Friends,
It seems just a short time has passed since our last newsletter, but a month has gone by. A month ago, we were discussing chamber deadlines, and now we find ourselves with impending deadlines again. The second chamber work session deadline is next week, which means all the policy committees will be done moving bills on May 19.
Our attention will shift to the non-policy and rules committees to focus on policy needing more work to see if we can come to some agreements to move them forward. These decisions will begin when the Revenue Forecast comes out on May 17 and the Ways and Means Committees will begin working through bills leading up to Sine Die.
On April 28 the Joint Ways and Means Committee was hosted in Ontario. There was a great turn out, with hundreds showing up to participate and over 130 signed up to testify. Thank you, Four Rivers Cultural Center and Museum, Treasure Valley Community College, the Joint Ways and Means committee and most of all YOU, the community, that showed up. Your testimony was heard, and your welcoming spirit was felt. You can see more pictures of the roadshow here.
I hope you will join the next virtual town hall this Wednesday. As always, if you are in Salem, stop by the office to say hello or send an email so my staff can find a time to meet.
Be Safe,
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  I hope you will join me along with Senator Findley and Representative Boice for our next community conversation taking place this Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30 PM (PST). We will discuss what is going on in Salem, take your questions and update you on bills. Registration is required and you can submit questions ahead of time or ask in the chat.
 Two interns from Willamette University have been working in my office this session. They have provided many hours of policy briefs, research, and additional help to the rest of my staff. Ned and Kasey have added value to our busy office and this session with their assistance. Thank you both for your time and allowing me to get to know you, it has been a pleasure.
Kasey is a senior at Willamette University, he is going to take the next year off and then return to law school. He has provided numerous policy briefs for my committees. I wish him the best during his time off and as he goes into law school
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Ned is also a senior at Willamette University. He enjoyed helping with research projects in our office. Following in the footsteps of his parents applied to the Peace Corp, was accepted and is going to be a teacher for the Peace Corp. I know he will do great in public service.
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 Here is an update on the bills mentioned in my last newsletter.
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. (public hearing video) UPDATE: HB 2420 has a public hearing on May 10 in the Senate Health Care Committee.
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. UPDATE: HB 2687 has passed, and signed by the Governor.
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. UPDATE: HB 3164 has passed, and signed by the Governor.
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)
Place-Based Water Planning (HB 3163): Establishes Place-Based Water Planning Fund. Continuously appropriates moneys in fund to Water Resources Department for purposes related to water planning. Directs Water Resources Director to use moneys in fund for certain purposes related to place-based integrated water resources plans and associated activities. Status: HB 3163 passed out of committee as amended with a “do-pass” recommendation and is referred to 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. UPDATE: HB 3068 has a work session scheduled in the Senate Education Committee on May 11. If passed it will go to the Senate floor for a vote.
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. UPDATE: SB 292 has a public hearing scheduled in the House Rules Committee on May 9.
 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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