Honoring an Oregon Legend – and a new favorite bill
Oregon State Legislature sent this bulletin at 02/17/2025 09:16 AM PST
Dear friends and neighbors,
My third legislative session is well underway, and I have lots of updates.
The first few weeks of session include *a lot* of public hearings. This is an important first step of a bill becoming a law – the opportunity for members of the public, stakeholders, and legislators to weigh in on a proposal. Depending on how these hearings go (and how legislators sponsoring the proposals respond), bills can get scheduled for a “work session” (i.e. a vote), they can get amended, or they can die. This week I’ll share some bills I’ve been working on that received a public hearing.
Improving Early Literacy in Oregon
Last session, one of my favorite accomplishments was securing funding for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The program is off to a fantastic start, and now every single county in Oregon has access to it. As of this month, nearly 63,000 children in Oregon are receiving a free book by mail each month, and already, 29% of eligible kids are enrolled. This is a major step toward ensuring that every child in our state—regardless of income—has access to books in their home
I am working on a bill this session that would codify the program into statute, making it a permanent fixture for Oregon kids.
I was also really grateful that Governor Kotek released a statement in support of this legislation. Read more here.
Testifying to the House Housing Committee in support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
A Visit from Congresswoman Dexter
It was a pleasure to connect with Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (my former colleague in the legislature) while she was in town last week. We discussed the challenges in the federal government and how those challenges are directly impacting Oregonians. We discussed ways we can collaborate to ensure Oregon remains a place where every person has the opportunity to thrive, and I look forward to continuing that work together to protect the basic rights and freedoms of every Oregonian.
Congresswoman Dexter and me on her visit to the Capitol
Protecting Seniors in Manufactured Home Parks
Last week, I testified in support of House Bill 3054, which is about addressing the skyrocketing rent increases in manufactured home parks and protecting the residents, including fixed-income seniors, from eviction and homelessness.
My particular interest in this bill is based on my experience and conversations with residents of manufactured home parks—one in my district and two in a neighboring district—where massive rent hikes are making it impossible for people to stay in their homes.
Rep. Neron, Sen. Woods, and I held a listening session in a manufactured home park in my district, and the response was overwhelming. I’m used to constituent events with 10, 20, maybe 50 people. This one had well over 100. We ran out of time before we could hear from everyone, but the message was loud and clear: year after year, massive rent increases are putting people in an impossible situation. These are seniors who planned to spend the rest of their lives in their homes, now facing the real threat of eviction and even homelessness.
In just the last three years, rent increases in these parks have outpaced Social Security cost-of-living adjustments by a staggering margin—8.9% in 2022, 10.3% in 2023, 8.7% in 2024—and now, just one month into 2025, I’m already hearing from constituents worried about another planned increase of 9%.
As I said in the hearing: What are these seniors supposed to do? Where are they supposed to go?
This bill is in its early stages and will likely be amended, but I will continue to work and push on this bill to ensure that seniors living on a fixed income don’t get forced out of their homes.
Testifying in support of my constituents who face eviction due to skyrocketing rent increases at manufactured home parks
After our testimony, Rep. Neron and I met with a group of manufactured home park residents who drove up from Tigard and King City to show support for this bill. It was a pleasure to meet with them on the House floor and to talk through the next steps of this bill with them
Meeting with constituents who drove up from Tigard on the House floor
Credit Unions and Housing
Last week, I had the chance to meet with a group of credit union advocates for "Credit Union Day" at the legislature. We talked about a bill we’re working on together to make homeownership more accessible for Oregonians who can afford rent but feel like buying a home is out of reach.
Here’s the reality: Too many people are working hard, paying their rent every month, but still struggling to cover basic needs—let alone save for a down payment on a home. And in today’s market, if you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars saved up, buying a home just isn’t an option.
This bill helps fix that by making it easier for first-time homebuyers to access a mortgage with no down payment. Credit unions want to offer these loans, and this bill gives them the safety net to do it responsibly. By removing this barrier, we can help working families build equity, which helps build long-term wealth.
The best part? This bill is bipartisan. I’m proud to be chief sponsoring it alongside two of my Republican colleagues, Reps. Christine Drazan and Vikki Breese-Iverson, as well as several of my fellow Democrats.
Me meeting with constituents and credit union advocates for "Credit Union Day"
One of My Favorite Bills: the Students See Clearly Act
One of the bills I’m most excited about this session is about making sure every student who needs glasses gets them. Right now, thousands of Oregon students are struggling in school—not because they don’t want to learn, but because they literally can’t see the board or the words on a page. That should be a relatively easy fix.
Last week, I testified in support of HB 2992, the Students See Clearly Act, which brings vision screenings, eye exams, and free prescription glasses directly to kids at school—at no cost to families or school districts. If we pass this bill, Oregon will be the first state in the country to take this program statewide, helping 18,000 kids every year.
This is exactly the kind of smart, high-impact investment we should be making—one that improves education, levels the playing field, and gives kids the tools they need to succeed.
Watch my testimony here.
Me testifying in support of one of my favorite bills: the Students See Clearly Act
Protecting Workers on Strike
Another bill I was proud to testify in favor of us is Senate Bill 916. Right now, when workers go on strike to demand fair wages or better conditions, they’re immediately cut off from unemployment benefits—while corporate profits keep hitting record highs. That’s not just unfair, it’s part of a broken system that puts more power in the hands of corporations and leaves workers with no safety net.
SB 916 helps level the playing field. It ensures that when workers take the step to stand up for themselves, they can still put gas in the car, afford groceries, and keep a roof over their heads. This is one tool in the toolbox to push back against an unsustainable system of wealth going all to the top.
Remembering Peter Courtney
One of the more somber but meaningful moments of the first few weeks of session was attending the memorial service for former Senate President Peter Courtney. As the longest-serving legislator in Oregon history, President Courtney wasn’t just a lawmaker—he was an institution.
I have my own memories of Peter from being a young staffer for then-Majority Leader Val Hoyle (I was honestly a little bit terrified of him). He had a huge personality and a dry sense of humor–and a genuinely deep love of Oregon. His legacy will be felt for generations to come.
My copy of Peter Courtney's Memorial Service flyer
As always, I appreciate hearing from you. Your input helps shape the work I do in Salem. If you have any questions or want to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thanks for reading,
Ben Bowman
Oregon State Representative
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