February 9, 2024 - Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The 2024 Legislative Session is in full swing. Housing Supply and Measure 110 Reforms are two hot button topics that will likely dominate the 35-day short-session. Legislators will also make important adjustments to rebalance the state budget, address unintended consequences related to legislation enacted in previous sessions, and more.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact my office if I can be of assistance. It is my honor to represent the citizens of House District 18 in Salem.

Sincerely,

Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District  

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-385, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis

In this issue: 

• IN THE CAPITOL
• The House is Called to Order
• Week One At a Glance
• Rep. Lewis’s - Committee Highlights
• House Committee On Judiciary
• House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans
• Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety
• Joint Committee On Transportation Special Subcommittee On Transportation Planning
• Joint Committee On Ways and Means
• Rep. Lewis Testifies on Key Session Bill Aimed to Fix Measure 110
• March Revenue Forecast
• Welcome to Your Capitol - Rep. Lewis Visits with Parents
• IN THE DISTRICT AND BEYOND
• Life Flight Network Tour in Aurora
• Oregon Department of Revenue - Tax Season Resources

View previous newsletters here. 

IN THE CAPITOL

The House is Called to Order

On Monday, the House and Senate chambers gaveled in, officially opening the 2024 Short-Session of the 82^nd Legislative Assembly.

A total of 280 measures have been introduced (172 in the House and 108 in the Senate). All are available for public view on OLIS here.

Today, we officially made it through our first week of the five-week session. Monday, February 12^th, brings us to the “first chamber work session posting deadline.” This means, for bill to remain viable it must be scheduled for a work session in the first chamber of origin. The short-session moves very quickly, as illustrated in the Legislative Policy and Research Office 2024 Short Session Survival Guide below.

I urge you to follow along and invite you to engage in the process. More information on how you can get involved is found on OLIS here.

• Use OLIS to find committee and bill information.
• E-Subscribe to committee agendas and email alerts about bills
• Agenda posting deadlines: 48 hours prior to a first public hearing in a House committee 24 hours for all other types of meetings.
• Amendment posting deadlines 4 hours for House committees 1 hour for Senate committees.
• Register to testify on bills using the online system.
• Submit written testimony using the online testimony portal.
• Amendments and bills require fiscal and revenue statements before committee action.
• Timelines for filing minority reports are different than long session; see chamber and     committee rules.
• Language Access Services are available! Call 503-986-1538 or email     languageaccess@oregonlegislature.gov

Week One At a Glance

It has been an incredibly busy first week here at the Capitol. Committees, floor session, constituent, caucus, and leadership meetings have filled my schedule to the brim.

Below, I have shared highlights from each of the committees I serve on to give you a snapshot of what I’m doing and what is being discussed in those budget and policy areas.

Rep. Lewis’s - Committee Highlights

House Committee On Judiciary

The House Committee on Judiciary met twice this week and is scheduled to meet each Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:00 am.  

Eight bills received public hearings:

• HB 4001
  Establishes the Task Force on Specialty Courts.
  
  
• HB 4121
  (This is a committee bill and is the Cannabis Omnibus Bill for the 2024 session that carries forth the provisions of HB 3000 (2021) that have sunsetted. It directs the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, in consultation with the State Department of Agriculture, to create a map of locations of premises licensed to produce marijuana or industrial hemp.
  
  
• HB 4140
  Appropriates moneys to the Department of Justice to fund certain programs that assist victims of crime.
  
  
• HB 4043
  Creates the crime of interfering with an investigation into an offense against an animal.
  
  
• HB 4156 (Lewis Chief Sponsor)
  Modifies definitions pertaining to stalking orders and stalking offenses.
  
  
• HB 4160
  Modifies the length of time by which a person is considered a student for purposes of determining if conduct is prohibited sexual conduct.
  
  
• HB 4097
  Modifies the process for setting aside convictions, dismissals and guilty except for insanity judgments.
  
  HB 4122
  Provides that a person’s participation in the Department of State Police’s fingerprint retention program authorizes the department to submit the person’s fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s rap back system.

The following bill received a public hearing and a work session:

• HB 4123
  Appropriates moneys to the Department of Justice to fund the management of the Oregon SAE/SANE Certification Commission by the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force.

Two bills were carried over to Tuesday, February 13^th:

• HB 4146
  Provides that a petition for a Family Abuse Prevention Act order, Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act order or sexual abuse restraining order may be filed in the county in which the abuse occurred.
  
