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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
A few weeks after the end of the 2023 legislative session is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of that harried six-month period.
In some ways, it was a classic “best of times, worst of times” story. Surprisingly robust revenue predictions enabled us to invest in housing production, drought response, childcare and school funding and climate resilience projects. But the session was disrupted by a political walkout that risked outcomes, stressed relationships, and threatened our democratic process. In the end, complex negotiations enabled us to finish the work and, in that process, to pass legislation and funding proposals that will benefit families and communities across the state.
This newsletter provides a summary of legislation I sponsored. As you will see, many of the bills I drafted focused on local problems identified by you, my constituents. I’m proud of the work we accomplished together to address disaster recovery, wildfire prevention, climate resilience, housing gaps and more.
In coming weeks, we’ll send out additional reports that dive into the details of our drought, climate and housing packages. In the meantime, please contact me if you have any specific questions about what did or didn't pass, or if you need additional information about any of this work.
Heartfelt thanks for your support and engagement. I am exceedingly grateful to represent residents and communities in House District 5.
My best,
State Representative
Oregon House District 5 - Southern Jackson County
At work in the House Chamber
HB 2982 - Personal Property Insurance Reform
After the September 2020 fires, many residents who lost everything had to pursue insurance claims on the loss of both their dwelling and personal possessions. Some insurance companies required wildfire survivors to fill out onerous inventory forms listing every item in the home. I heard from many residents who told me how difficult and re-traumatizing this process was. HB 2982 changes the law to allow disaster survivors who experience a total loss to receive a flat 70 percent payout of personal property coverage. Modeled after recent legislation in Colorado, I am proud to report that this is the highest personal property payout requirement of any state in the nation.
HB 2812 - Wildfire Loss Tax Deductions
This bill was drafted in response to a constituent whose family ranch was destroyed in the 2021 Bootleg Fire. While trying to help her find resources, I learned that survivors of this disaster could not deduct personal losses on their tax returns because the federal Tax Cuts and Job Act in 2018 limited deductions to losses incurred in federally declared emergencies. Since the state income tax code is connected to the federal code, when a federal deduction isn’t allowed, there is no state deduction either. HB 2812 resolves this by instituting a state tax deduction for wildfire losses that occur in a state-declared disaster.
HB 2984 - Commercial Property Conversion to Housing
This new law aims to repurpose empty and underutilized commercial structures for housing and, in the process, convert lackluster commercial zones into vibrant, multi-use neighborhoods. HB 2984 allows the conversion of commercial buildings to any kind of housing in cities of 10,000 or more residents.
HB 3151 - Manufactured Home Park Law Reforms
After the 2020 wildfires, I heard from many survivors who were panicked when park owners asked returning residents to pay for streetlights, sidewalks and other improvements that are part of the park’s infrastructure. HB 3151 clarifies that tenants of manufactured home parks cannot be compelled to construct an improvement that cannot be reasonably removed and owned by the tenant at the termination of tenancy. It also opens the door to state funding for new manufactured home parks that are owned by residents or nonprofits. New parks can be an important pillar of our state’s housing strategy.
Modular Housing
In the early session housing package, I secured $20M for low interest loans and/or grants to fund expansion or development of modular housing production facilities. This investment recognizes that we need to diversify the way we build, or manufacture, housing. Modulars can be mass produced to provide backyard dwelling units, duplexes or other infill, or be stacked and attached like Legos to construct apartment complexes. Local production of modular units will enable us to quickly provide temporary or permanent housing after a disaster.
Two new modular homes in Talent Mobile Estates, part of post-Almeda Fire rebuidling.
HB 2520 - Drone Prohibition in Emergency Operations
In September 2022, a drone flying over a structure fire in Jackson County forced an Oregon Department of Forestry helicopter engaged in firefighting to ground due to safety concerns. The presence of that drone endangered emergency responders and inhibited the use of air support to suppress the blaze. In response to local outrage over this incident, I drafted HB 2520 to prohibit a person from recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally using an unmanned aircraft system to interfere with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response effort. The bill also imposes penalties for those in violation.
HB 2522 - Rural Structural Fire Response Planning
Oregon’s structural fire statutes were last reviewed more than 60 years ago. Much has changed since then, including a significant increase in the number of homes in remote rural neighborhoods. The cost of meeting contemporary standards for equipment, training, facilities, safety and insurance strain all but the largest rural fire districts. As a result, many remote rural neighborhoods have no or minimal fire protection. HB 2522 will create a review committee to analyze current rural structural protection policy and make recommendations to modernize and improve it, reporting to the legislature in 2024.
HB 2985 - Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program
Prescribed fire, also known as controlled burning, is the careful application of fire, under specified conditions, to maintain the health and resilience of forests, grasslands and rangelands. Along with careful thinning, it is an important tool for reducing the risk of severe forest fires. One key barrier to its use is the landowner or burn operators’ liability risk, should the fire escape its burn area. HB 2985 addresses this barrier by establishing a $5 million liability fund to provide up to $1M reimbursement for damages incurred in the extremely rare event of an escaped prescribed fire. This bill was ultimately funded within the Wildfire Package, SB 80.
HB 3464 - Beaver Management Reform
Beavers provide a wide array of ecological benefits: their ponds and wetlands store surface water and recharge groundwater, reduce runoff, maintain effective firebreaks during wildfires in forests and rangelands, and create shelter during fires for wildlife and range animals. Despite these benefits, beavers on private land in Oregon have been classified as predatory animals and can be killed at any time and for any reason.
