Bad Bill Double Header
Following a negotiation to delay consideration, the highly anticipated and divisive HB 2002 and HB 2005 will be read, discussed, and voted on by the House on Monday and Tuesday respectively. These bills are only in their first chamber, meaning to become law they would still need to be passed out of the Senate as well before going to the Governor, but these policies would be especially damaging to both our 2nd Amendment rights and our parental rights.
Please, if you can, reach out to as many Representatives (and preemptively, Senators) here in Salem as possible ahead of next week to urge their "no" vote. If these bills pass, the fight moves onto the Senate side where they will bypass any Committee’s consideration, and instead go directly to the Senate floor.
HB 2002 would eliminate parental consent requirements at any age for “reproductive health care”, repeals the law against concealing the birth of an infant, and allows a child to bypass parental consent for "gender affirming care" at any age--including sex altering surgeries for those over the age of 15.
HB 2005 is one of the worst anti-gun pushes this legislative session. It seeks to ban the sale of homemade firearms, raise the age to purchase rifles from 18 to 21, and creates arbitrary zones radically expanding where concealed carry can be banned.
Follow the Oregon House Republicans on Facebook for more updates https://www.facebook.com/oregonhouserepublicans
HB 3501 - Right to Rest
This bill is technically “dead”, but is receiving a “courtesy” hearing next Thursday in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness. This bill essentially enshrines a right to "urban camping" across Oregon. Please consider submitting testimony in opposition to HB 3501 with the following link! You can also register to testify in-person with this link. Though “dead”, there are no guarantees in the Legislature, especially with policy we see introduced repeatedly.
SB 803 - Banning Diesel by 2030
This bill would ban all petroleum-based diesel sales state-wide by 2030, driving up fuel costs—especially for rural Oregonians. People have been asking for an update: this bill is still alive, but hasn’t had any additional hearings scheduled so far.
HB 2107 - Expanding Automatic Voter Registration to OHA
This bill expands “Motor Voter” beyond the DMV, implementing it at the Oregon Health Authority with the intent of expanding it to other agencies in the future. HB 2107 passed out of committee on a straight party line vote and will be heading to the House Floor next week.
SB 85 - Attack on Family Farms and Ranches
This bill aims to put a moratorium on many of our “CAFO” operations’ permitting process (dairy, ranch, chicken farms, etc.), and was moved to the Senate Committee on Rules in order to survive the first chamber deadline. It had a public hearing and possible work session scheduled for yesterday, but was changed to an informational meeting with invited testimony only. It is still unclear what the future holds for this bill.
I want to congratulate the Lebanon High School OBOB team on their success at the State Tournament! They finished 2nd place in Oregon!
OBOB, or Oregon Battle of the Books, is a club for students who read from a list of novels throughout the year, then compete against each other in teams each February in a tournament-style “battle” of knowledge about the books. Make no mistake about it, these kids are fierce competitors!
Their coach, teacher Deanna Chambers, said she is “proud and always humbled by this team’s intellect, as well as their kindness and commitment.” She thanked the “parents, relatives and friends who showed up to support us,” as well as teacher Lori Mills, who guides our younger OBOB participants in elementary and middle school.
The Warrior OBOB team celebrated their success with a well-deserved ice cream party. Way to go Warriors!!!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
Lebanon DMV Reopening Next Week
At long last, the Lebanon DMV will be reopening its doors for the first time since May of last year! For too long, east Linn County residents have had to commute to Albany or Corvallis to get their needs met. We've heard from many constituents about their personal struggles stemming from the closure, including an elderly man from Sweet Home who experienced a three hour wait at the Albany DMV. Due to limited seating, he was forced to sit on the floor for the duration of his wait.
The Lebanon DMV will be open with limited days and times as follows:
Tuesdays 9am-5pm*
Wednesday 10am-5pm*
Thursday 9am-5pm*
*The office will have a daily mid-day closure from 12:30-2:00pm.
Cheadle Lake Fun Run
Come out on May 6th to enjoy the 14th annual Cheadle Lake Fun Run hosted by Build Lebanon Trails! This is a great way to explore the great outdoors and support your local community with your registration. Bring the kids, too! There will be a 1/2-mile-long obstacle dash for children 10 and under.
Ag Fest: April 29th & 30th
This weekend, consider making the trek up to the Oregon State Fairgrounds for Ag Fest! The various interactive booths are a great way for folks to learn about agriculture from all over the State, and includes fun activities for the whole family! Kids 12 and under get in free, so don't miss this opportunity for them to learn, have fun, and enjoy the sun.
Paid Leave Deadline
An important reminder for employers! Paid Leave Oregon is now part of your combined payroll report, and is due May 1. Learn how to file and make your payment: What employers need to do - Paid Leave Oregon
Roseburg Roadshow Recap
Nearly a third of the Legislature traveled to Roseburg last Friday for the most recent installment of our Joint Committee on Ways and Means “Roadshow.” The purpose of these Roadshow visits are actually to hold public hearings on HB 5506, without the public having to travel clear to Salem! HB 5506 is the major budget bill this session that appropriates money from the general fund. There was lively discussion on what programs and projects the money should fund, and was amazing to see hundreds of citizens show up to use their voice for advocacy.
There is just one more in-person stop on the roadshow tour—today! It will be held in Ontario, and we are excited to visit even the far reaches of Oregon. You can sign up to testify with this link, and if none of these Roadshow stops have worked with your schedule, there will be a follow up “virtual” option as well. I hope to see some of you there!
Friday, April 28 (5:00 - 7:00pm) - Ontario
- Location: Four Rivers Cultural Center
- 676 SW 5th Ave, Ontario, OR 97914
- Note: Ontario, Oregon is in the Mountain Time Zone
Wednesday, May 3 (5:00 - 7:00pm) - Virtual
- Location: Virtual on Microsoft Teams
I-5 Bridge Public Hearing
The Joint Committee on Transportation had a public hearing last night on the -2 amendment to HB 2098, trying to address the long-overdue task of replacing the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River. This bill would fund Oregon’s share of this project, which is not only desperately needed for safety, but also benefits the entire region's economy.
A $1 billion commitment from Oregon is needed to match Washington’s investment and secure Federal funding while it is available. There are still concerns how Oregon will pay for its share of the bridge replacement, with existing tolling proposals being considered to shore-up ODOT’s diminishing funding.
The longer we wait, the more expensive this project will ultimately be. It's not all good news, though. Though there is agreement from everyone that a new bridge is necessary, there are very contentious issues yet to be settled. Some proposals would give special treatment to union-backed contractors at the expense of small and minority-owned contractors. And other proposals seek to prohibit any added capacity, thinking more congestion will be a deterrent for driving.
There is still time to submit testimony on OLIS with this link! Testimony will be open until 5:00PM tomorrow, so be sure to share your input on the project while you can.
Risking Our Kids and Parental Rights
Bills Are Dying - First Chamber Deadline
Advocating for Our Most At-Risk Students
Protect Our Gun Rights: Action Needed!
Self-Serve, or No Self-Serve?
OLIS at a Glance
Navigating OLIS is a key part of being involved with the legislative process. Below is a graphic showing you the "Submit Testimony" button to send in written testimony, as well as the "Register to Testify" button that will allow you to testify in-person here at the Capitol if a bill of interest receives a hearing.
Even if you don’t make a testimony deadline, you are still able to make your voice heard by reaching out to members of a Committee, or simply all lawmakers here at the Capitol.
Never underestimate the power of using your voice in the Legislative process!
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