|
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The first week of the short legislative session is officially under wraps, and it moved quickly. Most policy committees have already met multiple times, bills are moving out of committee, and next week we begin regular floor sessions.
Monday, February 9 marks the first chamber work session posting deadline. That means policy committees must have work sessions posted on their agendas in order to move bills forward. While a posted agenda does not guarantee a bill will be worked, it signals which bills may advance before the next major deadline on February 16.
This session, I am serving on the following committees, and I’ve included a brief “Get Involved” guide below so you can follow the work and participate where it matters most:
Below is a short video update I recorded from Salem, where I walk through how the short session is intended to work, the challenges we are already seeing with bill volume and public testimony, and why meaningful public input must remain central to the legislative process.
As always, please reach out to my office if you have questions about specific legislation or issues we may be able to assist with.
⏰ Public Hearing – Your Voice Matters
SB 1599 is scheduled for a public hearing:
Monday, February 9 at 1:00 PM
Joint Special Committee on Referendum Petition 2026-302
I strongly encourage Oregonians to testify, submit written comments, or follow this hearing closely. Changing election rules after citizens have already qualified a ballot measure sets a dangerous precedent, and it should concern anyone who values fair elections and public accountability.
One of the most concerning bills moving this session is SB 1599, and it deserves immediate attention.
SB 1599 would move the transportation tax referendum from the November 2026 general election to the May primary election, despite the fact that the Secretary of State has already certified the measure for the November ballot.
More than 250,000 Oregonians signed petitions to refer this transportation tax hike to voters. Those petitions clearly stated the election date as November 3, 2026, when voter participation is highest and Oregonians across the state have the strongest voice.
Instead of respecting that process, this bill attempts to fast-track the vote into a low-turnout primary election, where far fewer voters participate and public scrutiny is reduced.
If this transportation tax package is truly good policy, it should be able to stand on its own in a full general election. Efforts to move it to an off-cycle election only reinforce what many Oregonians already believe: this tax is unpopular, and voters deserve a fair, transparent vote.
Both parties have acknowledged that ODOT’s budget can be balanced using existing resources. At a time when affordability is already strained, Oregonians have been clear, they do not want additional gas taxes quietly pushed through with limited public input.
HB 4049 focuses specifically on the Harney Basin and voluntary groundwater agreements. In December, the Oregon Water Resources Commission designated the basin as a critical groundwater area, giving the state authority to cancel water rights to achieve groundwater stability.
The law already allows groundwater users to enter voluntary agreements as an alternative, but a recent agency memo effectively stripped away flexibility by requiring those agreements to mirror state rules. That is not what the community asked for, and not how voluntary agreements were intended to work.
HB 4049 provides clarity so groundwater users and the Commission can work collaboratively toward long-term solutions that balance economic, ecological, and social needs. The public hearing went well, strong local testimony was delivered, and the bill is scheduled for a work session next week.
HB 4105 addresses sustainable timber harvest levels on state forest lands. This bill is a reintroduction of legislation that passed out of committee unanimously last session.
The bill directs the Oregon Department of Forestry to clearly state how much timber will be offered for sale each year and to meet those targets. If goals are missed, they must be made up in subsequent years. This is about good governance, predictability, and accountability so counties, timber operators, and communities can plan responsibly.
We are continuing to work through concerns related to an inflated fiscal estimate from last session and coordinating with the Department of Justice to ensure accuracy.
I am a chief sponsor of HB 4002, a bipartisan, bicameral effort to address bill limits. While this can be a sensitive topic, the reality is that too many bills, especially during long sessions, make it nearly impossible to fully vet policy or meaningfully engage the public.
This week, a work group began discussions on what reasonable bill limits could look like heading into the 2027 long session. My position is simple: doing nothing is the biggest mistake we can make. We must reduce volume so legislators can actually listen to Oregonians and make better decisions.
I am also a sponsor of HB 4153, alongside Rep. Vicki Breese-Iverson. This bill addresses where farm stands can be located and what products can be sold at them.
The current framework is overly complicated and limits farmers’ ability to diversify income. With many Oregon farms operating at a negative cash flow, we must look for practical ways to help them stay in business. Will this policy be perfect? No - but we have to try.
Testimony on both sides was thoughtful, and there may be more work to be done. I’m hopeful we can refine this bill and move it forward during the short session.
The latest revenue forecast shows a modest increase, and while the budget is technically balanced, there is still not enough funding to meet all the priorities being discussed in the building. Tough decisions lie ahead.
