By Senator Suzanne Weber, District 16

Week One of the 83rd Legislative Session

The 83nd session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly has begun and we have hit the ground running! On the first day in the first committee at 8:00 AM I had the opportunity to testify on behalf of one of our bills. Senate Bill 463.

The concept of SB 463 is simple. The bill requires the Department of Administrative Services to provide a comprehensive report regarding the financial status of the State Insurance Fund on a biennial basis. The reason for this is also simple. I do not believe that we, as members of the legislature and as those responsible for the financial safeguarding of the State of Oregon, have an understanding of the assets and liabilities of the State Insurance Fund. If we did, I do not believe that we would have allowed it to reach this point.

As of last summer, the fund has slightly less than $100 million in its account. However, the cost to comply with a court order from 2017 to replace 90% of curb ramps on state highways to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act has already ballooned to over $1 BILLION. A settlement from 2023 between former foster children who were sexually abused and DHS is set to cost $40 million. And these are just two, high-profile cases. How much has been paid? From what funds were they paid? What other cases are pending? We don’t know the answers, and the attempts to find the answers would likely take a great deal of time and hunting across state agencies…assuming those agencies even answer the phone. As legislators with a fiduciary responsibility to the people of Oregon, we deserve to have this information readily available.

You can view my full testimony on this very important bill here: SB 463 Testimony

From the District

Please join me each week as we discuss the goings on at the Capitol on From the District. You can click the picture below to watch on YouTube. Or you can click the picture to the right and listen in on SoundCloud.

Although I won’t be voting on this until it passes through the House and moves on to the Senate, I’m glad to see my district actively participating in the committee process. Warren Sealy, a 4th generation farmer from Clatskanie, took the time to travel to the Capitol to make sure his voice was heard. You can listen to Warren’s full testimony here: HB 3131 Testimony

Committee Assignments

A big part of our week in the Capitol is spent in our assigned committee hearings listening to informational meetings and public testimony for the many bills that have been requested.

This session I am honored to serve on the following committees:

I want to give a shout out to the FFA leadership team that stopped by to promote this years FFA State Convention. These young future leaders are making a difference.

Your Voice Matters!

Your voice matters when it comes to shaping the laws that affect our daily lives. I encourage you to get involved in the legislative process this year. The decisions made in Salem will have a lasting impact on families and communities across Oregon, and your input is essential in guiding those decisions. Whether it’s sharing your views by testifying on a bill, reaching out to your elected representatives, or staying updated on the latest developments, there are many ways to make sure your perspective is heard. Together, we can create a safer, more affordable, and thriving Oregon for all.

Oregon Legislative Information System is your one stop shop for all things related to bills in the current session as well as previous sessions. It is also a quick way to find out who represents you and how to get in touch with them. Take a moment to get familiar with OLIS here: Oregon State Legislature

Give this video a watch to learn how to find bill information.

This week’s opportunity to testify

I would like to ask for your support for this special bill that was brought to me by the children of service members and veterans of Oregon.

Oregon is one of only five states without a major military installation. Currently there are many thousands of military impacted youth in the state of Oregon who do not have the community that other groups have. These children are often in schools where they and their siblings are the only military impacted kids that they know.

Oregon Summer Star is Oregon’s only overnight summer camp for military-connected youth. Being a child of a service member or veteran comes with its own unique challenges and culture—it’s a very specific lived experience, and one that can be tough and isolating.

SB 466 would allocate funding assistance to keep providing the vital support and sense of community Oregon’s military impacted youth deserve.

Our bill has a public hearing Thursday January 30th at 1PM. If you are interested in supporting the military impacted youth of Oregon, please participate in the public hearing this week. You can simply submit written testimony, you can testify virtually, or you can come to the Capitol and testify in person.

Follow the link to SB 466 and Register to Testify or Submit Testimony

OPB and KPTV recently featured articles about the camp that you can check out by clicking the pictures below.

Throughout the first week I had the opportunity to meet with so many people while juggling my committee schedule along with making sure to testify in other committees.

If you plan to visit the Capitol please do reach out ahead of time and see if we can get a meeting scheduled so I will be able to visit with you.

The best way to communicate with my office is through my email address. Please always include your name, where you are from, why you are reaching out and your contact info.

Sen.suzanneweber@oregonlegislature.gov

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/