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To contact me, click here:
Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov
Legislative Updates
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This legislative session has witnessed an unprecedented number of proposed bills, and the deadlines are rapidly approaching. On Friday, March 21st, the first chamber deadline marked the cutoff for thousands of bills that did not make it out of their policy committees. However, a significant number of promising policies have advanced to the Ways and Means Committee, and around a hundred bill have made it to the House floor.
Here’s an update on the legislation I’m working on and what the next steps will be.
My Bills
HB 3794 - One of my top priorities this session has been the addressing the Coffin Butte Landfill. Benton County only contributes 6% of the waste that is buried in our community. My Task Force is aimed at ensuring we do not remain the dumping ground for greater Willamette Valley, once Coffin Butte reaches the end of its life in the next decade. We need to start planning for what comes next, right now.
Ai Picture of One Year of Waste from Coffin Butte
Coffin Butte's Reach:
- The landfill sits on 178 acres permitted for waste disposal. That's over 134 football fields!!
- 859,205 residents of Oregon, or over 20% of the population uses Coffin Butte.
- It produced 40 million gallons of PFAS containing Leachate in 2024!
- Coffin Butte accepts 1.1 million tons of waste per year.
- 9 Counties are major users:
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Lincoln County - 100& of annual municipal solid waste.
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Tillamook County - 100% of annual municipal solid waste.
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Polk County - 100% of annual municipal solid waste.
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Benton County - 100% of annual municipal solid waste.
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Yamhill County - 82.5% of annual municipal solid waste.
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Marion County - 66% of annual municipal solid waste.
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Clackamas County - 22% of annual municipal solid waste.
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Washington County - 16.3% of annual MSW
Public Hearing Scheduled!
April 8, 2025 at 8:00 am
Come join me at the House Committee on Climate, Energy, & Environment meeting to advocate in support of House Bill 3794, creating a Task Force to address the future of solid waste in the greater Willamette Valley.
This is your opportunity to make your concerns heard. We know Coffin Butte has caused issues in our community, and we acknowledge the burden our district has faced. This is our next step in planning for the future, coordinating solutions for our MSW, and building a better system of waste management.
- To submit written testimony within the timeframe of public comment, click here
Another top priority of mine is Adair Village. Just north of Corvallis, and in our School District, this former Army Base is in urgent need of wastewater infrastructure upgrades, in order to accommodate waiting housing development. The city’s current wastewater treatment plant, left by the military 70 years ago, is outdated and nearing its end of life. As a result, the system is unable to accommodate new housing development, which is vital to alleviating the region’s severe housing shortage.
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I introduced legislation appropriating $4 million of general fund dollars to Adair Village, so they can begin the process of replacing the facility. The opportunity to add 800 or more homes is something we cannot pass up.
Sponsored Bills Are Moving!
HB 3076 - Directs the Department of Justice to study the establishment of a state gun dealer licensing program.
- As a new lawmaker, I wanted to focus on policies that have the most evidence to show they work. This is the strongest proposal to reduce the flow of crime guns into our communities, with no impact on responsible firearm owners. This is focused only on businesses that sell firearms, a 90-billion-dollar industry in our country.
- This is a smart, evidence-based policy that gets at the crux of the issue: stopping illegal guns and holding dealers accountable for polices they should already be following.
I had the opportunity to testify in support of HB 3076 last week. Check out my testimony here.
SB 243 - This omnibus bill combined several other pieces of gun tragedy prevention legislation into one bill.
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SB 429 - Prohibits a gun dealer from transferring a firearm or unfinished frame or receiver until 72 hours have elapsed from the time the gun dealer requested a criminal background check, and the gun dealer has received the background check approval number from the Department of State Police.
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SB 696 - Creates the crime of unlawful transport, manufacture or transfer of a rapid-fire activator.
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SB 697 - Prohibits a person under 21 years of age from possessing firearms with specified exceptions.
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SB 698 - Authorizes the governing bodies of certain public entities that own or control public buildings to adopt a policy, ordinance or regulation limiting the affirmative defense for concealed handgun licensees for the crime of possessing a firearm in a public building.
