The 2025 Legislative Session began January 21.
Page last updated: 12:40 pm Tuesday, 2/18
The COIN Legislative Team will, once again, be watching and participating in hearings, watching for bills that reflect the values of our members, and making recommendations for endorsement or opposition.
Please scroll down on this page to see bills we are tracking, organized by categories. Note that some of the bills may be ENDORSED by COIN, others OPPOSED by COIN, and still others are being WATCHED by COIN, as amendments and further work on the bills continue. COIN volunteers won't be able to track all of the bills, but will focus on those that potentially have the most impact on the things our members value. Also, watch closely for any ACTION ALERTS for bills. We'll post these when there are bills that need some help from COIN members - calling your state senator or rep, submitting testimony, or spreading the word on social media. Submitting testimony is really important and it doesn't have to be difficult or scary. It can be as simple as a couple of sentences about why you support or oppose a bill. For some excellent tips on how to provide written or oral testimony on a bill, check out SOCAN's Testimony Tips.
If you know of a bill you think COIN should be tracking, email us at COINLegTeam@gmail.com. Here's a description of the process that COIN uses to endorse or oppose legislation. Here's a Blank Worksheet that COIN Legislative Team members use to research their bills. If you are interested in helping track legislation with us, please sign up here.
To learn more about tracking legislation on the OLIS (Oregon Legislative Information System) website, check out this great video by Cheryl Conway, OLIS for Beginners, and also this great primer by Alan Journet, What's an OLIS?
You can also check out the legislation COIN endorsed and opposed in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Our volunteers are tracking a lot of bills on a variety of topics. Here's a list of the topics in order, so you can click on any of the following and jump to the topic of your choice, or you can scroll down through all of the bills in the sections below.
JUMP TO A TOPIC:
View the daily schedule for Legislative Committee Meetings HERE.
You can look for meetings today or pick a new date as shown in the graphic to the right. You can search for meetings by committe or specific bills using the links In the upper right corner of this page.
Topic: Climate, Energy and Environment
SJR 28 - The Right to a Healthy Environment COIN endorses this bill.
Senate Joint Resolution 28 is the product of the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment (OCERA), a grassroots effort to amend the Oregon constitution to affirm that all Oregonians have a fundamental, enforceable right to a healthy environment. COIN is a founding member of OCERA, and members of COIN’s Climate, Energy and Environment Team have been active members from the beginning, so we will most likely be endorsing this bill as we go through our endorsement process. Over 30 grassroots organizations and hundreds of individuals are also active coalition members. The chief sponsors of SJR 28 are Senators Golden, Manning, and Prozanski, and Representatives Gamba, Anderson, and Tran. In addition, 7 Senators and 8 Representatives have joined as co-sponsors. Here's a more thorough explanation of the resolution and why we need it. You can also learn more bout this effort on OCERA's website.
Here is the COIN worksheet for SJR28.
SJR 28 has been assigned to the Rules Committee.
SB682 - Oregon Climate Superfund Act or Make Polluters Pay Act - COIN endorses this bill.
The Oregon Climate Superfund Act, also known as the Make Polluters Pay Act has been introduced by Senator Jeff Golden. It will hold fossil fuel companies responsible for some of the immense costs of pollution from greenhouse gas emissions they are responsible for. These companies will be required to use a portion of the profits they have received to pay for the repair and mitigation of some of the damages caused by the emissions and to support appropriate climate resilience efforts. State agencies will create resilience plans addressing specific impacts on Oregon’s natural and human-built infrastructure. Payments into the fund will be assessed in proportion to a company’s share of greenhouse gas emissions over a historical period. COIN will most likely be endorsing this bill as we go through our endorsement process.
The bill is modeled after legislation already adopted in Vermont and New York.
Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota and California are in the process of developing similar legislation, and more states are expected to follow suit.
COIN has agreed to join the Make Polluters Pay Coalition that is responsible for educating and advocating for the passage of this bill. We are joining Mobilizing Climate Action Together (MCAT), Divest Oregon, and Third Act. Other organizations, including the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, are considering joining this brand-new coalition.
SB 682 is currently in the Committee on Energy and Environment.
HB3119 Delays the Advanced Clean Trucks Act COIN opposes this bill.
Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from implementing or enforcing the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations before January 1, 2027. This bill is assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. This bill to delay the ACT is setting the stage to kill the ACT program. The effort is part of a multistate coordinated effort to roll back clean air protections in a moment we cannot rely on a federal backstop.
OLCV Article Take a stand for clean air!
"There’s no way around this fact: diesel pollution has devastating impacts, and Oregon communities are already suffering. Diesel pollution specifically contains 40 cancer-causing compounds, contributes to 176 premature deaths annually, and costs our state $2 billion in health impacts each year. One of the fastest ways to cut this deadly pollution is by implementing our state’s long-established clean truck rules, yet oil and gas companies have launched their attack on these policies."
Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB3119.
KATU Article provides additional commentary
A public hearing for HB3119 was held 1/30. Watch the hearing here.
SB 80 - Prohibition on large new or expanding factory farms in Oregon Groundwater Management Area. COIN endorses this bill.
