Week Two of Session -- Bills Are Dying!
It's hard to believe, but two weeks have already passed in this year's five-week "Short" Legislative Session. With that, the first of the session deadlines has already come and gone, meaning most bills in policy committees had to have had a work session scheduled prior to Monday, February 12th to stay "alive" in the legislative process. As always, we mourned the death of some good bills, but celebrated the elimination of some major threats to Oregonians this week, and start having a better sense of which (of the hundreds introduced) bills are truly being considered this year.
Things are still quite slow on the Floor, as we just received our first bill coming over from the Senate yesterday, and have mostly just been handling the initial, unanimous out of committee, bills so far. Undoubtedly, the leisurely dockets will be short-lived as we get nearer and nearer to Sine Die and the contentious bills make their way out of committee!
We also want to provide a quick update on the historic deep drawdowns that affected several dams in the Mid-Willamette Valley last fall. We have continued to do our best to spearhead a coalition effort in response to the devastating order that muddied our waterways with the limited resources we have, and I'm happy to say that we are having a roundtable discussion with local leaders from across the region today in order to better strategize for the future and how best to work collaboratively to see meaningful change in the injunction's orders moving forward.
Advocacy Needed: Oppose SB 1583!
One of the biggest threats to preserving local control of our schools this Legislative Session is SB 1583. This bill dramatically curtails the rights of local school boards to control the curriculum in schools, effectively eroding parental rights by limiting those we elect to govern our schools. It limits local control of textbooks and other instructional materials, and is disguised as protecting against discrimination. But the intent is clear - to prevent local school boards from removing ideologically driven content that the district may feel inappropriate for its students.
This bill passed out of it's Senate Committee on a straight party line vote, and now is headed to the Senate Floor for passage in its first chamber. Ahead of next week's likely floor vote, please reach out to Senators here in Oregon to demand that they stand up for the rights of our local school boards, and oppose this legislation.
Some Bills to Watch
HJR 201: State-Wide Property Tax
This resolution asks voters to amend Constitution to create a state-wide property tax to fund public safety across the state, and most recently had a public hearing on Tuesday in the Senate Committee on Rules.
HB 4079: Removing Limit on SPED Funding
This bill is one we've covered quite bit! It aims at removing inequities in school funding by allowing all Special Education students to receive appropriate funding support. It passed out of its policy committee last week and is now in House Committee on Revenue.
SB 1548: Ditch the Switch -- Headed to Senate Floor!
This bill forgoes Daylight Savings Time to keep Oregon on Standard Time year-round, to avoid requiring Congressional approval to remain on DST year-round. (Ditch the switch)! It passed out of committee unanimously Thursday, and is headed to the Senate floor.
SB 1576 (-3): Restoring Recreational Immunity
This bill redefines “recreation” to protect local governments from lawsuits when they open public land to recreation—re-establishing recreational immunity. It has a work session scheduled for Monday in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
HB 4083: Limiting Types of State Investments
This bill forces the State Treasurer to eliminate state investment in coal companies, compromising the state’s investment portfolio. It passed out of committee on Thursday with no Republican support, and is headed to the House Floor.
SB 1577: Expanding Motor-Voter to Students
This bill expands motor-voter registration to students applying for college. It passed out of its policy committee on Thursday, and is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
SB 1543: Fixing Weight-Mile Tax
This bill decreases the disproportionate Weight-Mile Tax that has been over-charging heavy-weight trucks. It had a Public Hearing on Thursday in the Joint Committee on Transportation.
SB 1542: CAT Tax Relief for Pharmacies
This bill increases Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) threshold from $1M to $5M, and exempts most health-care activity, including pharmacies. It had a Public Hearing Monday in the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue.
Bills That Have Died
Monday marked the first round of bills dying, as the deadline for most policy committees to post work sessions came and went. Notable bills that died include:
HB 4126: Allowance for Local Rent Control
This bill would have repealed a state prohibition on local rent control, creating a patchwork of restrictions on the rental market, driving up rent costs, and pushing rental units out of the marketplace.
HB 4161: School Choice and Student Savings Accounts
This bill establishes school choice through open enrollment, and student savings accounts. It had a Public Hearing Wednesday, but failed to receive a Work Session before deadline.
HB 4096: Firearm Hold Agreements
This bill would have allowed federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to enter into a firearm hold agreement with a firearm owner.
SB 1559: Increasing State's Emission Goals
This bill would have increased the state’s greenhouse emissions goals to achieve 95% reductions by 2050, and set in statute a net-zero goal for thereafter.
This week we would like to honor the dapper Lebanon High School Boys' Varsity Basketball Team for taking the time to visit seniors at The Oaks at Lebanon for Valentine's Day! I'm sure the lovely ladies' days were made--their smiles say it all!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
Non-Profit Summit Monday in Lebanon
The Willamette Valley Non-Profit Summit will be taking place next Monday in Lebanon! Come to the Boys & Girls Club to learn about local businesses, and enjoy breakfast AND lunch for just $20.
Sweet Home Business After Hours Thursday
Make a visit to Sweet Home's Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center next Thursday at 5:30pm for their Business After Hours event! This could be a great networking opportunity, or simply a chance to see what is happening with businesses in the city.
Lebanon DSA Gala Next Friday
Next Friday is Lebanon's annual Distinguished Awards Gala at the Boulder Falls Event Center! This is truly one of my favorite events of the year, and highlights the amazing people who make our local community great.
Visitors at the Capitol
It's always great to see friendly faces at the Capitol! From being reminded of how bright the future of Ag is with Central Linn and Harrisburg FFA students, to catching up with Bleeding Disorders advocates, it's safe to say that visits like these are a nice reprieve from the chaos of session!
Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon!
Make fishing part of your President’s Day weekend plans with friends and family. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18, 2024. For more information, check out the following link: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2024/02_Feb/020924.asp
House Republicans' Letter on Measure 110
This week I was proud to sign on to sign on to the following letter addressed to Democratic leadership in the Legislature, who are still unwilling to recriminalize hard drugs despite the obvious failure of Ballot Measure 110.
Interestingly, they have shown no such reluctance in regard to public drug use if it's happening on public transit. SB 1553 passed unanimously out of committee this week, and would make the public use of illicit substances a Class A Misdemeanor (up to a year in jail), while Democratic leadership continues to tout that a paltry Class C Misdemeanor (maximum of 30 days in jail) will suffice everywhere else.
 
The 2024 Legislative Session Begins
Interim Newsletter: January
Interim Newsletter: December
Interim Newsletter: November
Interim Newsletter: October
Opening Ceremonies Needed
Do you sing? Read poetry? Play an instrument? Pray? Then we have a job for you!
Every Floor Session in the House of Representatives starts with Opening Ceremonies, and is a great way to showcase the talents found across the state. Guidelines for Opening Ceremonies are below, but if you're interested in being a ceremonial part of the 82nd Legislative Session, let me know! My office can help coordinate with the Chief Clerk's office to get you on the calendar.
| 
