Why I support a tolling moratorium bill

Hello Friends,

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. Here is my weekly update from Salem:

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Tolling Moratorium Bill

I have heard from many members of our community about their concerns about ODOT’s proposed tolling plan. I have concerns as well. First and foremost, I’m concerned about the impact on working families. I’m also worried that diversion traffic coming from the new tolling will overburden our local roads. ODOT has not sufficiently demonstrated how they plan to mitigate the impact to cities, local businesses, and residents associated with that diversion traffic.

I am not alone in my concerns. Several of my colleagues and I have been in conversations about the impact that ODOT’s tolls will have on our community. That is why this week, I sponsored HB 3614 with Rep. Courtney Neron, Rep. Jules Walters, and Rep. Annessa Hartman to implement a moratorium on all tolls until 2026. With this extra time, we will be able to convene a group of legislators and impacted communities to reevaluate ODOT’s tolling plans. If tolling is ever going to be implemented in Oregon, we need to ensure it is affordable, equitable, and takes into consideration the impact diversion will have on our local roads.

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Emerging Legislative Leaders Program

I’m excited to announce I was recently selected to participate in The State Legislative Leaders Foundation’s “Emerging Legislative Leaders Program.” According to them, the program “is designed specifically for the next generation of leaders in our state legislatures…Up to 50 of the best and brightest state legislators from across the nation take part.” I was nominated by Speaker Dan Rayfield for this opportunity, which meant a lot to me. I am really looking forward to meeting with colleagues from around the country and returning with a broadened perspective and sharpened skills to help me succeed in the Oregon legislature.

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Road map for the months ahead

We are roughly two months away from the end of the legislative session–and we still have a lot to do. I have several bills in the Ways and Means Committee (that budget committee) which moves on a slower timeline than non-budget related bills. The fate of many bills will depend on the May revenue forecast. If the forecast looks good, we will have more money to invest in programs across the state. Once the May revenue forecast comes out on May 17th, we will have a clearer view of what is possible this session after that date. May 19th will be the “second chamber deadline,” the deadline for all bills to receive a hearing and work session in the second chamber. The constitutional last day of session will be Sunday, June 25th. By June 25th every bill that has not passed both chambers and been sent to the governor’s office will be dead. To prepare for the final deadline, we are doing what we can to make sure that every bill has a public hearing and work session in both chambers, and is voted on in both the House and the Senate.

Meeting constituents from SEIU 49

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Mark your calendars for this weekend's town hall

This weekend on Saturday May 6th, I will be co-hosting a town hall on housing with Senator Woods, Representative Neron, and the chair of the House Housing and Homelessness Committee, Rep. Maxine Dexter. Representative Dexter will share some of the key legislation that has advanced this session, and what is still on the table. I am so excited to host this conversation in Tigard–please join us to share your questions and ideas for addressing Oregon’s housing and homelessness crisis.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

 

Ben Bowman
Oregon State Representative

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