One Week Left in 2024 Legislative Session
This week we saw major movement of some of the highest prioritized bills of this this year's "Short" Legislative Session, teeing up the possibility of an early adjournment ahead of the Session's Constitutional Sine Die of Sunday, March 10th. Just in case we weren’t all tracking session’s progress on our calendars, we also received notice on Monday from the Speaker's Office that Sine Die has been declared imminent, meaning that the typical 48-hour notice given before public hearings and 24 hours of notice given for work sessions is now just one hour.
This Session has certainly had its ups and downs and twists and turns, but overall, we have been pleasantly surprised by what feels like a greater degree of cooperation between the parties to pass some meaningful common-sense measures (and fingers crossed! Hopefully a few more!), which is what the even-year "Short" Sessions were originally intended to be. Of course, it is not all a bed of roses, as there are still a few contentious bills on the horizon the Majority will likely ram through in the final days.
HB 4002 - Measure 110 Reform: Passed the House
As we've covered in our previous newsletters, this is the Democrats' "fix" for Measure 110 this session. We are happy to report that it went through a lengthy amendment process in the Joint Committee on Addition and Community Safety Response, and the committee settled on the -33 amendment, which reinstates a degree of recriminalization while giving law enforcement some tools to hold drug dealers accountable and force addicts into treatment. I feel the amended bill, though a step in the right direction, left some gaps in the policy and could have gone further to truly address the severity of our drug crisis, and ultimately voted no to align with my district’s overwhelming request to stand firm for a full repeal of M110. This was the lengthiest Floor debate of Session so far, and a link to watch it is here.
HB 4007 - Wildfire Tax Relief : Work Session Scheduled!
One of my priority bills, HB 4007 protects the settlements of wildfire lawsuits from being taxed at rates of up to 70%, helping keep those dollars in our impacted communities to directly help recovery efforts. It is still alive and we expect it to advance out of the House Revenue Committee on Monday, but for the sake of time in these final few days, we expect the sister bill (SB 1520, below) to be the most likely to carry this policy across the finish line!
SB 1520 - Wildfire Tax Relief: Passed the Senate!
This bill is nearly identical to HB 4007, and protects the settlements of wildfire victims from exorbitant taxation. We have worked closely with Senator Boquist (I-Dallas) to ensure that either his bill or my bill make it across the finish line before we adjourn from Session, and I'm happy to say that SB 1520 passed on the Senate Floor unanimously on Wednesday and is now headed to the House Committee on Revenue!
HB 4024 - Campaign Finance Overhaul
One bill that isn’t very exciting, but should definitely be on your radar as it stands to have immense impact on our campaign process in Oregon, is HB 4024. After voters passed campaign finance reform back in 2020, the Legislature has failed to settle on a policy to implement the components voters prioritized. Most proposals limit the donation ability of some donors (typically businesses or individuals) while largely leaving the donation ability of union PACs unrestricted. To ensure fairness in our election process, campaign restrictions need to be fair and balanced.
SB 1537 - Governor's Housing Bill: Passed the Senate
Tackling Oregon's housing crisis has been a top priority for the Legislature and the Governor going back to last session, and with the failure of HB 3414 last year, Governor Kotek and a bi-partisan group of lawmakers have pushed hard this session for a bill that increases housing production by loosening restrictions on urban growth boundaries, while also protecting Oregon's farms, forests, and open spaces. This is not a perfect bill by any means, but tries to balance the concerns of Oregonians while bolstering the immediate ability to build much needed homes.
SB 1545 - More Wildfire Tax Relief: Passed out of committee!
This bill allows counties to gradually increase tax bills based on the pre-fire valuations of properties before homes were lost, and avoid the devastating sticker shock victims have when they receive their adjusted tax bill after a rebuild. This bill has passed out of its policy committee on the Senate side and will be on the Senate floor for a full vote on Monday.
SB 1583 - Attack on our School Boards: Passed the Senate
One bill we are disappointed to see moving is SB 1583. In case you missed our Action Alert from a previous newsletter, 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. After passing the Senate on a straight party line vote it is now in the House Committee on Rules.
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This week I want to extend a huge congratulations to Sweet Home High School's Boys and Girls Swim Teams for their 1st place at District! It's so great to see all of their hard work, dedication, and tireless training pay off in such a way! And the best part--they weren't the only Huskies that took home a District Championship this winter, as the Boys Wrestling team also brought home the trophy and were featured on the cover of The New Era. Way to go!
 Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
Jefferson Resource Center Opens Today
The Jefferson School District is proud to open their Health and Resource Center today, and it will be open every Friday from 9:00am-1:00pm moving forward! This is a place for families in need to receive all kinds of essential supplies, so please spread the word.
Ladies Night Out Tonight in Lebanon
Don't miss an opportunity to attend a truly great event for an even better cause! Boulder Falls Inn is presenting their Ladies Night Out Annual Purse Auction, with all proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Santiam. This is a 21+ event, and tickets are $40.
Sweet Home's 80th Annual Awards Night
Next Saturday, March 9th is the much anticipated 80th annual Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce Awards banquet! This is a great opportunity to meet members of our community and to celebrate the best of what Sweet Home has to offer. Dinner is served prior to the awards at 7:00. For more details and to purchase tickets visit www.sweethomechamber.com
Harrisburg Library Craft Club Meetings
Have you ever wanted to learn how to crochet and knit? The Harrisburg Library would like to remind you that its craft club meets every Thursday from 5:00pm-7:00pm, and they offer free lessons, so come check it out!
House Republicans' Measure 110 Statement
Following the consequential vote on the House Floor of HB 4002, House Republican Leader Helfrich (R-Hood River) sent out the following press release, praising the Legislature for recriminalizing hard drugs and for working with law enforcement to find modest reforms that the Majority would be willing to support. I was one of the Republicans who felt that this bill still did not go far enough, but it is at least a step in the right direction. One thing is clear, we have to hold drug abusers and drug dealers accountable, and my hope is that we revisit this issue in a future Legislative Session.
2024 Session Reaches Halfway Point
Week Two of Session -- Bills Are Dying!
The 2024 Legislative Session Begins
Interim Newsletter: January
Interim Newsletter: December
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