Large factory farms or Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are linked to dangerous levels of nitrate in groundwater and surface waters in areas where they are located; large factory farms are also linked to devastating public health impacts such as cancers, blue baby, and respiratory illnesses. They undermine local economies, in particular small sustainable family farms and subject millions of animals to abject cruelty.
Oregon's 11 mega dairies alone produced 4 billion pounds of waste in 2022, ⅔ of what Oregon’s human population produced. The manure lagoons where waste is stored seeps into the groundwater and is basically dumped or applied on nearby fields as “fertilizer”, causing runoff into surface water like streams, rivers, lakes. This means nitrates and phosphorus in the groundwater and surface water; it fuels algae blooms which kill fish and cause dead zones. ON top of that, factory farms’ air emissions are not regulated, meaning methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrous oxide, and harmful particulate matter, GHG, are emitted into the air unchecked.
Voluntary measures to control factory farm growth in groundwater management areas have not worked. Now there is a growing public health, economic, and environmental crisis in communities in GWMAs. It is an environmental justice issue. COIN is a supporting member of Stand Up to Factory Farms SUFF; find more info here.
SB 80 is currently in the Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. Urge the Committee to pass SB 80. Also, find and write your own legislators in support of SB 80 or better yet, make an appointment to meet with them to discuss their vote on SB 80.
SUFF Webinar Notes and Support SB 80! for more info and talking points
ACTION ALERT: Mark your calendars for a Lobby Day 2/27 in Salem!
Nuclear Energy bills to repeal or establish exemptions for the use of nuclear power, particularly small module nuclear reactors to power new data centers, AI development, and cryptocurrency. COIN opposes these bills.
Will AI Energy Needs Bring Back Nuclear? Cal Matters news article discusses the recent push for more nuclear reactors
SB215/HB2426 Repeals the 1980 Ballot Measure Law that required a federally licensed permanent disposal facility for nuclear waste and voter approval of any nuclear power plant certification. This bill would then refer the repeal to voters to approve or reject in the next general election on November 3, 2026. SB 215 is in the Committee on Energy and Environment. The House version, HB 2426 is in the Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
SB216 Repeals the 1980 Ballot Measure Law outright without referral to voters. SB 216 is in the Committee on Energy and Environment.
SB635 Directs Oregon State University, original developer of NuScale's Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMNR) design, to conduct a feasibility study on nuclear energy generation in Oregon. The bill does not identify who actually pays for the study and requires OSU to submit its report to the Legislature.
Note that this is NOT an impartial study as OSU has an inherent conflict of interest as the original developer and proponent of the NuScale's Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMNR) design. OSU owns an interest in NuScale.
In the Committee on Energy and Environment.
HB2038 Directs the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to study the "advantages" of nuclear energy - but not the disadvantages - and to give a report on its findings to the Legislature. This bill is assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
HB2410 Allows the Energy Facility Siting Council to issue a site certificate for a small modular reactor energy facility demonstration project in Umatilla County with the approval of Umatilla County voters but not all Oregon voters as required by the 1980 Ballot Measure Law. It is simply a clever exemption to the 1980 Ballot Measure Law. Also, a site certificate for such a project could be for an unknown number of small modular nuclear reactors that could operate independent from the grid. Private parties interested in the development of data centers, AI development, and cryptocurrency would likely provide substantial investment in SMNRs.
This bill is assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
Read Alan Journet's testimony submitted on behalf of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) and COIN's Climate Energy & Environment (CEE) Team. The testimony is in opposition to HB2038, HB2426, and HB2410.
HB2200/SB681 The PAUSE Act is a continuing effort to reduce state investments in fossil fuels COIN endorses both bills.
The PAUSE Act, a bill, introduced by Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, directs the Oregon Investment Council (OIC) and the State Treasurer to reduce the carbon intensity of state investments and address investment risks related to climate change. The Act would place a 5 year moratorium on the State Treasurer from making any new or renewed private market fund or PERS investments in fossil fuels, subject to fiduciary duties.
HB2200 is currently in the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans. SB681 is in the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue.
COIN has joined the many groups in coalition with Divest Oregon in support of the PAUSE Act.
Here is a fact sheet on the PAUSE Act from Divest Oregon.
Prioritizing Climate Goals OPB discusses HB2200
A public hearing for HB2200 was held on 1/28. Watch the recording here.
HB2980 Protecting urban wildlife and supporting wildlife rehabilitation centers
COIN ENDORSES this bill.
This bill establishes a Wildlife Stewardship Program that would include an educational campaign to message living with wildlife in urban and suburban areas, minimizing human-wildlife conflict and emphasizing wildlife should stay wild. The program would include biologists involved in outreach and training to local governments, community groups, schools, law enforcement, animal control and such. The program would also support wildlife rehabilitators and administer a grant program for them.
A public hearing for HB2980 was held 2/4. Watch the session here.
During a work session on 2/18, the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment voted unanimously to pass the bill. HB2980 is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Natural Resources. Watch the 2/18 session here.
