|
Hello Friends and Neighbors,
I am incredibly excited to update everyone on the progress we have been making as a state over the last couple of weeks. As some of you may have heard, groundbreaking bills passed out of the House last week and are on their way to the Senate. House Bill 2002 protects access to reproductive health and gender-affirming care, and House Bill 2005 is a gun violence prevention policy. I am proud to be a staunch supporter of both as a Chief Sponsor of HB 2002 and a Regular Sponsor of HB 2005. If you are interested in learning more about these pieces of legislation and how important they are for the community, the sections below outline additional information.
The recent weeks in the Capital have been exceptionally buzzworthy; however, I am extremely pleased that in the midst of all the noise, these weeks have been characterized as a time where protections for reproductive healthcare access, gender-affirming care, and gun violence prevention have been upheld. In a nation that can feel increasingly unsafe for everyone, but especially for our birthing parents and LGBTQ+ folks, it is fantastic to see what can happen when we stick together to support our most vulnerable.
 I want to thank Representatives Valderrama and Nosse for carrying HB 2002!
HB 2002: The Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill (RHAC)
To address growing disparities and increased threats to abortion and gender-affirming care, Speaker Dan Rayfield formed the Reproductive Health and Access to Care (RHAC) work group immediately after the dangerous Dobbs decision was leaked. I was honored to be part of this workgroup and worked with Co-Chairs Senator Lieber, Senator Steiner, and Representative Valderrama, along with 80+ stakeholders representing local community organizations, providers, national legal experts, patients, and clinics, to work towards moving Oregon forward to ensure a more just and equitable health care system. HB 2002 was the result of this work.
In essence, HB 2002 clarifies Oregon law around providing reproductive and gender-affirming care, shields Oregon providers and patients from other states’ anti-abortion and anti-trans laws and expands access to care that communities across our state rely on.
How the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill Works:
Protects providers delivering high-quality, individualized care by:
- Shielding providers’ licenses and insurance from unintended negative impacts from other states’ anti-trans and anti-abortion laws. This protects providers’ ability to provide care to all patients seeking gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon without fear or uncertainty.
- Protecting providers’ physical safety and keeping clinics open by expanding legal framework.
Clarifies and expands access to abortion and gender-affirming care by:
- Making sure Oregon law is abundantly clear so providers can treat each patient based on their unique circumstances.
- Closing gaps in insurance coverage for gender-affirming care, contraception access on Oregon Health Plan, and reproductive healthcare services at public universities.
Addresses geographic and financial barriers to abortion and gender-affirming care by:
- Enhancing access to care in medically underserved regions through a pilot mobile health clinic program.
- Addressing reproductive healthcare deserts by expanding services at existing health centers at public institutions.
 Click on the photo for my full floor speech in support of HB 2002.
HB 2005: Gun Violence Prevention Bill
After twenty years of being a Registered Nurse, I can’t help but notice all the ways in which gun violence pervades our health. Our physical health, our mental health, our societal health, and the health of our public systems. When the leading cause of premature death and the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. is gun violence, our entire society is immensely strained under the threat of gun violence. But our children, our students, and our community members deserve better than this. That’s why I’m a regular sponsor of HB 2005, a bill dedicated to protecting our communities from the extensive impacts and burdens of gun violence.
The Gun Violence Prevention Bill (HB 2005) offers common-sense solutions that will keep guns out of the wrong hands, help law enforcement do their jobs, and prioritize public safety, all while respecting responsible gun ownership.
How the Gun Violence Prevention Bill protects our communities:
Banning Ghost Guns: "Ghost guns” are homemade guns with parts that can be purchased without a background check, without a serial number, and can be made with a 3D printer. They are undetectable by metal detectors and untraceable posing a significant challenge for law enforcement trying to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and while investigating crimes.
Through House Bill 2005, people convicted of possession of an undetectable firearm would face a misdemeanor on the first offense, which carries up to 364 days in jail, a $6,250 fine, or both. Second offenses and beyond would carry up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The bill has a provision to give time for gun owners to ensure their firearms are serialized, thus bringing them into compliance.
Raising the Age of Purchase & Possession for Certain Firearms: House Bill 2005 specifies the firearms that 18 to 20 year olds can possess and purchase – it does not impose a blanket prohibition on all firearms ownership until 21. The bill also brings Oregon firearm possession statutes in alignment with the federal age to purchase a handgun, which is 21 years of age. It includes certain and specific exemptions, including for law enforcement and military service.
Six of nine of the deadliest mass shootings in the US since 2018 were carried out by people 21 or younger. In Uvalde, the shooter was 18; in Parkland, the shooter was 19; at the Safeway in Bend, the shooter was 20; at Tops Grocery in Buffalo, the shooter was 18.
Local Control for Firearms in Public Buildings: In 2021, the Legislature gave local school districts the authority to prohibit firearms on school grounds. In spite of that, other local jurisdictions like city councils and county commissions were not given the same local control over firearms. However, local jurisdictions know what is best for their communities. This is why HB 2005 gives locally-elected governments the ability to adopt rules restricting firearms and concealed carry in their facilities and adjacent grounds if they desire.
 My floor speech on House Bill 2005.
Legislative Update on My Personal Priorities
The following bills are policies of mine that have made progress since the last time I gave a legislative update on April 7th. For more information on these bills, please refer to my prior newsletter or the OLIS website, which is the Oregon Legislative Information System that houses all bill information from what a bill does to where it is in the legislative process.
-
HB 2921: Requires that hospitals in Oregon submit the demographic information to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries for public posting. This will add transparency into the racial and gender diversity of a company.
-
HB 2922: Born from collaboration with a constituent, this bill would increase bond amounts that persons licensed by the Construction Contractors Board must maintain. This adds more protections to consumers when there is an issue with a construction project. This is the first increase in almost two decades.
-
SB 629: Modifies the membership of the Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board to include members with a wider range of expertise regarding mental health.
- After passing the House Floor on May 4th, with a 45-9-3 vote, SB 629 is officially on its way to be signed by Speaker of the House Rayfield, Senate President Wagner, and Governor Tina Kotek!
-
SB 851: Requires the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to study the occurrence of psychological abuse and bullying in Oregon workplaces.
-
SB 907: Puts into statute that it is discrimination to interfere with a worker's right to reasonably refuse work when exposed to dangerous conditions that could lead to serious injury or death without facing retaliation.
As of the writing of this newsletter, Senate Republicans have kept the Senate Floor from conducting business for SIX Days by having several members absent. These are procedural maneuvers that are tools the Republicans have to protest in opposition to HB 2002 and HB 2005. I am proud of the work that went into passing these important pieces of legislation and look forward to getting them to the Governor’s desk.
Oregonians sent a clear and decisive message in the last election when Measure 113 passed, which caps unexcused absences at ten days. I am hopeful that Senate Republicans will show up to do the work of the Legislature so that we can pass much needed policy and budgets. I am committed to showing up every day to represent my constituents.
Best,
 Travis Nelson
State Representative
House District 44
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-275, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson
| 
