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Greetings from Salem!
HB 5017 the $7.255 billion K-12 Education Budget has now
been approved in both chambers and Governor Kate Brown indicated she will sign
this bill. This funding package
included a $300 million increase over former Governor John Kitzhaber’s proposed
education budget, and is a $600 million increase over the 2013-15 K-12
budget. State lawmakers have increased
the public school K-12 budget by 25% since 2011-13. HB 5017 also includes provision that dedicates
a percentage of any new revenue to education funding, and we will know more
with the May revenue forecast.
On Monday, Seaside 8th grader Hayley Rollins
came to Salem to testify in support of HB 3042.
I met Hayley when I spoke to her class at Broadway Middle School
describing the lawmaking process, and explaining that some of the best ideas
for new legislation come from constituents.
Hayley took my comments seriously, and suggested designating a day to
honor Oregon artists. HB 3042 is a result of that request, and designates April
14th as Oregon’s Artists Day. In her testimony before the House Rules committee,
Hayley spoke about the importance learning about academics and culture in
school. She was thoughtful and well
spoken, and while she waited to testify, she sketched a beautiful picture of a
rose. HB 3042 is expected to come up for a floor
vote on April 14th, and Hayley plans to return to the Capitol that
day, serving as an Honorary Page in the House of Representatives, while her
bill is up for consideration.
 Hayley's Rose Drawing
Tuesday was Oregon Dairy Farmer’s Day at the Capitol, and
I was happy to meet with Richard Obrist, Carol Marie Leuthold and other
Tillamook area farmers. The Oregon
Dairy Farmers Association represents Oregon’s 240 dairy farming families, and
milk is the state’s fourth most valuable agricultural commodity, generating
nearly $553 million in gross farm sales annually. The farmers were weighing in on several
issues including funding for OSU’s Statewide Public Service Programs,
regulation of antibiotic use on farm animals, and legislation encouraging breakfast
availability within Oregon schools.
Wednesday the Oregon Realtors held their annual Capitol
visit, and met with lawmakers to discuss legislation relating to land use regulations, mortgage deductions,
seller financing and rural Oregon economic development. As Oregon’s economy continues to make modest
increases, realtors in my district report seeing improvements in the real
estate market.
 Clatsop County Realtors Visit Capitol
On Thursday in the House Veterans and Emergency
Preparedness Committee, we held a work session on SB 85 which authorizes local
governments to implement programs to facilitate retrofitting of buildings with
seismic upgrades. This legislation
started with the idea to protect historic building from earthquake damage, and
is an innovative way to build public-private partnerships to take on this
important work. I will be carrying this
bill on the House Floor in the near future.
This week Senator Betsy Johnson joined me in sponsoring
House Concurrent Resolution 25, to honor Nehalem Mayor Shirley Kalkhoven’s
decades of service to her city, coastal communities, and the State of
Oregon. Shirley passed away unexpectedly
on March 16th, and this legislation is one small way to honor her
for her upstanding citizenship and outstanding community service.
Last Friday, Oregon State Parks verified a western snowy
plover nest on the Nehalem Spit. Although this protected species traditionally
nested on the Clatsop, Necanicum and Nehalem Spits, this is the first time in
more than 20 years a snowy plover has had an active nest on the Nehalem
Spit. State Parks has been managing
recreation activities on the Nehalem Spit, driving is already prohibited, but
bikes and kites were allowed on the northern three miles of beach, but not on
the southern two miles. With the new nesting site, additional changes will be enacted. Between March 15 and September 15, the
plover nesting season, part of the dry sand on the southern two miles will be
signed or roped off in some way. People
and horses will continue to be able to use the wet sand, but not the dry sand. People walking dogs will need to use the same
northern three miles of dry and wet beach that people use to ride bikes and fly
kites.
In order to best represent my
district, I need to hear about your concerns. My door is always
open to constituents from House District 32, and I enjoy meeting with friends
and neighbors when they visit Salem. My office has moved to the
fourth floor, I’m now in H-481. If you are planning to visit the
Capitol, let my office know a few days in advance so we can schedule an
appointment. If you have a concern or comment about a state agency
or legislation under consideration, you can write, phone or email my office.
If you are interested in the
legislative process, you can learn all about the Oregon Legislature, follow
proposed bills, and watch committee meetings and floor sessions live, by
accessing the Oregon Legislative Information System via the following link:
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Pages/Legislative-Video.aspx
It is my privilege to represent
you in the Oregon House of Representatives and I look forward to hearing from
you.
Sincerely,
Deborah Boone
email: Rep.DeborahBoone@state.or.us I phone: 503-986-1432
address: 900 Court St NE, H-481, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boone
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