  
• HB 4145
  Creates the crime of using an animal in a display of animal crushing.

View a replay of the meetings and access the meeting materials on OLIS here. 

House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans

The Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans Committee meets twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 pm.

The following bill received public hearing:

• HB 4083
  Directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to make efforts to eliminate certain investments in thermal coal companies.

Three bills received a public hearings and work sessions:

• HCR 202
  Expresses gratefulness to Oregon veterans’ advocate Dick Tobiason.

I was an honor to testify in support HCR 202 to honor Retired Lt. Colonel Dick Tobiason for his life’s work standing up for military veterans and working to ensure that the nearly half-million Oregon military veterans and their families receive the honor and recognition they deserve. The resolution moved to the House chamber for a floor vote on Monday and I look forward to carrying the bill on the floor and its passage onto the Senate. 

The Press Release, below, highlighting Dick Tobiason’ s work can be found here.  You can also view a  replay of my testimony on OLIS here.

• HB 4044
  Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to study risks and issues relating to earthquake induced toxic inhalation.
  
  
• HB 4045
  Establishes a new classification of hazardous positions under the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan in PERS; changes retirement benefits for members in the new class; adds several groups of employees to the Police & Fire classification; and amends the normal retirement age for police and fire-fighters. I will be co-carrying this bill on the House floor and look forward to its passage to the Senate for further consideration.

The following bill was carried over to Tuesday, February 13^th:

• HB 4155
  Directs the Oregon Business Development Department to study infrastructure financing in Oregon by considering and evaluating tools the state may use to have a positive effect on infrastructure and housing costs in Oregon.

View a replay of the meetings and access the meeting materials on OLIS here.

Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety

The Joint Committee On Ways and Means, Subcommittee On Public Safety meets twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 pm.

On Tuesday, committee staff provided a subcommittee orientation for members.  We also held informational meetings on the following items:

• Judicial Department/Public Defense Commission - Update on Unrepresented Defendant Crisis and Implementation of Judicial District Crisis Plans.
• Public Defense Commission - Update on SB 337 (2023) Implementation and Executive Branch Transfer.

Thursday, the committee held work sessions to acknowledge receipt of the following reports and one grant application. Those items where moved to the Full Ways and Means for budgetary consideration.

• Judicial Department Grant - Domestic and Sexual Violence Training and Pretrial Release Program
• Public Defense Commission Report - Remediation Plan
• Public Defense Commission Report - Quality Management Plan and Key Performance Measures
• Public Defense Commission Report - Internal Audit and Activities Report

View a replay of the meetings and access meeting materials on OLIS here.

Joint Committee On Transportation Special Subcommittee On Transportation Planning

The Joint Committee on Transportation, Special Subcommittee on Transportation Planning is scheduled to meet weekly on Fridays at 8:00 am. This morning, we met for a third deep dive into tolling. ODOT and WSP USA presented information on effectiveness, safety and diversion impacts of gantry locations followed by a committee discussion and questions.

Future meetings this session will cover logistics of toll connections and tolling rate/usage fees.

Community Meetings on Tolling Brief

On Wednesday, the Legislative Policy and Research Office posted a Brief on the Community Meetings on Tolling that took place in various locations in the Portland-Metro areas in December and January.  The brief outlines some of the recurring themes of the invited and public testimony from each of the community meetings. A total of 140 individuals provided testimony at these meetings, and 333 pieces of written testimony were submitted. You can view the details here.

View a replay of the meeting and access meeting materials on OLIS here.

Joint Committee On Ways and Means

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means is currently scheduled to meet weekly on Fridays from10:30 am–12:00 Noon but will likely increase as we draw closer to the end of session. This week we met on Monday for an organizational meeting and to adopt the committee rules and again today for introduction of committee bills.

View a replay of the meetings and access meeting materials on OLIS here.

Rep. Lewis Testifies on Key Session Bill Aimed to Fix Measure 110

On Wednesday evening, the Joint Committee On Addiction and Community Safety Response held public hearings on two measures I am sponsoring aimed to fix issues related to Measure 110 to address Oregon’s drug and addiction crisis.

HB 4036 (Lewis Chief Sponsor) Increases the penalties for possession of a controlled substance. SB 1555 (Lewis Regular Sponsor)  Creates the crime of using a controlled  substance in public.

I appeared before the committee to provide testimony and a summary of HB 4036 for the record.  You can watch a replay of my testimony here.

