Four down and one to go

February 2024

Four weeks down, one to go. The legislative "short session" held every even-numbered year is nearly complete. Last week was a madhouse. All legislative committees have been working at warp speed to hear as many bills as possible, and then “work” them (schedule a work session for committee vote to move them on to the next step, either for consideration by a budget committee or by the House or Senate). Big bills – complex and high profile – are working their way through the final days. One of those brings change to Oregon’s treatment of certain drugs following voter approval of Measure 110 in 2020. I’ll write more about that below. Some specific proposals in topic areas including health care, education, public safety, and agriculture have gotten a lot of attention. Most of the votes have been bipartisan.

Committee meetings start at 8:00 AM and usually end by 6:30 PM. We squeeze in as many other meetings as we can, with Olivia and Spencer pitching in to help. A weekend basketball game here and there and a dinner with friends provide welcome cheer.

If you missed my latest e-news, here's the link to January 2024.

Legislative Session: four weeks done

You've likely already heard plenty about a few "big bills" like a major housing package, and about "Measure 110 reform" last week. There are several dozen other bills that have made their way out of committees and could be finished up in the House and Senate by the time we adjourn. I'll briefly recap one of the big ones, and describe a few others. And my two bills are near the finish line!

Measure 110 reform: focus on treatment first

Here's a link to everything on the legislative record for HB 4002 including committee hearings and testimony. It passed the House 51-7, including my "yes" vote.

Oregon Drug Intervention Plan

The Oregon Drug Intervention Plan will give providers and law enforcement the tools they need to keep people safe and save lives. We will also be investing more than $200 million in urgently expanding treatment, prevention, and strengthening the connection between law enforcement and treatment to more efficiently get people from crisis to stability.

Expand drug treatment to save lives, reduce drug overdoses, and get more Oregonians into recovery.
Intervene on drug use. First responders will have tools and authority to confiscate drugs, stop public drug use, and move people into treatment with accountability. This is called "deflection." The idea is to deflect people from the criminal system and get them help: treatment and support. Each county's approach to deflection will be different, to match resources available in that county. Examples: CAHOOTS in Lane County and medically assisted treatment.
Invest more in prevention and education. Make sure kids have knowledge and resources to stay safe and healthy, and stop them from experimenting with hard drugs. Relief Nurseries receive $2.7 million to provide therapeutic, early learning-educational, and family support services.
Invest in shovel ready projects and building out the behavioral health workforce, including $4 million for Willamette Family Medical Detox and Resident Services facility.
Stop drug dealers profiting off the addiction of others: increase sentences for dealers who target people living in shelters, people living with addiction, and people in parks.

School Bus "Stop Arm" cameras

A one-day survey of Oregon bus drivers revealed that 1,427 vehicles passed their buses illegally. That was just one day. Passing a school bus with its stop arm extended is already illegal, but it's difficult and even dangerous for law enforcement to hold motorists accountable. This bill from my colleague Rep. Courtney Neron allows school districts to authorize the use of stop arm cameras on school buses and to work with law enforcement to address safety violations. HB 4147 passed the Oregon House on February 19 with a 49-5 vote (I voted yes).

How I came to know about Brassicas

The legislature has again been debating farming practices and allowable crops in the Willamette Valley. Debate centers on canola, genetically modified seeds, and preserving Oregon's organic specialty crops.

Canola farming in the Willamette Valley was capped at 500 acres (total) in 2013. It was originally set to 500 acres for OSU researchers to study the effects of canola in the valley.

Canola is grown primarily for its seed to produce cooking oil and livestock feed. It's part of the Brassica family of plants that includes vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, radish, kale, and mustards. Growing canola near other Brassicas can lead to cross-pollination, and can increase the likelihood of disease and pests. Specialty Brassica seed growers are concerned that it could negatively impact the purity of their own Brassica seeds. The growers and other groups explain that the Willamette Valley is one of a few places in the world with ideal conditions for growing Brassicas for seeds.

Canola farmers are pressing for lifting the limit. They explain that canola is a good rotation crop along with grass seed fields, improving the soil and combating weeds. It can supplement a farmer’s income when grass seed and other crops don't yield as well in the ag market.

Here's the OPB story published after negotiations failed and the House voted to simply continue the limit. Here's a link to HB 4059 so you can find testimony, hearings, etc.

Environment and natural resources

I was proud to support several bills protecting and enhancing the environment. Here are two.

Marine Reserves are areas within coastal waters dedicated to scientific research and conservation, where ocean development and the removal of marine life is prohibited. I was proud to help pass HB 4232 to improve funding for the Marine Reserves Program. The House also passed HB 4083 to phase out state investments in coal companies.

My two bills

Re-shaping access to urgent health care

Lane County Director of Health and Human Services Eve Gray and Fire EMS Deputy District Chief Chris Heppel made another trip to Salem to testify and "our" bill is in the home stretch! The bill, with funding, has passed the House and is on the way for a vote in the Senate. It allocates money to Eugene Fire/EMS for an additional ambulance crew and for an Innovation Fund, and establishes a way to get nurses working more quickly in Oregon.