SB678 Undoes wildfire protections adopted in 2021 in SB762. COIN opposes this bill.
This bill is in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire.
SB497 Prohibiting Energy Efficient Construction COIN opposes this bill.
Prohibits a municipality from adopting energy efficient construction standards or methods from the Reach or similar Code of standards and methods that are higher or more stringent than statewide standards and methods in effect under the Dept. of Consumer and Business Services. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business.
SB404 State Forest Conveyance and Valuation Changes COIN opposes this bill.
Directs the State Board of Forestry to convey certain state forest lands to a county that requests conveyance upon determining it (the county) would secure the greatest permanent value of the lands to the county (which likely means logging). This bill is in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire.
HB3179 The FAIR Energy Act COIN is WATCHING this bill, pending endorsement.
Directs the Public Utility Commission to consider the cumulative economic impact of a proposed rate or schedule of rates on a public utility's ratepayers if the proposed rate or schedule of rates will result in an increase of the public utility's revenue in this state by 2.5 percent or more.
The FAIR Energy Act is a bill that would better protect Oregon households from rising energy bills.
Currently in the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for HB3179 is scheduled for 1:00pm Thursday 2/20. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here.
HB2961 Increases current requirements for EV charging capability for new buildings COIN ENDORSES this bill.
The current law (since 2021) requires that 30% of parking spaces in certain newly constructed buildings (specifically, commercial buildings , multi-family buildings with 5 or more units and mixed-use buildings consisting of commercial space and 5 or more dwelling units) be EV-ready with conduit and panel, and adequate electric service to power 20% of spaces.
This bill increases the requirement to either a) 50% of parking spaces with EV-ready service OR b) maintaining the current 20% AND including a charger in 5% of those spaces (but no less than 1 space). (Currently, no chargers are required for the EV-ready spaces). Put simply, either more EV-ready spaces are required during construction, or chargers are required at 5% of the currently required spaces.
The point is to encourage the transition to EV use for people who live in apartments and mixed-use buildings, who don’t have other means of providing their own charging stations.
HB2961 is in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. Two public hearings have been held on this bill. Watch the 1/30 hearing at 29:27 minutes. Read testimony submitted. Watch the 2/4 hearing here.
HB 3450 Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub and HB 2949 Risk Bond Study
COIN ENDORSES these bills.
See also HB2151 Risk Mitigation Fund and HB2152 Disaster Fuel Reserves
View an explanatory video Stop The Spill HERE. Watch the slide show HERE.
HB3450 directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to work with all stakeholders to develop an energy storage transition plan for the critical energy infrastructure hub (CEI Hub). The CEI Hub includes generally all bulk oils or liquid fuel terminals located on the west bank of the Willamette River in Portland. An energy storage transition plan must contain short, medium, and long-term goals for the CEI Hub that ensures the energy resilience of Oregon's energy sector and allow the state to guide its energy future.
HB2949 requires a risk bond to make sure the facility has funds for clean up in the event of a disaster.
The bills are currently in the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans.
Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB3450.
Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB2949.
Read testimony submitted by Alan Journet on behalf of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) and COIN relating to these bills.
Read testimony submitted by Debi Ferrer on behalf of COIN.
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing is scheduled for all four of these bills Feb. 27. We need A MASSIVE SHOW OF PUBLIC SUPPORT -- STATEWIDE
Plan to attend the hearing. Watch HB 2949 and HB3450 for when and how to register to testify or submit testimony. More info soon....
SB769 A bill to undo decades of protections for wildlife by allowing cougars to be hunted by dogs COIN is WATCHING this bill pending a vote to oppose.
This Republican led bill would exempt a county from the ban under ORS Section 498.164 on hunting cougars with dogs, a cruel practice, if voters in the county approve the practice. There is already an exception under this law for cougars that cause damage.
A public hearing was held by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire on 2/11. Watch the recording of the hearing here. Read testimony submitted to the Committee here.
SB777 is another Republican led bill to undermine Oregon's Wolf Predation Loss Compensation Program by increasing by 7 times the current fair market value standard for compensation for loss of domestic animals. COIN is WATCHING this bill pending a vote to oppose.
The Wolf Predation Loss Compensation has received broad support over the years for its efforts to reduce conflicts with wolves. Farmers and ranchers are currently compensated at fair market value for any cows, sheep, and the like or or guardian dog losses due to wolf predation, but SB 777 sets a new standard at 7 times the current amount of compensation. The need for the state to pay 7 x the fair market value for lost animals is unclear. This bill seems to do nothing to advance wildlife coexistence measures in Oregon.
Here is a letter to the Committee Chair, Sen. Jeff Golden, setting out the concerns about SB777 by the Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center.
A public hearing on this bill scheduled Feb. 13 was cancelled by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. Read testimony already submitted here.
HB2977, the 1% for Wildlife bill, creates more funding for habitat conservation and to address the animal extinction crisis. COIN is WATCHING this bill pending endorsement.