My focus remains ensuring that tax dollars generated in Eastern Oregon come back to support our communities. I’ll continue to keep you updated as budget discussions evolve.
The legislative session is not just something that happens in Salem. It is where your voice can shape decisions that affect our communities. Here are practical ways you can take part.
Track Bills and Stay Informed
• Use the Oregon Legislative Information System, OLIS, to follow bills, see where they are in the process, and check upcoming hearings.
• Sign up for Capitol e-Subscribe to receive email alerts when bills move or committees schedule meetings.
Register to Testify
• If there is a bill you care about, you can register to speak in support or opposition at a public hearing.
• Registration closes 30 minutes before the hearing begins.
• Go to OLIS, find the bill or committee agenda, and select Register to Testify, or call 1-833-588-4500 for help.
• You can testify in person at the Capitol or remotely through Microsoft Teams or by phone.
Submit Written Testimony
• You can also share your position in writing instead of speaking in person.
• Follow the same steps in OLIS and choose Submit Testimony.
• Written testimony may be submitted up to 48 hours after the committee meeting start time.
Watch or Attend
• Hearings and floor sessions are streamed online through OLIS, and recordings are available anytime.
• The Capitol is open to the public during business hours, and visitors are welcome to observe the process in person.
Contact My Office
• You can always call, email, or write to share your thoughts on a bill or an issue. Clear messages from home make a real difference in Salem.
Your participation is what keeps the process grounded in real life. I encourage you to stay engaged and make your voice heard.
Helpful Links
🔗 2026 Regular Session OLIS homepage
🔗How to testify
🔗Register to testify or submit testimony
🔗Capitol e-Subscribe
|
You can enter the Amazing Teachers - February 2026 Contest between Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM and Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time. You can vote starting Monday, February 16, 2026 at 12:00 AM through Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time.
|
This free class will focus on succession planning for business owners—an important step in helping local businesses remain strong and operational for years to come.
Thursday, February 19
6:00 - 7:00 PM
TVCC Building next to Burns Highs School
Contact: Darcy Patterson, 541-573-1576 to register
Scholarship Details:
-
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors with preference given to students in Eastern/Central Oregon and Eastern Washington planning to pursue an undergraduate engineering or related degree.
-
Application Deadline: March 30, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST.
- Application Requirements:
- Current high school transcript, highlighting STEM-related coursework.
- Three letters of recommendation:
- From a school official or teacher confirming the student's interest in engineering.
- From an employer or volunteer supervisor confirming the student's work ethic.
- Other (such as coaches, mentors, extracurricular club leaders, etc.) attesting to the student's qualifications and engineering interest.
- A personal essay describing the student's engineering interests and career aspirations.
- Participation in a finalist interview via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
For comprehensive information and to access the application portal, please visit the scholarship page: Scholarship - Anderson Perry - Application
Oregon taxpayers can claim their share of this year’s $1.4 billion kicker. The IRS and the state began processing e-filed 2025 state income tax returns on January 26, 2026.
You must file a return to get your kicker – Use the Kicker Calculator
The kicker is a refundable credit that will either increase a taxpayer's Oregon state income tax refund or decrease the amount of state taxes they owe. It is not sent to taxpayers separately as a check. Taxpayers may use the “What’s My Kicker? Calulator” to determine their credit.
Only taxpayers who filed a tax year 2024 return and file a tax year 2025 return can receive a kicker. The credit is a percentage of Oregon personal income tax liability for the 2024 tax year.
Electronic filing is faster—especially in 2026
On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund within two weeks. E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received, with the first refunds expected to be issued February 15. For paper filed returns, refunds will not start being issued until early April.
Due to the delayed receipt of tax forms and information from the IRS in late 2025, processing of paper-filed Oregon personal income tax returns will be delayed until late March, a process that has historically begun in February.
The delay in paper return processing means the department won’t be able to tell taxpayers who file paper returns, that their return has been received until paper return processing starts at the end of March. Also, information on paper-filed returns won’t be available in the “Where’s My Refund?” tool until that time.
Free e-filing options open January 26 Oregon residents who normally mail their tax return to the department should consider using Direct File Oregon, a free filing option available through Revenue Online, or other online tax preparation software, to receive their refund—and their kicker—sooner.
Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.
All electronic filing software options approved for filing Oregon personal income tax returns can be found on the Electronic filing page of the agency’s website.
Free and low-cost tax help
Free tax preparation services are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.
KEEP IN TOUCH
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
| 
