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Happy end of January! I don’t know about you but I am ready to turn on the page on a fresh month and I am relishing the weather this week. It’s nice to be able to get out and about again.
First, today, January 31st, the mayor of Sisters, Michael Preedin, and I will be having a joint Town Hall at Sister’s City Hall from 4-5:00pm. I look forward to seeing a few of you there!
February starts the Oregon State Legislature's “short session” which is 35 days long. The goal of the short session is to adjust the state budget and to address any additional issues left over from the 2023 “long session,” which is 6 months every other year. This short session we will be focusing on reforms to Measures 110 and additional support for building out “middle” housing and increasing our housing supply. There are two bills that address these topics: HB 4002 (Amendment) and SB 1537.
Each legislator is allowed to bring two bills in the short session, I am bringing forward a bill to ban cost-pay accumulator models. This means that insurance companies should be required to count financial assistance from pharmaceutical companies toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Read about how this bill is close to home for many, here. Second, I will be bringing a bill to modernize the State of Oregon’s e-bike laws. You can read about it here.
During January Legislative Days, I had the opportunity to meet in front of the Healthcare and Behavioral Health Committee to present our Legislative Concept on co-pay limiter models. The first hearing on the bill is scheduled for February 5th. If you would like to submit testimony in favor of the bill, please email us.
You’ll hear from us weekly during the 5 week session and then back to the monthly newsletter schedule.
Please stay warm and safe,
Emerson
 Representative Emerson Levy
House District 53
Upcoming Town Hall in Sisters
Join us for a Town Hall, Co-Hosted by Sisters Mayor Michael Preedin at City Hall. All are Welcome! Questions asked ahead of time will be prioritized.
RSVP and ask questions here: https://bit.ly/sistersjan31
Getting Ready for the 2024 Legislative Session
Last week, lawmakers headed back to Salem for January Legislative Days (January 10-12). While there are no votes during Legislative Days, it is an important opportunity for elected leaders to lay the foundation for the 2024 session. Some of the issues discussed were an audit of Measure 110, youth substance use prevention, financing for affordable and moderate income housing, early literacy program implementation, Oregon’s quality education model, and much more. Many committees previewed bills that will be introduced during the legislative session, which starts on February 5.
Rep. Levy hopes District 53 voters will participate in this legislative session as well! Your unique perspectives and experiences help shape her understanding of how proposed bills may affect the lives of Central Oregonians. Check out this Legislative Participation Guide to learn more about how to search for and read bills, access translation services, watch committee meetings and floor sessions, and testify on a bill remotely or in person. |
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Oregon Kids Credit
With tax season just around the corner, you may be eligible for the Oregon Kids Credit.
During the 2023 legislative session, Oregon Democrats championed the effort to create Oregon’s first-ever state-based child tax credit through HB 3235, which is a fully refundable $1,000 tax credit per child between the ages of 0 and 5 for families earning $30,000 or less.
Who Qualifies
The amount of credit is based on age and number of dependent children, and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), but even people who don’t owe any tax can claim the refundable credits. For those with a MAGI of $25,000 or less, the full credit is $1,000 per child for up to five dependent children ages 0 to 5 at the end of the tax year. The credit is reduced when MAGI is more than $25,000 and is eliminated at $30,000.
ITIN filers and individuals with qualifying dependents with ITINs may claim the Oregon Kids Credit. All filing statuses are eligible for the credit except for Married Filing Separate.
How to Get Credit
Oregon families can apply for this credit when they file their tax returns in 2024. Since the credit is refundable, the portion of credit that is more than what a person owes will be refunded to them. 55,000 children across Oregon are expected to benefit from this credit, with higher representation in rural communities and communities of color.
More information about the Oregon Kids Credit and other tax benefits can be found on the Department of Revenue’s Tax Benefit for Families webpage. Free tax preparation assistance can be found on the Department of Revenue’s Free Tax Help webpage.
Oregon Projected to Gain Thousands of New Jobs, Billions in New Investments in Semiconductor Industry
Governor Kotek announced the first 3 companies - Microchip Technology, HP, and Intel - to receive grants to grow their businesses in Oregon following a historic, bipartisan push from lawmakers to incentivize new investments and jobs. Based on initial projections, assuming all grants applied for are awarded, they are expected to generate $40 billion in new investments and more than 6,000 new jobs in the semiconductor, construction, and other industries in Oregon.
During the 2023 legislative session, I was proud to support the Oregon CHIPS legislation, which opened the door for Oregon to leverage once-in-a-generation federal dollars to solidify our place as a global leader in the semiconductor industry.
With these investments, we are building a brighter future for Oregon’s working families and generations to come. We’re developing good-paying, long-term jobs in every corner of the state, keeping Oregon’s economy stable and competitive in the 21st Century, and helping Oregon bolster national security and protect the United States’ supply chain for everything from credit cards to cars by onshoring critical technology supply chains.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1453
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-486, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.EmersonLevy@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/levye
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