The public hearing. Here is my speech in the House. Follow the bill here.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers: close to seeing reform in Oregon

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) may be close to seeing some significant new regulation in Oregon. PBMs are the little known "middlemen" or go-between businesses that call the shots for prescription drugs, influencing prices and choices. My PBM bill (HB 4149) would establish licensing, impose stricter regulations, and shed light on their money stream. The bill cleared Joint Ways and Means and is headed for a vote in the House. I am cautiously hopeful.

In this photo are some of the pharmacists who came to Salem to press for the bill. The hearing in the Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee was intense: watch it here. Here is my testimony, and here is a letter from Senator Ron Wyden.

Getting it done

... when a bill is going sideways. Here's a snapshot that I took when Rep. Pam Marsh (Ashland) and I met with disagreeing stakeholders in person and by phones on the table, legislative revenue analysts, and legislative counsel (the legislature's attorneys) joining remotely on computer screens to hammer out a compromise. It feels good when you can find a solution that everyone can live with. Sometimes you just have to work a little magic (and technology) to get them all in the same room.

State news

Small Business Assistance

Here's a link to the Office of Small Business Assistance where you'll also find a video explaining the work they do and how they can help. Read their 2023 Annual Report, The State of Small Business.

Oregon Film Trail: we have markers in Eugene

Check out the website for Oregon Film Trail. The Oregon Film Trail is a statewide network of recognizable trail markers, placed at significant filming locations and strategic points across Oregon. The Trail stitches together many communities, locations and notable films; it provides the scaffolding to connect, retell stories, and celebrate Oregon’s rich contribution to filmmaking since the early 1900's. Oregon's film history constitutes hundreds of feature films & television shows that have utilized thousands of locations around the state.

Eugene features three Oregon Film Trail signs, highlighting the films Tracktown (2016), How to Beat the High Co$t of Living (1980), and Without Limits (1998), among others.

Higher Ed and Federal Student Aid

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) announced their redesigned agency website. HECC says, "The new website is designed to be more accessible, mobile responsive, and user-friendly as we aim to engage the public on the work we do to support higher education and training statewide."

You may have money coming back to you! Earned Income Tax Credit

Don't leave money on the table! You may qualify to get money back, even if you don't owe any taxes.

Learn more about the Oregon Kids Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and other help for working people and families.

If you qualify for the federal earned income tax credit (EITC), you can also claim the Oregon earned income credit (EIC). If you have a dependent who is younger than 3 at the end of the tax year, your Oregon EIC is 12 percent of your federal EITC; otherwise, your EIC is 9 percent of your federal EITC. If you're filing a part-year resident or nonresident return, multiply your EIC by your Oregon percentage. This credit is claimed on the return form.

Tax prep assistance and Free help

Free options for e-filing Oregon income tax returns: All Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns in 2024 can file electronically at no cost using one of Oregon’s free file options.

Tax prep help

Tax Kiosk at VRC

The Department of Revenue has a Eugene Office at Valley River Center. And a new feature: taxpayers can file their returns using a special kiosk.

The kiosk can be used to file taxes through free fillable forms and Direct File Oregon e-file options. The Eugene office is open from 8-5 Monday through Friday (closed for lunch 12:30-1:30pm). No appointment is necessary. Use of the computer to file taxes is on a first-come, first-served basis. Employees cannot help prepare returns but can answer basic questions.

DOR Eugene Regional Office: 1600 Valley River Drive, Suite 310

At the Capitol

For months – even during the last legislative session in 2023 – we’ve been conducting business with jackhammer noise, plastic sheeting closing off hallways, and entrances sealed off for three sides of the building. Noise, disruption, loss of meeting space and seating. Many offices supporting the legislature were moved to temporary locations in other nearby buildings, and statewide elected officials lost their offices as well, including the State Treasurer, Secretary of State, and Governor.

Last month, the historic Capitol (the central part of the building with the rotunda, Governor’s office, and House and Senate chambers) was fully detached from its original foundation. The building is on a temporary foundation in preparation for the final transfer back to a newly constructed and seismically updated foundation, base isolators, and columns.

The Capitol will eventually rest upon 156 columns outfitted with triple pendulum discs. It is this technology that will allow our building to be less susceptible to severe impacts during seismic events.

Concrete mixers arrived at the Capitol on Jan. 20 and started to pour the 3rd of 17 new foundation slabs; it took 120 concrete truckloads. Overall, the mat slab will consist of roughly 15,000 yards of concrete.

There used to be a courtyard. All basement offices, hearing rooms, facility services and the café have been demolished.

Walking in to the House Chamber, part of the old building: exposed original brick, cables and conduits.

Snapshots

This advocate recalled meeting me when I came to her door as a candidate and she was a high school student

Constituents supporting Moms Demand Action

A Sunday meeting with constituents, talking about priorities and political perspectives

Chinese New Year celebrated in the House Chamber

Spencer and Olivia accompany me on a rare walk outside the Capitol, at Willamette University

Mascot Day at the Capitol

Bev Smith came to Salem to talk with state agencies about best ways to protect children

A few hours later I was watching Bev (with headphones) at the Ducks women's basketball game

Visiting with local performing arts talents at their downtown studio

Visit my legislative website