In my written testimony of support, I reiterate that, "the logic behind these policies is clear—each provision aims to prevent unnecessary harm while maintaining fair and responsible access to firearms. Ethically, we have a duty to act in the best interest of public safety, recognizing that gun tragedies have far-reaching and devastating consequences. There are so many steps we can take before tragedy happens; these are first avenues to protect both the public and responsible gunowners themselves."
HB 2953 - Removes the percentage cap on the amount of money for students eligible for special education funding.
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By increasing the 11% cap on funds distributed from the State School Fund for school districts, HB 2953 acknowledges the unique challenges faced by students with disabilities. This bill empowers school districts to allocate resources more effectively, fostering an inclusive educational environment where all students can succeed.
You can read more about the benefits of HB 2953 is my written testimony of support. HB 2953 is currently in the House Committee on Revenue.
HB 3365-2 - Directs the State Board of Education to include an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability and climate change across all subjects for which academic content standards are established.
- In 2022, at least 11 states introduced bills on climate change instruction, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- The -2 amendment establishes four specific outcomes related to sustainability and climate change that academic content standards must be designed to achieve.
In my written testimony, I emphasize, "Climate change instruction is a crucial part of understanding the severe impacts our environment has faced and will face in the future. Not only do we need government and industry solutions, but we need to ensure future generations are well-equipped to tackle climate change."
 Some of the other bills I am sponsoring...
HB 2695 - Requires the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Board of Directors to include specified individuals in the search and hiring committees for a president of the university.
- This bill has been passed out of committee and is awaiting transfer to the Speaker's desk and its second reading.
HB 2729 - Directs the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to develop and implement a program to issue grants to increase and improve school-based mental health services and substance use services.
- This bill has passed out of policy committee and now waits to be heard in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
HB 2947 - Directs the OSU Extension Service and College of Agricultural Sciences of OSU to study the distribution and occurrence of PFAs - dangerous toxic, forever chemicals - found in biosolids applied to agricultural fields that do not produce crops intended for human consumption.
- This bill has passed out of policy committee and now waits to be heard in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
HB 3012 - Permits an individual who is 16 or 17 years old and registered to vote to cast a ballot in school district elections
- This bill has had a public hearing and is still in the House Committee on Rules. The Rules committee is exempt from the first committee deadline.
HB 3079 - Requires the Department of Human Services to update its 2022 estimate of costs to implement youth experiencing homelessness programs.
- This bill is scheduled for a committee work session on April 3rd in the House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services.
HB 3179 - Directs the Public Utility Commission to consider the cumulative economic impact of a proposed rate or schedule of rates on a public utility's ratepayers if it will result in an increase of the public utility's revenue in this state by 2.
- This bill is scheduled for a committee work session on April 1st in the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.
HB 3183 - Appropriates money to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for purposes of the Open Educational Resources Program.
- This bill has passed out of policy committee and now waits to be heard in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
HB 3187 - Clarifies the meaning of "because of age" for purposes of employment discrimination law.
- This bill is scheduled for a committee work session on April 2nd in the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards.
HB 3546 - Directs the Public Utility Commission to provide for a classification of service for large energy use facilities.
- This bill is scheduled for a committee work session on April 2nd in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
HB 3643 - Designates October 9th of each year as Oregon Youth Suicide Awareness Day.
- This bill is scheduled for a committee work session on March 31st in the House Committee on Rules.
SB 726 - Requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data (Methane Monitoring) as specified.
- This bill is scheduled for a committee work session on April 2nd in the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment.
Constituent Connections - Come Say Hello!
Saturday, April 5th
Benton County League of Women Voters Town Hall:
Hands Off! Corvallis Rally: 12 - 3pm
- Benton County Circuit Court, 120 NW 4th St, Corvallis, OR 97330
- "This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies. Alongside Americans across the country, we are marching, rallying, and protesting to demand a stop the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country."
Also this week...
Wednesday, April 2nd
Stop by Congresswoman Val Hoyle’s Congressional Staff Office Hours at the Benton County Courthouse, Room 315. 120 NW 4th St, Corvallis. 1:30 – 3:30 pm. Constituents can get in person help with a federal agency. Contact Field Representative Cheri Brubaker at (202) 834-3336 for more info.
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Local Reads
Yours truly,
 Representative Sarah McDonald
House District 16
email: Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1416
address: 900 Court St NE, H-477, Salem, OR 97301
website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mcdonald
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