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Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov

House District 16 Team - 83rd Legislative Session

Hello Friends,

The 83rd legislative session gaveled to a close (Sine Die) late into the night on Friday, June 27th, closing the book on more than 4,000 legislative concepts.

I'm proud to share that after five months of hard work and advocacy for our local priorities, we delivered real results. When we entered this session, we had two clear goals: 1) Begin a community-driven exit plan for Coffin Butte, and 2) Secure workforce housing dollars for Adair Village. I'm thrilled to report we succeeded on both fronts.

It wasn’t always easy — we had to push, pull, and stand our ground more than once — but in the end, we got it done. And we didn’t stop there. We teamed up with Senator Gelser Blouin to deliver additional wins: increased methane monitoring at Coffin Butte and much-needed funding to repair the Osborn Aquatic Center.

There is much that was left undone, including funding our transportation system, and I stand ready to attend to that work.

We accomplished a lot on many different policy fronts. Let's dig a little deeper into what the 83rd legislature did for YOU!

AI Produced Image Depicting 1 Year of Coffin Butte's Waste in Crater Lake

Coffin Butte

Perhaps the most talked about issue in Corvallis and Adair Village is the future of the Coffin Butte landfill. It's days (years) are numbered and responsible planning is going to take time. It's time for the State to enter the conversation and ensure that the future of waste isn't burying it in our backyard.

Here are a few things we did this session to address the landfill:

House Bill 3794 (Chief Sponsor) - Awaiting Governor's Signature - Establishes the Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley.

Senate Bill 726 (Sponsor) - Signed into law - Requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill located in Benton County to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. I was proud to carry this bill in the House twice!

For your reading pleasure, my office created a Timeline of the Coffin Butte Landfill. Check it out!

Ctrl+MouseWheel to Zoom

Housing & Homelessness HB 3939 - Adair Village Workforce Housing Bill appropriates $4M to Adair Village to  upgrade their wastewater system to accommodate housing growth. They have shovel-ready land in the UGB and a developer ready to build.

• Adair Village is a growing town and with an upgraded wastewater system they can build much-needed housing that will help attract employees for Oregon State University, Good Samaritan, the Corvallis School District, and other local employers.
• Status: Appropriation came in HB 5531. Waiting for Governor's Signature

HB 2258 – Governor's OR Homes Bill gives the Land Conservation and Development Commission the power to make rules that require local governments to approve certain housing development plans that have already been approved by the Department of Consumer and Business Services. 

• For some new housing projects, once the building plans are approved by the state, local governments won’t have to review them again, speeding up the process and increasing the state's housing supply.
• Status: Waiting for Governor's Signature

HB 3054 - Addressing Manufactured Home Park Rents, this bill will stabilize rents for spaces in larger home parks. Increases will be based on changes to the cost of living (the consumer price index). For people buying homes in these facilities, the maximum rent increase will be limited to 10%. 

• Rents will be more predictable and landlords will be prevented from making unreasonable demands when owners sell their manufactured home.
• Status: Signed Into Law

HB 2077 - The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit extends the deadline for a property tax exemption for nonprofit organizations that provide low-income housing.

• Nonprofit groups that build or manage affordable housing for low-income people can continue to avoid paying property taxes for a longer time, keeping the housing affordable longer.
• Status: Signed Into Law

HB 3560 - Childcare Super Siting Bill allows childcare facilities to be located in more places.

• More options for locating daycare centers and other childcare services will make it easier for parents to find care close to home or work, making everyday life more manageable and affordable.
• Status: Signed Into Law

Utilities HB 3179 - The FAIR Energy Act requires that the Public Utility Commission consider how a proposed price increase will affect customers — but only if that price increase would raise the utility company's total income in the state by 2% or more.

• It will be harder for utility companies to raise prices without considering how increases will hit customers’ wallets—helping to keep utility bills more manageable.
• Status: Waiting for Governor's Signature

HB 3546 - The POWER Act requires the Public Utility Commission to create a special category and set of rules for businesses or facilities that use a lot of energy. This means big energy users, like factories and data centers, might face different rates or rules than households or small businesses.

• Preventing cost shifting to households and encouraging efficient energy planning can ensure fairness in energy pricing and protect people from paying more than their fair share.
• Status: Signed Into Law

Consumer Protection HB 3167 - This measure increases transparency in the ticket buying process by prohibiting Ticket Resellers from using software to avert sale control measures. Also, it requires that the full ticket price, including fees, must be displayed before requiring financial information.

• It will be illegal to use special tools or programs to get around rules that make sure tickets are distributed fairly to everyone.
• Status: Signed Into Law

HB 3178 - This measure requires car dealers to honestly get a loan or lease approved by a lender using the exact terms the dealer and buyer agreed on.

• Car dealers can’t change the financing terms after the buyer signs and drives the car off the lot.
• Status: Signed Into Law

HB 2563 - To address unclear changes in insurance premiums, this bill requires insurance companies to clearly explain why your premium is going up when they renew your policy.

• Customers will better understand the reason for the premium change, so they aren't surprised and can make informed decisions.
• Status: Signed Into Law

HB 3865 - The Telemarketing Ban would make it illegal for telemarketers to call outside certain hours, call you more than three times in one day, lie about who they are, why they're calling, or where they’re calling from, or leave out important information they’re supposed to share during the call.

• We will be protected from annoying, misleading, or dishonest sales calls; protecting our privacy, and reducing the risk of fraud.
• Status: Waiting for Governor's Signature

HB 3875 - To address the lack of privacy in Vehicle Data collection, this bill ensures that car makers and their partner companies must follow Oregon’s privacy laws when handling personal data they collect from people using their vehicles—no matter how many people they collect data from.