HB 3464 removes beavers’ predatory animal status and changes management of beaver on private land from the state’s Department of Agriculture to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Beaver will now be managed under existing regulations for “furbearers.” Landowners wishing to remove a beaver would contact ODFW for a permit. Because quick intervention is sometimes necessary, the new law allows emergency take of beavers that threaten immediate damage to infrastructure or crops.
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HB 2929 - Injunctive Authority for Water Violations
HB 2929 allows the Water Resources Department to apply to the courts to immediately halt significant and illegal water violations. Under current law, the Water Resources Department must pursue an administrative process to stop these violations, including the use or storage of water without a water right, interference with a locked headgate, or use of water without authorization. This may take months, even years, while the water is intentionally misused. To provide a more expedient option, HB 2929 gives OWRD the authority to seek injunctive relief when it has evidence that a person has engaged in water use violations. A court order can require the user to immediately stop illegal water use and to remedy any effects of the violation.
HB 3409 & HB 3630 - Climate Resilience Package
As Chair of the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment, I shepherded legislation and funding to implement long-term climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, including support for solar rebates, efficient heat pumps, community renewable projects and resilience planning. Keep any eye out for our next newsletter which will explain the details of this $90M package that will drive Oregon’s response to climate impacts and help prepare us for the changes to come.
HB 3220 - E-Cycle Modernization
Oregon’s electronic recycling program was created in 2009 and the system worked well for more than a decade. But a year ago it became clear that the system was starting to fall short, with threatened closure of collection sites across the state. HB 3220 is the result of agency and stakeholder collaboration that took place over the past year. A new, modernized and streamlined e-cycle system will improve our state’s program to safely recycle electronic waste.
HB 3201 - Maximizing Federal Broadband Funding
Joining with Applegate residents at a Broadband Listening Session hosted by Business Oregon - May 26, 2023
Adequate and affordable broadband has become critical for all aspects of our lives. Unfortunately, many parts of the state, including in the Applegate, have poor or no service options. The good news is that the federal government is about to make generational investments that will fund broadband development in unserved and underserved regions of the country. HB 3201 updates our state’s broadband fund so it will be ready to receive and allocate federal investments from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act. Just a few days after this bill passed, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced that Oregon will receive nearly $700 million for broadband expansion from the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD). Let the work begin!
HB 3167 - Adapting Newspapers for Changing Technology
After the Mail Tribune newspaper moved to a full online publication last September, then closed operations entirely in January, its absence posed a big problem for Jackson County because current statutes allow placement of legal notices only in print newspapers. Legal notices warn us when the government is about to take action that could affect life, liberty or pursuit of happiness. It's information that needs to be transparent, archivable, and available to everyone. HB 3167 modifies current law to allow legal notices to be placed in print or digital newspapers if the newspaper meets given thresholds, including a minimal subscriber base and a history of 12 months of publication—requirements that can be suspended if the last remaining newspaper has ceased operations and a new paper takes its place.
HB 2086 - Tax Assessment Reform
This is another bill that was derived from a constituent’s experience—a Jackson County resident who found errors on his tax assessment record. Law allows property owners to appeal to the county assessor when they believe their current tax bill contains an error, but current statute states that the assessor “may” make a correction. If the error affected your tax bill from previous years, you are out of luck. HB 2086 is a simple fix that changes that “may” to a “shall,” requiring the assessor to fix errors that are identified by the taxpayer and allowing the taxpayer to petition for refunds for the five previous years.
HB 2727 - Early Learning Facility Siting
More than 60 percent of Oregon families lack access to a slot at a licensed childcare facility. At a time when our economy is dependent on equitable access to care, employers and workers need reliable, affordable facilities. Access to high quality early learning experiences stimulates development and prepares kiddos to enter kindergarten ready to learn. HB 2727 establishes a task force to study the barriers that can make it very difficult to open new facilities in commercial, residential, and light industrial areas. It will focus on how to eliminate these obstacles, and on how to help providers, advocates and local government identify efficient processes for review and approval of facilities, so that we can begin to provide every family in need with safe, affordable care.
HCR 1 - Resolution: 150th Anniversary of the Founding of SOU
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Proud of my alma mater! From its founding as Ashland Academy in 1872, to its transition to a state school ten years later, to the initiation of university status in 1997, SOU has been guiding, supporting, and launching knowledgeable, inspired students. This House Concurrent Resolution commends SOU on its 150th anniversary, its leadership in the arts and sustainability, and its commitment to an inclusive campus community. |
During the session, I advocated for funding that will build our community institutions and spur local economic development. We secured these budget allocations:
- $2 million for expansion of the Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon
- $2.2 million for La Clinica’s new acute care facility
- $4.5 million for City of Phoenix industrial development
Stay tuned for details about more 2023 legislative wins including the Climate Resilience Package, Drought & Water Security Package, and Housing Package. To e-subscribe to my newsletter, click HERE.
Speaking at the Medford Planned Parenthood Grand Re-opening - June 9, 2023
For news coverage about the legislation I’ve worked on this session, click HERE.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1405
District Phone: 541-282-4516
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-474, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.PamMarsh@oregonlegislature.gov
Website and e-Subscribe: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/marsh
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