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To contact me, please click here: Rep.MarkGamba@oregonlegislature.gov
Hi folks,
We are about halfway through the 2024 short session and wow, is it fast-paced and chaotic. I wanted to give you an update on the legislation I have been working on this session. First, however, I have to thank you all for the thousands of messages and inquiries you have sent my way since I assumed this office. House District 41 appears to be one of the most active in the state and it makes it supremely easy to keep a finger on the pulse of the district.
However, I also would like to encourage you to favor personalized, direct E-mails over the generic form E-mails often generated by “Action Alerts” from advocacy organizations. Even when our values are perfectly aligned with these form E-mails, my fellow legislators and I are not able to pay them hardly any attention just due to the sheer volume of them. If you want to get your point across or share your sentiments, even one single sentence in a direct E-mail is FAR more effective than a generic form E-mail.
Anyway, on to business!
HB 4090 - “EFSC Bill”
This legislation unfortunately drew some misleading, inaccurate, and unfair media attention earlier this week. I am championing it because climate change has always been my top priority as an elected official. In short, the bill says that only ONE permitting process is required for construction of renewable energy facilities and transmission lines ONLY IF those facilities are being constructed entirely on federally-owned land. Currently, both a state and a federal permitting process are required and they are largely redundant. This is one reason it is taking up to twenty years right now to build the transmission necessary to bring needed renewable energy online. Climate can’t wait and we are out of time. HB 4090 will shave several years off the process to build these desperately needed facilities. The bill passed out of the House earlier this week and I am working overtime to get it through the Senate.
HB 4155 - “Infrastructure Finance Map”
This bill commissions the first-ever comprehensive study of public infrastructure needs and costs. This is critically important at this moment in time because of the growing awareness that the lack and expense of infrastructure is a driver of the housing crisis. Without new water treatment plants, upgraded sewer lines, and complete transportation systems, we will not be able to start building the thousands of new homes we need to be building every year. My bill takes a studied look at what is needed, why it matters in terms of housing costs, and how it’s funded. I expect this study will result in further legislation to introduce next session. HB 4155 passed unanimously out of committee last week and is currently in Ways and Means, waiting to see if it will fit into the state budget.
HB 4099 - “Municipal Development Protection Fund”
System Development Charges, or “SDCs,” are a tool used by local governments to pay for infrastructure like major roadways, sewer lines, and other necessities for development. Typically, when a developer applies for permits to construct a building they must also pay the SDCs charged by that local government. This means the developer has to wrap those charges into their initial construction loan, which typically carries much higher interest rates than when they refinance for their “permanent” loan after they have finished construction. HB 4099 essentially has the state provide a guarantee and encourage more cities and counties to delay charging their SDCs until later in the construction process, when a developer can pay them out of their permanent loan. This will shave several thousand to over a million dollars off the cost to build new housing projects. HB 4099 passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness last week and is now in Ways and Means. I have been having great conversations with decision-makers and I think we have a good shot at passing it into law.
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I was able take a breather from the chaos of session this week to talk to visiting students about electric vehicle policy. I walked away refreshed and inspired.
We have just about two and a half weeks left until the state constitution says the session must adjourn. This is a wild way to run a state government, but there you have it. Please reach out if you have any questions at all.
Onward,
Mark
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-477, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.MarkGamba@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/gamba
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