At the beginning of the meeting, the co-chairs of the committee announced that they were limiting oral testimony to two minutes. I submitted written testimony for the record as well to summarize the provisions of the bill for the benefit of the public. That testimony is as follows:

This bill is an omnibus bill and contains a number of key provisions. It provides a level of accountability for drug possession that was taken away by the passage of M 110, while also providing off-ramps that would encourage those struggling with addiction to seek treatment as opposed to enabling services and actually get clean and drug free once again. Drug addiction is not a victimless problem. It takes its toll on the user, his or her family, first responders, the business community and livability and public safety in our communities.

HB 4036 also increases the penalty for delivery of controlled substances to ensure that drug dealers who prey upon our children and our most vulnerable population are held accountable. It enhances the penalty for dealing drugs that result in the death of an individual by ensuring they receive a term in prison. Oregon needs to stop being a State where drug dealers feel free to operate. We have seen the results of decriminalization of hard core, life-consuming drugs like meth, fentanyl, and heroin.

The measure proposes recriminalizing possession of controlled substances that were relegated to E Violation status in M 110 to a Class A Misdemeanor. A Class A Misdemeanor is the same level of crime as a drunk driving charge. The goal is to actually get people in the door for treatment. Like a drunk driving first offense, the bill would open the door for an individual to get into a diversion program with a treatment component. If successfully completed, it allows the court to dismiss the criminal charge and expunge the record. Remember, the goal is to get people clean and off drugs with all of the benefits that brings to the addicted, to their families, to public safety and to our communities.

To get people into treatment and off drugs, then we should do what is needed to incentivize the addicted to take that step. It isn’t easy to overcome the desire to continue using drugs. We know about the failure of the E Violation and E-ticket approach in trying to solve a drug crisis in our state. It has been proposed that we move possession of heroin, meth, and other drugs to a Class C Misdemeanor. If we look at the dismal success rate in getting people to opt into treatment for an E Violation, we can expect no different outcome with a Class C Misdemeanor. C Misdemeanors are a cite and release offense. Offenders don’t serve time in jail on a C Misdemeanor unless it is accompanied by other more serious charges. I did not dwell on the difference between an A and a C Misdemeanor as the committee previously heard concerns from the DA’s and law enforcement, except to say that if we want to take steps that will have some level of positive impact on getting people into treatment, which should be our stated goal, the incentive created by a low-level Class C Misdemeanor isn’t going to accomplish that goal.

HB 4036 creates a crime of purchasing, possessing, making, delivering, or selling a pill press. The bill addresses the Boyd/Hubbell issue by providing that possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver constitutes delivery of a controlled substance. It also creates the crime for public use of controlled substances and use in an enclosed space that endangers the safety of others.

The bill establishes a process whereby the court can allow a diversion program for certain drug offenses and set aside the conviction – again, similar to Class A Misdemeanor drunk driving cases. It establishes an evaluation and treatment component. It emphasizes the use and availability of specialty courts and sets forth Legislative intent to fully fund those courts as an integral component to the success of our efforts to resolve the drug crisis and get people on a path to recovery.

The bill establishes the Opioid Overdose Rapid Response Grant Program and appropriates funding to the CJC for the program. It directs the Alcohol & Drug Policy Commission to take over grants and funding for drug treatment and related services, with an emphasis on treatment, transferring those duties from the Oversight & Accountability Council.

The bill increases the length of time an individual can be held when under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances from 48 to 72 hours. I’m told some states allow a much longer period in order to get people started on a treatment regimen.

Finally, HB 4036 authorizes the issuance of lottery bonds to local governments for treatment facility infrastructure. We have all heard about the need for more treatment facilities. HB 4036 would provide assistance at the county level in that regard.

View a replay of the meeting, access meeting materials and written testimony can be found on OLIS here.

March Revenue Forecast

On Wednesday, the Office of Economic Analysis released the March 2024 quarterly Economic and Revenue Forecast. This forecast sets the bar for the session’s budget rebalance decisions and is key information I will use consider in my role as a member of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Overall, economists shared that Oregon’s state revenue outlook remains stable. Even so, Oregon is facing great challenges that we must tackle head-on. We can no longer afford to settle for the status quo policies of the last decade that have spiraled our state to a place where open drug use and homelessness is rampant and Oregonian’s question their safety and livability.  

I am committed to investing your hard-earned tax dollars to address Oregon’s drug crisis, create affordable housing, and ensure Oregonians are safe in their communities.  

A replay of the forecast presentation can be viewed here.