The “1% for wildlife” bill, would raise the state’s transient lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.5% to create a stable source of funding habitat conservation and prevent extinction of so many imperiled species. Oregon Wild has pointed out, “In Oregon 294 species face a high risk of extinction, and 11 key habitats are in danger. Restoring beaver habitats (as an example) can help, but why can only do so much. Funding is needed to hire biologists and other scientists, monitor species on the ground, restore habitats” and more.
Currently in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
SB551 to reduce the use of plastic bags and other disposable plastic items provided by grocers, food retailers, and hotels and other lodging businesses.
COIN is WATCHING this bill pending endorsement.
SB551 would expand on the restrictions of Oregon’s 2019 law restricting single use bags. SB551 would expand restrictions on use of so-called “reusable” plastic bags and bar food service places from offering plastic cutlery or condiments in plastic packaging unless they are specifically requested.
SB551 would also prohibit hotels and other lodging places from automatically providing toiletries like shampoo or lotion in disposable plastic containers. That regulation would kick in for establishments with 50 or more rooms beginning in 2027. It would apply to all forms of lodging — including short-term rentals — beginning in 2028.
Watch the public hearing held on 2/12. There was a great deal of testimony in support of SB551. The bill remains in the Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment.
SB222 Endangered or Threatened Predator Removal COIN opposes this bill.
SB 222 has a misleading digest:
"Digest: The Act tells an agency to create a program to protect salmon. (Flesch ReadabilityScore: 74.8).
In fact, it is a program to kill "species that prey on salmon," including species on the Endangered or Threatened species lists. It prohibits the state from altering salmon release sites or the operation of salmon enhancement projects in order to protect the predator species. It directs the state to apply to federal agencies for waivers or permits necessary to attack the Endangered or Threatened species.
Currently in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for SB222 is scheduled for 3:00pm Wednesday 2/19. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here.
SB992 Bottle Bill Study COIN is WATCHING this bill, pending endorsement.
This bill requires the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to study the modernization of Oregon’s beverage container redemption and recycling law known as the Bottle Bill and submit recommendations by September, 2026.
Change to that system is greatly needed. Millions of dollars are piling up in the redemption fund, because the Oregon Legislature in recent years increased the bottle deposit to 10 cents and greatly expanded the "beverages" to which it applies. We are now paying grocery stores a lot more for deposits. At the same time, the cooperative of beverage companies that run the system are making it harder and harder to redeem the bottles. So the money is piling up. It may end up with the beverage companies, thus effectively placing a 10 cents/bottle surcharge on nearly all beverages sold in Oregon, with the surcharge ultimately being paid to the beverage companies.
Any amendments filed for this bill may affect COIN endorsement.
Currently in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for SB992 was held Monday 2/17. You can still submit written testimony here until 3:00pm Wednesday. Watch the session here.
HB2656 Prohibits Limits on Solar Net Metering COIN endorses this bill.
Prohibits the Public Utility Commission, municipal electric utilities, electric cooperatives and people's utility districts from setting a maximum amount of cumulative generating capacity for solar net metering systems that is allowed to be interconnected. This is primarily aimed at prohibiting utilities from limiting use of rooftop solar cells.
Currently in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for HB2656 is scheduled for 8:00am Tuesday 2/18. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here.
HB2062 Battery Producer Responsibility Program COIN endorses this bill.
This bill prohibits producers of batteries or battery-containing products from selling, offering for sale, or distributing batteries or battery-containing products in o r into Oregon unless they participate in a battery producer responsibility organization (PRO) that successfully implements a battery producer responsibility program.
At least three states and the US Capital—California, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington, DC—have battery EPR programs in place to collect certain types of batteries, ranging in size, type (rechargeable or not), and chemical makeup (for example, alkaline, carbon-zinc, lithium metal, or lithium-ion). Once the batteries are collected by producers, they are sent to recycling facilities; currently, there are only four recyclers in the U.S. that can recycle batteries.
Currently in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for HB2062 is scheduled for 8:00am Tuesday 2/18. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here.
HB2738 Prohibits Leaded Fuel at Race Tracks COIN endorses this bill.
This bill prohibits the use of leaded fuel at race tracks in cities with a population of 500,000 or greater as of January 1, 2026. That means Portland Int'l Raceway. Many residents of the Kenton neighborhood have testified in favor of this. Note that NASCAR banned leaded fuel in 2007. If the iconic racetrack, Daytona Beach can operate with unleaded fuel, so can Portland.
Currently in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for HB2738 is scheduled for 8:00am Tuesday 2/18. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here.
SB 47 Eliminates "Obsolete" Public Entities COIN opposes this bill.
SB 47 supposedly eliminates obsolete public entities.
Among those it eliminates is Oregon Community Power, which is a statewide publicly-owned utility legal structure that the Oregon Legislature created in 2003 to buy PGE from Enron. That sale did not happen. The SMS states: "OCP is a publicly owned utility with a mission to provide reliable, low-cost electricity to consumers. It is regulated by the Public Utility Commission and is governed by a board of seven directors, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate."
This existing hard-won structure should not be destroyed as it offers future opportunities for a statewide publicly-owned utility to acquire assets and begin operating .
