This week we celebrated Oregon’s 165th birthday and had our first week of floor votes.   

In 2023, I led the effort to strengthen our public meetings laws by extending the jurisdiction of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. We were successful and passed HB 2805.  

This session, I brought HB 4117 to give OGEC the authority to issue advisory opinions to help public officials comply with our public meetings laws. The bill passed unanimously out of the House Rules Committee and also passed unanimously on the floor of the House. It is now headed to the Senate. You can view my floor speech above.  

This week, I testified before the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment as a chief sponsor of HB 4112 which would (1) establish the Oregon Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing Opportunity Fund, (2) empower Business Oregon to award grants and low-interest loans to encourage the growth of this sector, and (3) require the governor to establish a Clean Technology Leadership Advisory Council. This bill would help Oregon become a nationwide leader in green technology manufacturing and bring living-wage jobs in our state. The bill is scheduled for a work session on Monday.  

• HB 4005 Clarifies when an employee is employed by employing unit or employer for a single hour of work for purposes of unemployment insurance and paid family and medical leave programs. 
• HB 4050 Provides factors upon which compensation differentials may be based for an employer to lawfully pay employees who perform work of comparable character at different compensation levels. 

This week the committee heard informational presentations from ODOT on Winter Maintenance Operations and Right of Way Health and Safety. The committee also heard an update on the Oregon CHIPS Act that was passed during last year’s legislative long session that included additional funding.  

 A work session was held for the first Economic Development Management System (EMDS) project under Business Oregon’s modernization program. This was unanimously through committee and referred to Ways and Means.  

The committee held work sessions for the following House Bills: 

• HB 4119 Enhances the protections for post-secondary institutions of education, student athletes and others regarding the provision of compensation for a student's name, image, likeness or athletic reputation. Passed by the House on 2/15 with a first reading scheduled on the Senate Floor 2/19 
• HB 4125 Directs the Legislative Policy and Research Director to conduct a study on the impact of Senate Bill 242 (2011) on higher education in this state. Passed through committee and is headed to Ways and Means 
• HB 4154 Establishes the Semiconductor Talent Sustaining Fund and subaccounts of the fund. Passed through committee and is headed to Ways and Means 
• HB 4162 Appropriates moneys to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for the purpose of carrying out Oregon's Open Educational Resources (OER) Program. Passed unanimously through committee and moved to House floor
• HB 4163 Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting organizations to expand the scope and community reach of college access and success Passed unanimously through committee and moved to House floor
•  HB 4164 Removes the condition on reimbursement for expenses for nonlegislative members of the Sexual Misconduct Survey Council. Passed through committee and moved to House floor

Don't forget to stay engaged during this short session by watching Oregon State Legislature Live-Streams including floor sessions and meetings. I also encourage you to track 2024 session bills as they move quickly during short session.   

As we continue to celebrate the lives of Black Oregonians and the impacts they made, this week we are honoring Former State Senator and Senate President Pro Tempore Margaret Carter. Elected to the Oregon State House of Representatives in 1985, she is the first Black Woman to serve as an Oregon State Legislator, paving the way for future elected leaders of color. As a State Representative for Northeast Portland, she championed legislation to designate the third Monday of January as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day that was enacted statewide a year prior to the enactment of the federally recognized holiday we observe today.  She was also responsible for passing legislation that ended state-controlled investments to South Africa during apartheid.

Outside of her legislative work, State Senator Carter spent her career as a counselor and educator at Portland Community College. She is still active in Portland and spoke with The Oregonian last year about her impacts and the importance of honoring Dr. King's legacy for future generations. 

Thanks to the new Oregon Kids’ Credit, lower income Oregon families who have young kids can now receive up to $1,000 per eligible child just by filing their taxes. To learn more about how to claim the credit and find free tax assistance visit https://www.ocpp.org/okc 

The City of Hillsboro introduced their Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan back in 2020 as a shared vision for a prosperous Hillsboro. Now that the plan is over 90% implemented or underway, they are asking residents to share their ideas on how to continue to make Hillsboro an even better place to live, work, learn and play. Don’t forget to share your ideas and as a thank you for your input, all entries will be entered into the raffle for an opportunity to win prizes.  

Hillsboro’s favorite free outdoor movie series is back for 2024! This summer, enjoy movies at multiple parks around the City with friends and family. Now through March 24, we’re asking the community to vote for the movies they would like to see during this summer’s Pix in the Park.

Phase 1: Pix in the Park 2024: Voting (Feb 5 — March 24)

From February 2 to March 24, community members will vote for movies in four categories:

• Throwback Disney
• Throwback Classic
• Animated
• Blockbuster

VOTE BY MARCH 24TH!

Final programming selections will be announced in April.

Don't forget to contact my office with any questions or feedback. You can do so via email at Rep.NathanSosa@Oregonlegislature.gov or by phone at (503) 986-1430. Feel free to also stop by in-person, at office H-280. I look forward to hearing from you! 

Take care!