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To contact me, please click here: Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
As we wrap up the fourth week of session, I’ll be honest, it has been a tough week to be a conservative voice in the Capitol.
Several major bills moved this week, including legislation tied to Measure 114, a federal tax disconnect bill impacting small businesses, and an anticipated transportation referral that continues to shift procedurally. These are not small issues. They directly affect our constitutional rights, our working families, and the way government operates in Oregon.
I also spent significant time working on water policy discussions impacting the Harney County Basin, continuing conversations with the Governor’s Office and the Oregon Water Resources Department to ensure our agricultural community is treated fairly.
Here’s a closer look at where things stand:
The budget process will move quickly. With roughly one week remaining, we expect major fiscal decisions to come together rapidly and the Full Ways and Means Committee will be meeting often this coming week. It is possible we could adjourn sine die before March 8.
As always, I appreciate hearing from you. Please continue reaching out with your thoughts and concerns.
Stay Safe,
It was great to visit with Alana Garner Carollo, Executive Director of the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association, at the Capitol this week.
Tourism plays a vital role in Eastern Oregon’s economy, supporting small businesses, local jobs, and our rural communities. I appreciate Alana’s leadership and her continued work to promote and strengthen our region. Thank you for taking the time to be in Salem and advocate for Eastern Oregon.
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It was nice to spend time with members of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association during OCA Day at the Capitol.
Our cattle producers are the backbone of rural Oregon, and their work supports families, local economies, and our state’s agricultural heritage. Thank you to everyone who traveled to Salem to share your perspective and advocate for policies that support working lands and ranching communities.
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Last week, I asked for your input on whether the Oregon Legislature should limit the number of bills legislators can introduce during long sessions to improve efficiency and focus on priority issues.
Thank you to everyone who participated.
Results (109 responses):
🟢 Yes: 99 votes (90.83%)
🔴 No: 10 votes (9.17%)
The response was clear. An overwhelming majority of participants support placing reasonable limits on the number of bills introduced during long sessions.
With thousands of bills introduced each session and only a fraction becoming law, it can be difficult for legislators and the public to thoroughly evaluate every proposal. Your feedback reinforces the need for thoughtful reforms.
That is why I support HB 4002, legislation aimed at placing reasonable guardrails on bill introductions to help the Legislature prioritize meaningful policy and improve transparency in the process.
I appreciate your engagement and will continue working to ensure the legislative process remains focused, efficient, and accountable to the people of Oregon.
HB 4145 attempts to codify portions of Measure 114 into statute while the measure remains tied up in the courts. We should not be using legislation to override issues that are actively being litigated.
One of my biggest concerns is the change of venue language. With 27 circuit courts across Oregon, citizens should be able to have cases heard in their own jurisdictions. This proposal centralizes that authority in a way I strongly oppose.
This bill does not prevent crime. It imposes additional burdens on law-abiding Oregonians.
You can watch my floor remarks on this issue here.
I have spent more than seven hours so far this session meeting with the Governor’s Office and OWRD regarding voluntary agreements in the Harney County Basin.
The bill stemmed from a seven-page memo issued by the department that lacked flexibility and did not adequately recognize farmers willing to participate in voluntary agreements.
Our goal is to see a revised memo issued that provides real flexibility and incentives for agricultural producers. If that occurs, this legislation may not be necessary. Protecting our water users while finding workable solutions remains one of my priorities.
Unfortunately, HB 4105 will not move forward this session despite broad support. I will continue working with stakeholders to prepare for a future opportunity in the 2027 session.
SB 1507 disconnects Oregon from federal tax provisions adopted under H.R. 1, including enhanced depreciation and other tax treatments that affect businesses across multiple sectors.
During the floor debate, I highlighted examples such as farmers, ranchers, construction companies, and small business owners who rely on first-year depreciation when purchasing equipment. These are not the only Oregonians impacted, but they clearly illustrate how this policy affects real-world operations.
This bill does not change the total amount of revenue the state ultimately collects. It changes the timing of when that revenue is recognized. For many businesses, that timing matters. First-year depreciation can significantly impact cash flow, reinvestment decisions, and long-term planning.
I believe this policy sends the wrong message to working families and employers across Oregon who are already navigating rising costs and economic uncertainty.