Currently in the Senate Committee On Rules
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for SB 47 is scheduled for 1:00pm Monday 2/17. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here. Read Dan Meek's testimony on behalf of COIN in opposition to SB47.
ACTION ALERT: A work session for SB 47 is scheduled for 8:00 am Wednesday 2/19. Watch the session here.
HB2961 EV's in New Construction COIN ENDORSES this bill.
Increases the percentage of electrical service capacity for charging electric vehicles or electric vehicle charging stations that must be installed at vehicle parking spaces in the garages or parking areas of newly constructed commercial buildings, multifamily buildings with five or more units and mixed-use buildings consisting of privately owned commercial space and five or more residential dwelling units.
Currently in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.
Public hearings were held and the recordings are available from 1/30 and from 2/4.
Topic: Homelessness and Affordable Housing
Oregon has passed legislation over the last few sessions attempting to ease the housing shortage. Click here to read an in-depth discussion of the progress and shortfalls to date from OPB.
SB 54 Providing Cooling Spaces for Renters COIN is WATCHING this bill, pending endorsement.
Makes landlords provide cooling for homes. Requires that residential tenants be provided with indoor cooling or cooling spaces for multiunit buildings with 10 units or more. Requires, by January 1, 2036, that all landlords provide indoor cooling. Makes cooling an “essential service” for residential tenants.
SB722/SB599 Increase affordable housing and protect tenants from being denied housing based on immigration status. COIN ENDORSES these bills.
SB722 bans certain software landlords use to make rental decisions based on non-public information – the software synthesizes info from many landlords to maximize rental fees. The bill also reduces the period when new rental units are exempt from rent increase caps. SB722 provides penalties for violations.
SB599 prevents landlords from asking about immigration status or rejecting prospective tenants because of immigration status.
Oregon is among the worst in the nation for housing affordability. Rents are high, and wages have not kept up. Partially, this is due to the fact that we have extreme shortages of affordable units, and partially this is because the private market is still not regulated enough– all units less than 15 years old are entirely exempt from rent stabilization statutes. The tight market means that in newer units, prices have spiked exorbitantly, and even in units that are covered by rent stabilization, landlords are able to charge right up to the annual cap, which is not protective enough. The use of price-fixing algorithmic software exacerbates this situation, maximizing profit on any unit while destabilizing Oregon’s families.
Consequently, the risk of eviction and homelessness is one of the biggest fears for low and moderate income households across the state, and the eviction rate is higher than ever. The solution is to ban the use of price-fixing algorithmic software and to strengthen and improve coverage of Oregon’s rent stabilization statutes.
Here is the COIN Worksheet on SB722/SB599. SB722 is in the Senate Committee on Housing and Development. SB599 is in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
SB722/SB599 Increase affordable housing and protect tenants from being denied housing based on immigration status. COIN ENDORSES these bills.
SB722 bans certain software landlords use to make rental decisions based on non-public information – the software synthesizes info from many landlords to maximize rental fees. The bill also reduces the period when new rental units are exempt from rent increase caps. SB722 provides penalties for violations.
SB599 prevents landlords from asking about immigration status or rejecting prospective tenants because of immigration status.
Oregon is among the worst in the nation for housing affordability. Rents are high, and wages have not kept up. Partially, this is due to the fact that we have extreme shortages of affordable units, and partially this is because the private market is still not regulated enough– all units less than 15 years old are entirely exempt from rent stabilization statutes. The tight market means that in newer units, prices have spiked exorbitantly, and even in units that are covered by rent stabilization, landlords are able to charge right up to the annual cap, which is not protective enough. The use of price-fixing algorithmic software exacerbates this situation, maximizing profit on any unit while destabilizing Oregon’s families.
Consequently, the risk of eviction and homelessness is one of the biggest fears for low and moderate income households across the state, and the eviction rate is higher than ever. The solution is to ban the use of price-fixing algorithmic software and to strengthen and improve coverage of Oregon’s rent stabilization statutes.
Here is the COIN Worksheet on SB722/SB599. SB722 is in the Senate Committee on Housing and Development. SB599 is in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
HB2967 Prohibits Renter Screening Fees COIN is WATCHING this bill.
This bill prohibits residential landlords from charging an applicant screening charge. Under current law, landlords can charge rental applicants a "screening charge" to cover the cost of investigating the applicant. There are elaborate rules for when the applicant can get a refund, if the landlord in fact does not offer a unit for rent.
Currently in the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for HB2967 is scheduled for 1:00pm Monday 2/17. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here.
Topic: Health Care
COIN is currently analyzing a list of health care related bills to determine what position, if any, to take on each. More information will be posted soon.
COIN is WATCHING these bills, pending opposition.
Anti-abortion bills : SB384, SB918, SB666, HB2372, HB2382, HB3248
HB2429 which prohibits persons under 18 years who are not emancipated minors from making health decisions without parental consent. This would violate the current standard of care in medicine.
Anti-vaccine bill: SJR31
HB2381 Directs the Oregon Health Authority to establish and administer the Pregnancy Launch Program to provide certain services to specified persons. Prohibits the authority from contracting for the provision of program services with an organization that directly or indirectly promotes, refers for or assists pregnant persons in obtaining abortions.
