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The two weeks of the 2026 Legislative Short Session are in the books–and we covered a lot of ground. Along with this newsletter, I invite you to follow me on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates on the work happening at the Capitol. You’ll be able to see updates on key legislation, watch my committee testimony and floor speeches, and stay connected with my office.
The Oregon Legislature’s Short Session is a five-week sprint, and bills are moving quickly. Even in this fast-paced environment, we are making real progress on legislation that lowers costs, strengthens our communities, and supports Oregon families. Here’s a snapshot of what I’m working on right now:
Protecting Affordable Healthcare (HB 4127)
Status: Passed out of House Committee on Health Care, headed to Ways and Means.
HB 4127 protects access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare by ensuring patients can continue receiving care without political interference. As federal actions threaten providers across the country, this bill helps keep essential healthcare available and stable for Oregonians who rely on it every day. View my testimony to the House Committee on Healthcare here or by clicking the image.
Expanding Early Literacy (HB 4022 – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library)
Status: Passed on the House Floor, headed to the Senate.
HB 4022 codifies Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide, which provides free books to children from birth to age five. Early access to books helps children build strong literacy skills before they ever enter a classroom, setting them up for long-term success and giving families across Oregon an extra boost. View my speech on the House Floor here or by clicking the image above.
Buyers Before Billionaires (HB 4128)
Status: Passed out of committee, headed to the House Floor.
HB 4128 helps level the playing field for first-time and local homebuyers by prioritizing people over large corporate investors. At a time when housing costs continue to rise, this bill works to protect homeownership opportunities, strengthen neighborhoods, and keep housing local. I was thankful for the support from Representative Wise, Representative Grayber, and Senator Neron Misslin (left to right). View my speech to the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness here or by clicking the image above.
School Meals for All (SB 1581)
Status: Passed out of committee, headed to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Every student deserves access to nutritious meals at school. SB 1581 would expand school meal access so students can focus on learning, not hunger, while reducing stigma and helping ease costs for families. I proudly worked for former Rep. Margaret Doherty when she championed legislation to fight child hunger – this is a continuation of that work. View my speech to the Senate Committee on Education here or by clicking the image above.
Moda Center Renovation (SB 1501)
Status: In the Senate Committee on Rules.
SB 1501 is about taking the first real steps toward renovating and revitalizing the Moda Center. It sets up a partnership between the state and the City of Portland to jointly own and operate the arena, and creates an Oregon Arena Fund to support upgrades, maintenance, and the arena’s long-term future. The Blazers produce civic pride, national visibility, cultural identity, and real economic value. They bolster Portland’s reputation. The Blazers are a major economic engine for Portland and the state. They support, directly and indirectly, thousands of jobs. They drive tourism, and they anchor activity downtown. On game nights, restaurants fill, hotels book up, and local workers across industries benefit. View my speech to the Senate Committee on Rules here or by clicking the image above.
Protecting What Makes Oregon, Oregon
Photo by Zak Stone Photography
Last week, a 40-acre property in Marion County was listed for sale. On that land is Abiqua Falls, a place of extraordinary beauty and meaning for Oregonians.
Oregon’s identity has always been tied to the places we share. From public coastlines to rivers, forests, and waterfalls, these places are our shared inheritance. They are passed down because each generation chooses to protect them.
The Abiqua Falls property is being sold without a condition requiring public access. As I said on the house floor, when places like this are at risk of being closed to the public, we are forced to confront a fundamental question: Who is Oregon for?
Oregonians have answered that question before. Through the leadership of the generation of Tom McCall and Bob Straub, we chose to protect the coast and other treasured places for everyone.
Very rarely does a generation get the chance to protect something truly special. Today, we have that chance again.
🔗 Watch my Instagram Video on Abiqua Falls
Corporate Practice of Medicine at the National Level
 Background photo by the American Medical Association
In 2025, I worked to pass SB 951, closing a loophole that allowed corporations to seize control of physician practices and inject a profit-first motive into patient care. That shift toward corporatization has had real consequences for healthcare access and costs across Oregon – and across the country. If you’re interested in the deeper dive, the American Medical Association published a helpful article highlighting our work on this issue.
I’m incredibly proud to see the national reverberations of what we accomplished here at home. As states grapple with rapid consolidation in healthcare, Oregon has helped lead the conversation. On February 10th, Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced the Break Up Medicine Act, bringing many of the same principles we advanced in Oregon to the national stage. You can read Senator Warren’s press release to learn more about how this federal proposal builds on the momentum we started.
What the Revenue Forecast Means for Oregon Families
The Office of Economic Analysis released the Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast on February 4th. While modestly good news at the state level, most Oregonians won’t be impacted by what we learned in the revenue forecast. Many will wake up tomorrow and still struggle to pay skyrocketing healthcare costs, rising rent, and growing grocery bills.
Oregon has to make tough budget decisions because of Congress’ decision to strip away billions of dollars from Oregonians. Unlike the federal government, we can’t run up trillions of dollars in debt. We will tighten our belt like all families do in tough times – but we also have to fight to protect healthcare, food support, and critical services for the kids and families who need them.
Several news outlets have been following the status of my priorities through the session. View the articles below:
In the News & On the Air
- Demobrats Podcast – A conversation with Salem locals about key priorities and what to expect in the upcoming session. (Apple Music, Spotify, RSS Feed)
- KOIN Eye on NW Politics – Discussion on the state budget and major policy issues moving through the legislature. (KOIN)
- KGW Straight Talk – A wide-ranging interview on leadership, affordability, and the work ahead this session. (KGW)
Recent News Coverage
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Statesman Journal | Feb. 9
- “Very rarely does a generation get the chance to protect something truly special in the way that the (Tom) McCall and (Bob) Straub generation did but today we have that chance," said Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard. "We cannot allow Abiqua Falls to become a commodity or a private attraction. That is not who we are as a people or as a state. The path forward isn’t fully clear yet but one thing is certain: we have to do something.”
- Planned Parenthood Funding Bill Draws Passionate Opinions
- The Lund Report | Feb. 4
- “Tens of thousands of Oregonians will lose access to health care,” Bowman said during the hearing. “Health care costs and wait times will dramatically increase for Oregonians seeking access to care. People will lose access to preventative upstream care and be forced into emergency rooms and other high-cost settings that all of us will pay for.”
- Behind Oregon’s first-in-nation law curbing corporate medicine
- American Medical Association | Feb. 9
- “What we tried to do in Oregon … is to be clear that the corporate practice of medicine doctrine means something more and we expect physicians to be in charge. It doesn’t mean you can’t partner with private equity firms or corporations, but it means at the end of the day when decisions are being made that impact patients, they have to be made by the physicians,” said Ben Bowman, the majority leader of the Oregon House of Representatives.”
- With Blazers' future at stake, Oregon lawmakers consider Moda Center overhaul bill
- Portland Business Journal | Feb. 9
- "The key to ensuring Portland remains Rip City for years to come is a significant renovation of Moda Center," according to the joint statement by Gov. Tina Kotek, House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Portland City Council President Jamie Dunphy, and Wagner. "This is so much bigger than basketball. A renovation of Moda Center will ensure our largest city, and therefore the state, can be competitive in attracting stops for national concert tours, as well as future marquee athletic events like the NCAA Women's Final Four, which Portland will proudly host in 2030."
Thanks for reading!
 Representative Ben Bowman
State Representative House District 25
House Majority Leader
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1425
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-295, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.BenBowman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bowman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepBenBowman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rep.benbowman
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