NEWS UPDATE FROM STATE SENATOR SUZANNE WEBER: Oregon Legislative Short Session Wrap Up

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From the districtThe Christmas Tree Bill

Each session, an omnibus “Christmas Tree Bill” is passed out of the Joint Ways & Means process. This year, nearly $88 million was allocated to agencies and projects around the state in SB 5701.  My office worked very hard to make sure our projects were visible to the members of the committee.  Although we certainly couldn’t get everything we wanted, we were able to bring home 8 of the 27 funding asks that we submitted on behalf of Senate District 16, from housing to health care to cultural funds we did not hold back on our asks and our advocacy for our district.

Rest assured, we will once again be advocating for your infrastructure and housing projects in the 2025 long session.

Senate District 16 funding

This short 5 week session we managed to secure $8.5 million in funding for projects important to our district.

These funds will be distributed in the following areas throughout our district:

  • Nehalem Bay Health District $2,000,000
  • Tillamook Jones-Knudson Apartments $274,053
  • Manzanita Water Line $2,709,000
  • Rainier Historical Museum $500,000
  • Columbia County Museum Association $400,000
  • Clatsop County Historical Society $1,000,000
  • Iron Tribe Network – Columbia County $750,000
  • Tillamook Family Counseling Center $900,000

What were you doing all month in Salem?

SummaryThis is a great visual representation of what was happening for the last month in Salem.  I am often in committee, or testifying on behalf of a bill that is in another committee that I am not a member of.  In addition, the small amount of time left in my day is filled with meetings from constituents, business and industry leaders, and working through important district issues.

If you would like to learn more and understand how things get done in the Capitol, click on the picture below to follow the link to Oregon Legislative Information System OLIS and jump into the recordings of the hearings and floor sessions. Once you get familiar with OLIS, you will find you are much more prepared to be impactful in moving or stopping legislation.

 

Passage of Noteworthy Bills

  • HB 4002: Measure 110 Reform bill.
    • Recriminalizes possession of hard drugs in Oregon
    • Specifies payments for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatments with CCOs
    • Authorizes pharmacists to dispense early refills on medications for SUDs
    • Requires Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (ADPC) to conduct study of barriers and best practices for youth SUD, increasing medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and increasing SUD providers in the state
    • Establishes certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) program in Oregon Health Authority (OHA)
    • Establishes 26-member Joint Task Force on Regional Behavioral Health Accountability to make recommendations on improving governance of behavioral health systems and strengthening evidence-based funding decisions
    • Establishes 16-member Task Force on Improving the Safety of Behavioral Health Workers and specifies membership
    • Establishes United We Heal Medicaid Payment Program in OHA to provide supplemental payments to eligible behavioral health care providers to enable the providers to access enhanced apprenticeship and training programs and opportunities
    • Changes crimes related to drug possession and delivery
    • Encourages law enforcement agencies and district attorneys to divert a person to a deflection program
  • SB 1537: Governor’s housing policy bill. Establishes a housing office to support and enforce housing laws; lets home builders use updated local rules; awards lawyer fees for more housing appeals; assists with infrastructure for housing; creates a fund for grants to developers of affordable housing; makes cities approve changes to housing rules; makes cities expedite applications to build housing; lets cities change their growth boundaries; and gives money to DLCD, BO and OHCS for this Act.
  • SB 1530: Housing funding package. Allocates moneys to:
    • $112 million to the Housing and Community Services Department
    • $30.25 million to Oregon Department of Administrative Services
    • $33.7 million to the Oregon Health Authority
    • $4 million to the State Department of Energy
    • $2 million to the Department of Human Services
    • $89.37 million to the Oregon Business Development Department
    • $4 million to the Department of Transportation
    • $1.5 million to the Water Resources Department
  • HB 4024: Campaign Finance
    • Caps individual contributions at $3,300, same as federal limits for State House, State Senate, circuit court judges, district attorneys and local candidates.
    • Caps individuals and businesses to $10,000 to state parties and caucus committees.
    • Bipartisan and bicameral support
    • Takes effect in 2027, allowing time to work on the bill further in the next session.

Join me for the 2024 short session wrap up edition of From the District.  We chat about some victories and the challenges we faced this session.

We had some good bill victories and some bills that didn’t make it to the finish line.

SoundcloudListen in on SoundCloud or watch on YouTube by clicking the pictures below.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716  District Phone: 503-300-4493
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-405, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen​.SuzanneWeber@oregonlegislature.gov
Website:  ​https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/weber/​