COIN is WATCHING these bills.
HB2193 Possibly anti-vaccine
HB2202 is a vague study bill related to behavioral health.
SB 376 will define 'rural' for the purpose of incentivizing providers to practice in rural areas. Proposed definition needs refinement.
A public hearing for SB376 was held 2/6. Watch the session here.
HB3330 expand laws that protect a health care worker's right to object to take part in abortions, physician-assisted suicide, or gender-affirming care. Allows health care facilities to opt out as well.
COIN is WATCHING these bills, pending endorsement.
HB2292 expands coverage for HIV-related illnesses
A public hearing for HB2292 was held 2/11. Watch the session here.
HB 2992 eyeglasses for low-income persons
A public hearing for HB2992 was held Mon 2/3. Watch the recorded session here.
HB2993 requires medical information and forms to be provided in a language the patient can understand.
HB3193 Requires the Oregon Health Authority to establish and implement a permanent farmworker disaster relief program.
HB2317 requires staff from federally qualified health centers and public health agencies to serve on coordinated care org governing boards.
Topic: Education and Children
SB2953 Removes the percentage cap on funds distributed to schools for students eligible for special education COIN ENDORSES this bill.
This bill would remove the cap on special education funding that was implemented in the 1990s. That current cap only funds special education services for up to 11% of students in a school, even though today nearly 15% of students in the average Oregon school are enrolled in special education programs. With the current cap, about 19,000 students with special needs among the 80,000 total don’t count for additional funding under the school funding formula.
The state offers a waiver for some districts with high numbers of students with special needs, but this covers only about 7,000 additional students.
The Oregon PTA and Oregon Education Association support this bill. It is currently assigned to the House Committee on Education. Here is the COIN Worksheet.
ACTION ALERT: A public hearing for HB2953 is scheduled for 3:00pm Monday 2/17. Register to give live testimony or submit written testimony here. Watch the session here.
ACTION ALERT: There is an amendment pending for this bill. A possible work session is planned for 3:00pm Wednesday 2/19. Watch that session here.
SB5516 Allocates increased funds for schools based on Gov. Kotek's recommended budget COIN is WATCHING this bill.
Advocacy groups take the position that the $1.16 billion increase requested by Gov. Kotek in SB5516 is a good start but too little to prevent cuts. Cost pressures such as inflation and rising pension costs will soak up most of the proposed increase. Also, the Governor’s proposal is about $2.2B less than the funding recommendation from the state's Quality Education Commission. The Commission’s funding levels have never been fully funded. We need to close the gap.
Oregon PTA made this introductory video to school finance in Oregon. Advocacy groups supporting more funding include the Oregon PTA, Oregon Education Association, and Oregon School Boards Association.
Here is the COIN worksheet for SB5516.
SB5516 is currently in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education.
HB3182 and HB3183 Student Basic Needs and Workforce Stabilization Act COIN ENDORSES these bills.
These bills together make up the Student Basic Needs and Workforce Stabilization Act. Here is more information.
HB3182 (1) creates a task force to study student housing, (2) appropriates $6.5 million to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to award grants to organizations that provide low income college students with housing, and (3) appropriates $10 million for basic needs programming which means providing students with assistance in meeting needs such as food, housing, transportation, textbooks, and related needs.
Here is the COIN worksheet for HB3182.
HB3183 appropriates $4.5 million to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) for the Open Educational Resources Program (OERP). OERP leverages resources to save students money such as for textbooks and other school materials. OERP has been an invaluable resource in reducing costs for students.
Here is the COIN worksheet for HB3183.
A public hearing scheduled for both HB3182 and HB3183 on Feb. 13 before the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development was cancelled.
Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon and the Oregon Hunger Task Force representatives have submitted testimony in support.
HB2550 Expands those eligible for Oregon’s Promise Program which funds free community college for some students COIN ENDORSES this bill.
This bill changes the requirements to qualify for the Oregon Promise program by removing the requirements: (1) that a person must receive the person's highest level of education six months prior to enrolling in a community college, (2) that a person must complete high school in this state, (3) that a person must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in high school and specifying that a person may qualify (1) if they obtained a high school diploma or GED while incarcerated and (2) by enrolling in a program to earn an applied baccalaureate degree or a Bachelor of Science: Nursing degree.
A hearing was held on this bill on 2/4 by the House Committee on Education and Workforce Development. Read testimony submitted. Watch the hearing here.
Topic: Campaign Finance/Election Reform, Government Ethics
HB3166 Open Primaries with Top 5 Advancing COIN is WATCHING this bill.
Requires all candidates, regardless of political party affiliation or non-affiliation, and including those running for nonpartisan positions, to appear on the same unified primary election ballot; the five candidates receiving the most votes would advance to the general election ballot. Exempts candidates for President and Vice President of the United States.
COIN has partnered with the Oregon Election Reform Coalition (OERC) on previous legislation. OERC seeks to avoid another round of "Top 2 with Party Label Hijacking" ballot measures and believes this is a reasonable bill that will allow nonaffiliated voters to vote for candidates in the primary election, while maintaining the integrity of party labels. More information is available at OERC.
