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This week, we crossed the halfway point of the 82nd Legislative session. With less than two weeks left, bills are now in their second chamber and must be voted out of committee by Thursday. As the session quickly comes to a close, we still find ourselves hard at work getting bills across the finished line.
I am including a weekly video update, I hope you find these valuable, your feedback has been very positive.
For any measure that has a funding request attached to it, those bills have been referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means (JWM). Every Friday, I sit on JWM to hash out with my fellow colleagues how we can fund the requests coming through. With Measure 110 reform and the Governor’s housing bill, SB 1538, taking up a bulk of the available funds, we’re working with roughly $700M in funds available for allocation. These funding requests will be decided in the last days of session.
Last week, I also became an honorary member of the Oregon Civil Patrol. The Oregon Legislative Squadron presented me with the honors on Wednesday. I’m blessed to have this recognition and am beyond thankful for our public safety community for working every day to keep Oregonians safe.
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Measure 110 Reform: HB 4002 had its second public hearing on Monday, February 26th in the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response. The -24 amendment includes recriminalizing drug possession and open-air drug use and increasing fines and penalties for drug dealers. You can submit written testimony until Wednesday, February 28th here.
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Campaign Finance Reform: HB 4024 was heard on Friday in the House Committee on Rules. This bill would set campaign contribution limits, requires increased transparency on Secretary of State website regarding contributions, establishes Secretary of State website to host a campaign donation dashboard. A summary of the -3 amendment can be found here
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Canola Bill: HB 4059 was voted on the House floor on Thursday, on mostly party lines. I spoke in support of the minority report, which would have allowed brassica (canola) production in the Willamette Valley Protection District with 3-mile isolation distances between brassica crops, brassica registration and licensing through the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and penalties for those not in compliance.
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- Oregon Employment Department Update: OED will be moving over to their new technology system this week. That means, from 5pm on Tuesday, February 27th-8am on March 4th, the current system will be down. Phone lines and online customer service for all UI Programs, Paid Leave Oregon, and Contributions & Recovery will be closed on Wednesday, February 28, through Friday, March 1. Below are important dates for filing UI claims.
- Last day to file a new Unemployment Insurance claim is 5pm on Tuesday, February 27th.
- Last day to file a weekly Unemployment Insurance claim for the week of February 18-24 is 5pm on February 28th
- If you miss this deadline, the next day you can submit a claim is 8am on Monday, March 4th.
- Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs seeks candidates to fill vacant advisory committee positions. Applications must be submitted by March 29th. Interested veterans can find out more here.
NewSun Energy is now accepting submissions for our second annual Climate and Ag Scholarship essay contest. Four $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors in Sherman, Crook, Lake, Klamath, Wasco, Gilliam, and Harney counties, and the Warm Springs Reservation. Submissions are due March 20, 2024, learn more here: http://tinyurl.com/NewSunEssay
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Last week, I hosted a joint town hall with Senator Lynn Findley. If you were unable to watch the live event, you can click here to watch the recording.
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Capitol Phone: 503-986-1460
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-475, Salem, OR 97301
Capitol Email: Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/owens
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