Forecast documents:
March Economic and Revenue Forecast Presentation
March Revenue Forecast Summary

Welcome to Your Capitol - Rep. Lewis Visits with Parents

This week I had the pleasure of visiting with parents of children enrolled in Clackamas County Children’s Commission early care and education programs. Sharing their personal stories and experiences in Head Start/OPK, Early Head Start, and Healthy Families programs is informative and helpful to my work around funding and policies that support children and families in our communities. 

Click the links below to learn more about Clackamas County Children’s Commission and their services:

Home-Based Services Early Learning Centers Parent Education Opportunities Resource Connections Apply For Services

IN THE DISTRICT AND BEYOND

Life Flight Network Tour in Aurora

On January 25th, I attended the Life Flight Network tour in Aurora and got an up-close look into the world of critical air ambulance services. It was a pleasure to talk with their dedicated first responders who showcased their work and the different types of aircraft that provide lifesaving emergency response throughout our state.

With over four decades of experience, Life Flight Network has been the nation’s leading air medical transport provider. They have established bases throughout the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West, offering ICU-level care and support to hospitals, emergency responders, police, EMS, and fire departments. With an unwavering commitment to patient care, Life Flight Network continues to set the standard for air medical transportation.

Oregon Department of Revenue - Tax Season Resources

As tax season begins, the Department of Revenue is sharing a variety of resources for you and constituents.  Please let me know if you have questions.

Department of Revenue begins processing 2023 returns.

The Oregon Department of Revenue began processing e-filed 2023 state income tax returns on January 29, 2024. Paper filed returns will be processed starting in mid-February.

E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to claim their share of the $5.6 billion kicker and get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.

E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department will begin issuing personal income tax refunds after February 15.

Be prepared before you file an Oregon income tax return

The department reminds taxpayers a few steps can make it easier to fill out a tax return.

• Gather and organize your tax records and wait until you have all tax records ready including:
  • Forms W-2 from your employer(s)
  • Forms 1099 from banks and other payers including unemployment compensation, dividends, distributions from a pension, annuity, retirement plan, or other non-employee compensation.
  • Forms 1099-K, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, or other income statement if you worked in the gig economy.
• Use a bank account to speed tax refunds with direct deposit. File electronically, choose direct deposit and you will get a refund faster.
• Choose a reputable tax return preparer. This is important because taxpayers are responsible for all the information on their return, no matter who prepares it for them. The Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners offers a Licensee Lookup website. The IRS has a website with information.

Free options for e-filing Oregon income tax returns

All Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns in 2024 can file electronically at no cost using one of Oregon’s free file options.

Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.

New this year, the department is also offering Direct File Oregon, which allows taxpayers to file their Form OR-40 through Revenue Online. Direct File Oregon is not currently linked with the IRS Direct File. Taxpayers will need to file a separate federal return with the IRS before filing an Oregon return with Direct File Oregon through Revenue Online.

Federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Oregon Earned Income Credit

Oregon and the Internal Revenue Service offer many tax credits for low- to moderate- income families. These credits are fully or partially refundable, so the portion of the credit, more than what is owed, can be refunded to a person. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal credit for people making up to $63,398 in 2023 and a person who qualifies may use the credit to reduce taxes owed and maybe increase their refund.

If a person qualifies for EITC, they can also claim the Oregon Earned Income Credit (EIC) which is up to 12 percent of the federal EITC.  Individuals may qualify for the EITC, Oregon EIC, and other credits, even if they are not required to file. To receive the refundable credits, however, they must file a federal and state tax return.

More information about the federal EITC, the Oregon EIC, the Oregon Kids Credit and other similar credits, go to the Tax Benefits for Families page.

Oregon Kids Credit

New for tax year 2023, Oregon Kids Credit is a refundable credit for low-income people with young dependent children. For those with a modified adjusted gross income of $25,000 or less, the full credit is $1,000, per child for up to five dependent children under the age of six at the end of the tax year.  A partial credit is available for individuals and families with MAGI up to $30,000.

Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program

Reminder – A disabled, or senior homeowner may qualify for a program to borrow from the State of Oregon to pay county property taxes. If a taxpayer qualifies for the program, the Oregon Department of Revenue will pay county property taxes on November 15 of each year.

To participate, a taxpayer must file an application with the county assessor by April 15, or pay a fee and file late from April 16 to December 1. A lien will be placed on the qualified taxpayer property, and the Department of Revenue will become a security interest holder.

For additional information, and to apply for the program see the deferral application booklet here.