SJR30 Initiative Petitions Signature Distribution Requirements COIN opposes this bill.
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require an increase in petition signatures for initiative laws from 6 to 8 percent of the total votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected for a full term, and the signatures must be divided equally among the Congressional districts of this state.
Proposes to require an increase in petition signatures for initiative amendments to the Oregon Constitution from 8 to 10 percent of the total votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected divided for a full term, and the signatures must be divided equally among the Congressional districts of this state.
This bill will make approval of Initiative Petitions more difficult.
SJR 30 has been assigned to the Senate Rules Committee.
HJR11 This bill is the House version as SB30 and is assigned to the House Rules Committee. COIN opposes this bill.
HB 2923 Public Financial Disclosure COIN endorses this bill.
Would add to the list of financial interests that public officials and members of their household must disclose in their annual statements of economic interest: In addition to disclosing positions of officer or director, public officials and the members of their household must disclose any positions they hold as a manager, member or partner. Oregon’s financial disclosure laws are very weak. This would make them slightly stronger.
Currently in the House Rules Committee
A public hearing for HB2923 was held on 1/27. Watch the recorded hearing here. Here is Dan Meek's testimony about this bill.
HB2928 Repeals Gift Limit for Public Officials COIN opposes this bill.
HB 2928 would repeal the Oregon law limiting anyone from offering more than $50 per calendar year in gifts to any public official or candidate or their relatives or members of their household. This would leave Oregon with no limit on the offering of gifts to public officials. We have enough dark money and corrupting influences in our politics without repealing this!
Currently in the House Rules Committee
Sample Testimony from Dan Meek, to use for ideas
Should Special Gifts Be Allowed? OregonLive looks at HB2928
A public hearing for HB2928 was held on 1/27. Read COIN members Dan Meek's and Cheryl Conway's testimony opposing this bill. Watch the recorded hearing here.
HB2930 Modifies Conflict of Interest Requirements COIN endorses this bill.
HB 2930 adds a “member of the household” to the persons for whom a public official must consider in deciding whether to declare an actual or potential conflict of interest laws. Currently those persons include only the public official and “relatives.”
Currently in the House Rules Committee
A public hearing for HB2930 was held on 1/27. Watch the recorded hearing here.
SB210 Repeals Vote by Mail as the normal method of voting COIN opposes this bill.
Makes voting in person on the day of the election the normal method for voting. Requires voters to show government issued photo ID to vote. Mail in ballots would still be available on request and upon presenting a government issued photo ID; the ballot must be able to be returned 21 days before the election. This would not apply to military or other overseas voters or absentee voters. If passed, this measure would be referred to voters at the next general election.
This is an example of several bills introduced to make voting harder for people. This is contrary to the highly successful mail in balloting system Oregon has used for years.
In the Senate Rules Committee
SB392 Moves Presidential Primary COIN opposes this bill.
SB 392 would change the May primary date to the first Tuesday in March in Presidential election years only. That means that the deadline for filing to run in that primary would likely have to mid December of the previous year. Oregon's state/local office primary is already the 10th earliest in the United States. Candidates would need to decide nearly a year before the election if they want to run for office. Good for professional politicians but could be discouraging to other citizens who need more time to prepare and decide to run for office.
In the Senate Rules Committee
SB403 Requires Ballots Arrive by Election Day COIN opposes this bill.
SB403 disqualifies all ballots not actually received by a county clerk by 8 pm of election day. Whether your vote is counted or not depends on the reliability of the US Post Office.
This is another example of several bills introduced to make voting harder for people.
In the Senate Rules Committee
SB580 Posting of Candidates Within 2 Days COIN is WATCHING this bill, pending endorsement.
Requires the election officer to post within 2 business days on the website any filed nominating petition, declaration of candidacy, or withdrawal of candidacy. Other persons potentially interested in running for office should be able to know the status of other potential candidates during the candidacy filing season.
In the Senate Rules Committee
HB2870 Establishes the Campaign Review Commission COIN is WATCHING this bill.
HB 2870 establishes the Oregon Campaign Review Commission in the Secretary of State's office. It would be made up of 8 members appointed by the Gov, and 4 would be members “from each of the 2 major political parties”. There are no real qualifications other than an appointee must be an Oregon resident and “well informed on the principles of fair and truthful elections”. This commission would basically have the powers to investigate and decide complaints by a candidate or political committee that another candidate or political committee has violated ORS 260.532 That law already provides a cause of action and strong remedies against anyone who makes false statements about a candidate, political committee, or a ballot measure.
Under this bill upon a finding of violation of ORS 260.532, the commission would issue a statement about the incident and their findings. The second offense would mean in addition banishment of the candidate from the Voters’ Pamphlet for one or more elections; a third offense would mean a permanent ban from the voters pamphlet.
Decisions can be “appealed” to the Secretary of State.
Currently in the House Rules Committee Rep. Evans is the only sponsor.
HB3473 Repeals automatic voter registration COIN OPPOSES this bill.
