Rep. John Davis Legislative Update

• First Town Hall on Marijuana This Week
• In Committee Last Week
• Bills that Passed the House Last Week

We've made it to week 11 of the 2015 Legislative Session, which will likely extend through July 4. No matter how hard we try, each legislator inevitably succumbs to the "Capitol Crud," the cold and flu that ravages through the Capitol hallways with the mix of thousands of visitors and constituents. Last week my number was up, and I was laid out on Friday and through the weekend recovering. I'm glad I held it off until Thursday, since last Monday I worked with Terry Porter to gain momentum for the Portland Trail Blazer Specialty License Plate (HB3355).

First Town Hall on Marijuana This Week

Starting July 1, 2015, Measure 91 legalizes the personal use and possession of certain amounts of recreational marijuana. The Legislature is considering changes to the law addressing taxation, consumption, growing and regulation of marijuana. These town hall meetings are opportunities for residents to learn about Measure 91 and share their opinions about how the legal framework for marijuana should be shaped by the legislature. I welcome input from every perspective.

Wilsonville - Wed, April 15th 6:30-7:30pm - Wilsonville City Hall, Council Chambers, 29799 SW Town Center Loop East, Wilsonville, OR 97070

Sherwood - Wed, April 29th 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Sherwood Police Department, 20495 SW Borchers Dr, Sherwood, OR 97140

Tigard | King City - Wed, May 20th 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Tigard Public Library - Public Community Room, 13500 SW Hall Blvd, Tigard, OR  97223 

In Committee Last Week

E-Cigarette Taxes?

The Portland French immersion school La Monde visited our Revenue committee on Tuesday April 7th - I tried without success to get the Chair to require the entire committee to be conducted in French. We went on to discuss the possible taxation of E-Cigarettes, with the majority of the testimony opposing the potential move in light of the use of E-Cigarettes to move people away from smoking.

Gain Share and the Strategic Investment Program

Later in the week the topic of Gain Share was addressed, with a proposal that would drastically alter and essentially eliminate the program as it stands today. This alternative was not enthusiastically received by our Revenue Committee. However, both the Oregonian and the Hillsboro Tribune have endorsed the bi-partisan compromise on Gain Share that I helped draft with Sen. Richard Devlin, Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, and Senator Bill Hansell. Our proposal provides dedicated funding to career and technical education, local schools, and statewide economic development programs. The Hillsboro Tribune said, "A variety of ideas have been floated for changing the Gain Share law, but Senate Bill 129-5 is the best vehicle for preserving the program and making it equitable for all. This bill has drawn support from business and labor, as well as urban, rural and suburban communities. Some critics of Gain Share have advocated for getting rid of it altogether, but that would be a mistake. The Strategic Investment Program, of which Gain Share is a critical component, has encouraged billions of dollars in capital investment."

I attended Washington County Chair Andy Duyk's State of the County Address a little over a week ago. He spoke about the jobs and education powerhouse the County has become, noting "38,000 new positions [were] created since the worst of the recession in 2009. By adding 26 new jobs a day, we have not only erased and replaced the 19,000 jobs that were lost during the recession — we have been setting new records ever since then."

Bills that Passed the House Last Week

April 6, 2015 - April 10, 2015

The following is a partial list of bills that passed the House last week. (Click This Link to Find the Status of All House Bills)

HB 3035 Relating to flashing lights in school zones. Allows increased use of flashing lights in certain school zones.

HB 2300 - A Relating to treatments for patients with terminal diseases. Creates method by which health care practitioner may offer to treat patient who has terminal disease with investigational product not approved by United States Food and Drug Administration.

HB 2414 Relating to voluntary adoption registries. Permits parents or guardians of minor adoptees or minor genetic siblings of adoptees to use and register with voluntary adoption registries.

HB 2473 - A Relating to the practice of social work. Authorizes State Board of Licensed Social Workers to adopt rules providing for temporary licensure, certification and registration related to practice of social work.

HB 2637 - A Relating to advertising of mortgage-related services. Prohibits person from knowingly omitting from advertisement for mortgage credit product clear and conspicuous statement that identifies person that offers or promotes mortgage credit product.

HB 2670 - A Relating to in-state tuition at post-secondary institutions of education. Allows in-state tuition in certain circumstances for individuals who resided in Oregon but relocated due to position in military, government or humanitarian aid organization.

HB 2694 Relating to the reporting of suspected offenses against animals. Allows regulated social worker employed by Department of Human Services to report suspected animal abuse or neglect involving animal or person social worker comes into contact with while acting as employee of department.

HB 3050 Relating to boards of directors of regional air quality control authorities. Modifies requirements for composition of boards of directors of regional air quality control authorities.

HB 3335 - A Relating to university degree programs. Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to work with public universities to develop effective solutions to problem of students who enroll at public university, complete two or more years of coursework and leave university without graduating or receiving official recognition.

HB 3031 - A Relating to requirements for calls from automatic dialing and announcing devices. Requires caller that uses automatic dialing and announcing device in prerecorded or synthesized voice message that device plays to subscriber to provide method by which subscriber may enter single dual-tone multifrequency signal or enter or speak one-digit code to notify caller that subscriber does not want to receive future calls from caller.

HB 3257 Relating to low-income electric bill payment assistance. Extends sunset on collection of certain moneys from electric companies or Oregon Community Power for purposes related to low-income electric bill payment assistance.

2038 - A Relating to limited liability for aviation use of land. Limits liability of owners of land for damages resulting from use of land for aviation purposes.

2148 - A Relating to taxation of improvements on Indian trust land. Exempts from state and local property taxes and fees, charges and assessments related to property taxation permanent improvements located on federal land held in trust for federally recognized Indian tribe or tribe member.

2660 - A Relating to driving while under the influence of intoxicants. Provides court discretion to order person participating in driving while under influence of intoxicants diversion agreement to install ignition interlock device if person submitted to chemical test of person's breath, blood or urine and test disclosed blood alcohol content below 0.08 percent by weight.

Sincerely,

State Representative John Davis
House District 26: Wilsonville, Sherwood, King City,
Hillsboro, Beaverton, Aloha, Tigard, & Bull Mountain

Email: Rep.JohnDavis@state.or.us
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/Davis
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-483, Salem, Oregon 97301

Legislative Staff 
Legislative Director - Michelle Felton - michelle.felton@state.or.us
Small Business Liaison - Sterling Smith - sterling.smith@state.or.us
Policy Analyst | Legal Extern - Brianna Wellman - brianna.wellman@state.or.us

Committees

House Committee on Revenue
Joint Committee On Tax Credits - Co-Vice Chair
Joint Committee On Health Insurance Transition
House Committee on Tansportation and Economic Development - Vice-Chair

Quick Links
The State’s system to track bills and committee agendas: Oregon Legislative Information (OLIS) 
Our State of Oregon Legislative Website: Oregon Legislature