can read more in this Capitol Chronicle article. 

Protecting the Right to Serve, HB 3028

We are similarly about to vote on my bill to ensure job protections for individuals serving on Oregon’s 250 boards and commissions. These Oregonians do critical work for our government, as they oversee the implementation of policies and rules, and serve as a voice for our communities. As part of protecting our democracy and ensuring that our boards and commissions are accessible to all those who wish to serve, I believe that these positions deserve protections similar to those provided to citizens who serve in our courts as jury members.

Ways to Engage and be Involved

If you’re interested in any of these bills or you want to track other issues that the Legislature is considering this session, here are some ways you can engage in the process: 

• Sign up for email notifications to receive email update when a bill is scheduled for a public hearing, committee vote, or a vote of the full House or Senate

• Watch committee meetings and floor sessions to listen to the discussion about a bill 

• Signing up to testify or submit written testimony and share your personal story and how you would be impacted by a policy a committee is considering

• Access translation services (spoken language and American Sign Language) by emailing languageaccess@oregonlegislature.gov or call 503-986-1538

And of course, you’re always welcome to reach out to my office to share your thoughts directly at rep.courtneyneron@oregonlegislature.gov or by calling 503-986-1426. 

Sean, the Wilsonville HS student who brought forward the concept that became HB 3036 (mentioned above) came to the capitol to advocate for his bill during its public hearing! The bill is in the budget committee awaiting appropriation and we hope to see it move to the House floor for a vote. Thanks for being involved, Sean!

Upcoming events 

Joint Education Town Hall with Oregon Tech 

Saturday, April 22nd 11 am- 12 pm @ OIT Wilsonville Campus 

This is a great opportunity to hear about what we're focusing on on the education spectrum from K-12 to higher education to career opportunities. 

Joining me will be Rep. Bowman, Sen. Woods and the event will be hosted by Dr. Nagi Naganthan, President of Oregon Tech and will be at the Wilsonville OIT Campus.

Ways and Means Roadshow 

The Joint Ways and Means Committee is hosting a series of public hearings across the state to hear from Oregonians on their priorities for spending in the state budget. Here are the scheduled Ways and Means Roadshow events: 

• Friday, April 14th from 5-7 pm at the Newport Performing Arts Center 
• Friday, April 21st from 5-7 pm at Umpqua Community College 
• Friday, April 28th from 5-7 pm at the Four Rivers Cultural Center 

You can read the full press release with more details about the roadshow. 

Resources

Washington County Wood Stove Exchange Program 

Washington County is offering a $250 incentive to residents who turn in their old, uncertified wood stoves or wood stove inserts or those certified between 1986-1992. Only 40 stoves/inserts will be accepted at this one-day event. 

When: Saturday, May 6, 2023, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Far West Recycling, 6440 SE Alexander St., Hillsboro

Why: Old wood stoves pollute the air and can harm the health of the owner and their neighbors.

How: Interested participants must register online ahead of time. Only 40 stoves will be accepted. Additional instructions are provided on the County’s webpage.

Under the Wood Stove Exchange Program, qualifying residents can receive a rebate of $1,500-$4,000 when they replace their old or uncertified wood stove with a cleaner heating device. Some households may qualify for a full-cost replacement, depending on their income.

For more information about the turn-in event or the exchange program, visit www.WoodStoveExchange.com or call 503-846-4425.

OHCS Flex Lending Program 

The Flex Lending Program provides a fixed-rate first mortgage in combination with a second mortgage in the form of either a silent forgivable second lien or an amortizing repayable second lien. The program uses down payment assistance (DPA) to help low- to moderate-income borrowers, including those in rural areas, obtain funds for a down payment and closing costs to buy a home.

The first step for people who are interested in the program is to find an approved mortgage lender. For an approved lender list and additional information about the program, visit the Flex Lending webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/homeownership/Pages/flex-lending.aspx. 

Thanks for Reading my Newsletter! 

As always, please be in touch with my office with any questions, ideas, advocacy and outreach that you want to send our way. Pablo, Sara, Catie, Cormac, and I are ready to serve and look forward to connecting with you.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1426
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-281, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.CourtneyNeron@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/neron