Dear Friends,
As June begins, the long session draws to a close. Constitutional Sine Die, scheduled for June 25, signifies the deadline for concluding the session. Alongside the session's end, the arrival of June marks the commencement of haying season, and operations are underway at home.
All policy committees have completed their work, and the majority of the Ways and Means Subcommittees will finalize their bills this week. The focus will then shift to the Full Ways and Means, Capital Construction, Revenue, and Rules committees. We anticipate a period of waiting as we eagerly await the details of crucial packages such as the Drought Package and Rural Economic Development Package, as well as the outcome of Capital Construction requests. By next week, most of this information should become available, and we will ensure to include it in our end-of-session update.
Throughout this session, good policy work has emerged, keeping myself and my staff thoroughly occupied. As we approach the final stages, we welcome the prospect of a less frantic pace after the bustling activity of the past five months.
Be Safe,
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The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources has a lighter moment from working bills.
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Visiting the Capitol
I want to thank the students and parents from Beaverton Classical Conversations homeschool group for taking time to visit the Capitol last week. They spent an entire day learning about all the roles in the building, from Legislative Council, Legislative Policy and Research Office, Visitor Services, the Chief Clerk and Legislators. Thank you for making the trip to Salem, everyone enjoyed your visit.
In a quick "ask me anything" session the students asked me my favorite color, how tall I am and my favorite food.
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Speaker Dan Rayfield stopped in and worked the students through a mock bill. They decided they wanted to ban libraries. Don't worry parents, the vote failed in the House.
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 Update on bills I have introduced or supporting
Drought Package: HB 3124, HB 3163, HB 3130 and HB 3103 have all been merged into HB 2010 as part of the drought package. It currently is a placeholder bill but will be updated shortly with further bills and additional components of the drought package.
Rural Economic Development Package: HB 3138, HB 2911, HB 2908, HB 2907 among others as part of this package to add revitalization and funding to rural parts of Oregon has been merged into HB 3410. This bill passed out of the Full Ways and Means Committee on 6/2.
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. Status 5/25: HB 2420 passed out of the Senate Health Care committee and is awaiting a vote on the Senate Floor. (Senate public hearing and work session video)
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 1/13: 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 4/10 : HB 3365 has been sent to Rules to stay alive in order to have further conversations on the bill.
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 4/5: 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 3/28: 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 3/22: 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. Status 5/18: HB 3068 passed the Senate Education Committee on 5/18 and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
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. Status 5/11: SB 292 had a public hearing scheduled in the House Rules Committee on May 11.
Attend a Community Meeting with the Oregon Broadband Office
Join the Oregon Broadband Office at an upcoming community meeting to share your experiences with internet access and the devices you use. Sharing your story will help improve broadband internet service in your community.
Refreshments and children’s activities will be provided. Spanish interpretation will be available.
- Baker City | June 6
- Ontario | June 7
- Burns | June 8
- Redmond | June 9
- Virtual Meeting | June 22 (Registration coming soon)
You must register separately for each meeting you plan to attend using the registration link below. Please check your spam folder if you do not receive your confirmation email.
Once you have registered for virtual meetings, Zoom will send you a confirmation email with the meeting link.
Learn more and register for a meeting in your community: bit.ly/InternetAccessMtg
National Get Outdoors Day
The USDA Forest Service is waiving recreation fees for day-use sites in Washington and Oregon on Saturday, June 10 in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day. This special initiative aims to encourage families and individuals to explore the beauty and wonders of our nation's forests and public lands.
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Assistance with Federal Agencies
If you need help with the IRS, social security, the V.A., or another federal agency, please reach out to Congressman Bentz and his office. They will do their best to help you get results from whatever federal agency you might be working with.
If you live in Oregon's 2nd District, please call:
Ontario: (541) 709-2040. The Ontario office is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00am - 5:00pm Mountain Time
Medford: (541) 776-4646. The Medford office is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00am - 5:00pm Pacific Time
 Oregon Legislative Information System
Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) is the same system we use internally to look up and follow bills, register to testify and read amendments and meeting materials. Here are some quick tips to using OLIS.
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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