SB 1539 would allow trained, non-veterinarian individuals to verify whether cattle are pregnant under rules adopted by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and/or the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board, providing more flexibility for livestock operations where large-animal veterinary access is limited. The policy aims to support ranchers by expanding who can perform routine reproductive checks, particularly in rural regions with sparse veterinary coverage.
I had the privilege of carrying this bill on the House Floor, and it even sparked a fun moment with my good friend Rep. Helm — catch the video below.
Overall Session Total:
🟢 Supported: 60 | 🔴 Opposed: 20 | 🟡 Excused (House Business): 10
Vote Key:
🟢 Aye — Supported the bill
🔴 Nay — Opposed the bill
🟡 Excused (House Business) — Officially excused while conducting legislative duties, often meetings with other legislators.
February 24, 2026
🔗 HB 4134 A | 🟢 Aye — Increases the state TLT to add more compensation for wolf deprivation funding.
🔗 HB 4138 A | 🔴 Nay — Requires law enforcement agencies to require officers to wear uniforms with specified identifying information
🔗 EHB 4004 B | 🟡 Excused (House Business) — Addresses additional taxes upon disqualification of certain forestland from special assessment programs
🔗 HB 4052 | 🟢 Aye — Creates a corporate excise tax credit for the first three years a bank does business in Oregon
🔗 HB 4159 | 🔴 Nay — Changes appointment criteria for a member of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission
🔗 HB 4161 | 🟢 Aye — Provides exceptions regarding use of public office to obtain financial gain
🔗 HB 4179 | 🟢 Aye — Permits OHSU to create and maintain a nonprofit corporation
🔗 SCR 201 | 🟢 Aye — Celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service
🔗 SCR 204 | 🟢 Aye — Honors the Association of Oregon Counties on the 120th anniversary of its founding
🔗 HCR 202 | 🟢 Aye — Declares a state policy goal that Oregon’s health care system will be more affordable and accessible by 2033
February 25, 2026
🔗 HB 4145 A | 🔴 Nay — Modifies the firearm permit provisions of Ballot Measure 114 (2022)
🔗 HB 4148 | 🔴 Nay — Expands use of local transient lodging tax revenue for small business resiliency grants
🔗 SB 1507 B | 🔴 Nay — Updates Oregon’s connection to the federal Internal Revenue Code
🔗 SB 1512 | 🔴 Nay — Expands the goals and purposes of the Prosperity 10,000 Program
🔗 SB 1527 A | 🟢 Aye — Prohibits cost-sharing for certain cervical cancer screenings and follow-up exams
🔗 SB 1547 A | 🟢 Aye — Authorizes licensure for behavioral health promotion, prevention, and brief intervention
February 26, 2026
🔗 SCR 203 | 🟢 Aye — In memoriam: Moses Ross (1966–2025)
🔗 SB 1504 | 🟢 Aye — Allows provision of epinephrine in schools by methods other than injections
🔗 SB 1523 A | 🟢 Aye — Defines “tenant portal” in residential tenancy law
🔗 SB 1538 | 🟢 Aye — Requires school districts to admit all students to all schools and instructional programs
🔗 SB 1596 | 🟢 Aye — Allows play-based learning to count as instructional time for K–5 students
February 27, 2026
🔗 HB 4135 | 🟢 Aye — Designates March 4 of each year as HPV Awareness Day
🔗 HB 4027 A | 🔴 Nay — Modifies Workers’ Benefit Fund assessments and creates a new BOLI Expenses Fund
🔗 HB 4047 | 🟢 Aye — Allows hospitals to apply for licensure as rural emergency hospitals
🔗 HB 4089 B | 🔴 Nay — Modifies the crime of theft of services to include partial payments
🔗 HB 4115 A | 🟢 Aye — Extends duration of certain caregiver criminal records checks
🔗 HB 4124 B | 🔴 Nay — Directs study and recommendations for restructuring Oregon’s post-secondary education system
🔗 HB 4131 A | 🟢 Aye — Authorizes licensure for mobile pharmacies
🔗 HB 4144 A | 🟢 Aye — Establishes a battery producer responsibility program
🔗 HB 4178 A | 🔴 Nay — Allows certain businesses to adopt five-cent rounding policies
🔗 SB 1539 | 🟢 Aye — Allows an individual to verify whether cattle are pregnant without holding a valid license issued by the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board under certain circumstances
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
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