• This means your personal information from your car (like location, driving habits, or synced phone data) has to be protected just like data from websites or apps.
• Status: Signed Into Law

Gun Tragedy Prevention SB 243 - The Community Safety Firearms Act. The Community Safety Firearms Act bans rapid-fire activators, devices that convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon. Red and Blue states across the country have banned these devices and now Oregon will join them. The act also allows cities, counties, and districts to restrict the carrying of firearms in their public buildings. They may choose to put in place the same protections we have in the Corvallis school district and in the Oregon Capitol Building. This is important public safety and local control legislation. The first time I entered our capitol building was to testify at a hearing for a bill about guns in sensitive places. It was a privilege to carry this bill in the Oregon House. Status: Waiting for Governor's Signature

Healthcare SB 951 - Corporate Practice of Medicine Ban will ensure that doctors and medical professionals, not corporate accountants, are in charge of your medical options. This bill limits the ownership and control of medical practices to licensed medical providers, prohibiting management services organizations (MSOs) and their officers from directing or influencing clinical operations. Status: Signed Into Law HB 2010 - Strengthening the Oregon Health Plan continues existing fees (or taxes) on money made by health insurance companies, payments to managed care groups, hospitals, and a program that helps keep insurance costs stable in Oregon. These fees help fund the state’s healthcare system, including coverage for low-income residents. HB 2010 has been signed into law by the Governor and will be in effect upon the end of the legislative session. Status: Signed Into Law HB 2385 - Funding Services for Low-Income Oregonians will stop drug companies from getting in the way of pharmacies or clinics that are trying to get, deliver, or give out low-cost 340B drugs to patients. The 340B program lets certain health care providers buy medications at discounted prices to help serve low-income or vulnerable patients. Status: Signed Into Law HB 3243 - Balance Billing Ban would stop ambulance companies from charging patients extra (called "balance billing") in certain situations and sets up rules for how insurance plans should pay for ambulance services. This means that if someone needs an ambulance, they won’t get hit with unexpected, large bills that their insurance doesn’t cover. It also makes sure that insurance companies pay ambulance services fairly. Status: Waiting for Governor's Signature

Environment & Climate Protection HB 2947A - Directs the Oregon State University Extension Service and the College of Agricultural Sciences of Oregon State University to study the distribution and occurrence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in biosolids applied to agricultural fields that do not produce crops intended for human consumption. This is the first step necessary for learning and monitor the presence and distribution of forever chemicals" in our agriculture industry. Status: Waiting for Governor's Signature SB 726 - Requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill located in Benton County to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. The Coffin Butte Landfill must use advanced technology to monitor methane emissions. This will improve their ability to identify methane leaks, fix them, and report the accurate data. Status: Signed Into Law SB 85 - Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Department of the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the State Forestry Department and the insurance industry, to develop recommendations for community-based wildfire risk mitigation.  Wildfire risk mitigation will be improved and insurance will be more available and affordable and available. Status: Signed Into Law SB 91 - Prohibits fire departments from using firefighting foam containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Banning the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS by Oregon fire departments (except where required by federal law requires, such as by the FAA) will reduce the health risk to our first responders. Status: Signed Into Law SB 551 - Prohibits restaurants and retailers from providing single-use checkout bags to consumers. All Oregon retailers and restaurants will be banned from offering plastic or fabric checkout bags starting January 1, 2027. Status: Signed Into Law SB 827 - Expands the Oregon Solar and Storage Rebate Program to offer rebates for energy storage systems that will be paired at the time of installation with previously purchased and installed solar electric systems. Rebates are based on income level and customer type, with higher percentages and caps available to low- and moderate-income residents and low-income service providers. Status: Signed Into Law

Education HB 3365 - Climate Change Education - The measure requires the State Board of Education to ensure that academic content standards for core subjects include instruction on the causes and effects of climate change and strategies for responding.   All Oregon be educated about climate change and better prepared for their futures. Status: Signed Into Law SB 1098 - Book Ban, Ban - Prohibits discrimination based on a character's or author's identity when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks, or instructional materials, or when developing and implementing a curriculum. Books can still be challenged for issues like age appropriateness, violence, or sexual content, but not because characters or the author belong to a protected class.  Status: Signed Into Law HB 3199 - Chronic Absenteeism Investigation - Requires the Legislative Policy and Research Director to conduct a study on statewide attendance initiatives. This bill directs an investigation into one of the state’s most pervasive education challenges: chronic absenteeism. Status: Signed Into Law SB 5516 - Funding K-12 at Historic Levels - Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Department of Education for the State School Fund. This bill funds K-12 education at $11.4 billion, the largest investment in state history. This is a hard one to celebrate because I am aware that we are still not meeting our students' needs. In a very tough budget year is is a win, even if it is a bitter one. I will continue to be an advocate for education. Status: Signed Into Law SB 548 - Increases the minimum legal marriageable age to 18 years of age. One of those things I was surprised wasn't already the law. Status: Signed Into Law

The legislative interim is a chance for lawmakers to reconnect with their communities and focus on policy work outside of session. This summer, I’ll be diving deep into waste management issues, partnering with local non-profits, touring tech innovation programs at OSU and HP, and collaborating with the City of Corvallis and Benton County on emerging priorities. And I will build on relationships I made in my first session to continue to work to make District 16 and Oregon work for all of our residents.

Plus, I’ll be hosting a Town Hall with House Majority Leader Ben Bowman on August 23rd at 10:00 AM at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library’s Main Meeting Room (645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis, OR 97330). I hope to see you there.

Representative Sarah McDonald
House District 16

P.S. Only 144 days before the Legislative Concept Request Deadline for the 2026 Legislative Session!

email: Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1416
address: 900 Court St NE, H-477, Salem, OR 97301

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