HB3473 was offered by GOP Rep. Christine Drazan to make it harder for people to register to vote in Oregon. Oregon has long had a successful automatic voter registration system that has resulted in record turnouts of voters with more diversity among voters. This means better representation for all Oregonians. There is no reason to repeal automatic voter registration.
The bill is currently in the House Committee on Rules.
Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB3473.
HB3470 Requires the Secretary of State to confirm U.S. citizenship before accepting automatic voter registrations COIN OPPOSES this bill.
HB3470 was offered by GOP Rep. Christine Drazan to undermine Oregon's long established automatic voter registration system and make it harder for people to register to vote in Oregon.
Oregon GOP are pouncing on reports last year that some automatic voter registrations slipped thru for folks who weren’t citizens. Few of these folks actually voted and certainly didn’t influence any election.
People can be registered automatically when they go to the DMV or OHA but must already submit proof of citizenship to be registered. This bill would pointlessly delay voter registrations for every potential voter; some may not be approved in time to vote. It would add an enormous cost and workload to the Secretary of State’s office. It makes more sense for the Secretary of State, as he has already said he would do, to work with agencies and election clerks to minimize errors going forward.
HB3470 is in the House Committee on Rules.
Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB3470.
Topic: Agriculture
Topic: Immigration and Social Justice
HB3551 Undermining Sanctuary Laws COIN OPPOSES this bill.
Tells public bodies and bodies that enforce state laws to help enforce the nation's immigration laws. Applies only to persons who are convicted of certain crimes.
A Republican led effort to weaponize and undermine Oregon’s status as a sanctuary state. The bill would require state and local law enforcement including campus police to enforce immigration laws and cooperate in the enforcement of such laws against persons convicted of a violent felony, Class A misdemeanor, or felony sexual offense.
HB3551 Local Law Enforcement Assisting ICE COIN opposes this bill.
The bill would require state and local law enforcement including campus police to enforce immigration laws and cooperate in the enforcement of such laws against persons convicted of a violent felony, Class A misdemeanor, or felony sexual offense. A Republican led effort to weaponize and undermine Oregon’s status as a sanctuary state.
Currently in the House Committee On Judiciary
SB722/SB599 Increases affordable housing and protects tenants from being denied housing based on immigration status. COIN ENDORSES these bills.
SB722 bans certain software landlords use to make rental decisions based on non-public information – the software synthesizes info from many landlords to maximize rental fees. The bill also reduces the period when new rental units are exempt from rent increase caps. SB722 provides penalties for violations.
SB599 prevents landlords from asking about immigration status or rejecting prospective tenants because of immigration status.
Oregon is among the worst in the nation for housing affordability. Rents are high, and wages have not kept up. Partially, this is due to the fact that we have extreme shortages of affordable units, and partially this is because the private market is still not regulated enough– all units less than 15 years old are entirely exempt from rent stabilization statutes. The tight market means that in newer units, prices have spiked exorbitantly, and even in units that are covered by rent stabilization, landlords are able to charge right up to the annual cap, which is not protective enough. The use of price-fixing algorithmic software exacerbates this situation, maximizing profit on any unit while destabilizing Oregon’s families.
Consequently, the risk of eviction and homelessness is one of the biggest fears for low and moderate income households across the state, and the eviction rate is higher than ever. The solution is to ban the use of price-fixing algorithmic software and to strengthen and improve coverage of Oregon’s rent stabilization statutes.
Here is the COIN Worksheet on SB722/SB599. SB722 is in the Senate Committee on Housing and Development. SB599 is in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This bill is listed under the Homelessness and Affordable Housing topic above.
Topic: Criminal Justice
Topic: Hunger
SB 611 Food for All Oregonians COIN endorses this bill.
Establishes the Food for All Oregonians Program in the Department of Human Services to provide food for persons under 26 years and over 55 years who would be eligible for SNAP benefits but for their immigration status. SB 611 is currently in the Senate Committee on Human Services.
Guidance for Testimony on SB 611 provided by Food for All Oregonians
Research on nutrition and health supports SB 54: Food-Is-Medicine-Plan-2024
Hungry People Is ... a Policy Choice? Statesman Journal describes the choices to be made about ending hunger in Oregon.
1 in 8 Oregonians Experience Hunger The need for food assistance highest since the Great Depression, says OPB
2025 Farm Bill will affect the 20% of rural Oregonian households who receive SNAP benefits.
Please join Food for All Oregonians' Lobby Day on March 18 in support of SB611!
COIN is a member of the Food for All Oregonians coalition. For more info, go here.
Topic: Protecting Democracy
SB 686 Protect Local Journalism COIN is WATCHING this bill.
SB 686 safeguards Oregon’s local journalism by requiring online big tech platforms like Google and Facebook pay their fair share for profiting off Oregon-based content. The bill creates a reasonable compliance system for big tech platforms to provide fair compensation to news creators, and creates the Oregon Civic Information Consortium, a non-profit fund supporting local journalism.
Currently in the Senate Committee On Rules
Topic: Gun Safety
ACTION ALERT: GUN SAFETY ADVOCACY DAY
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action are having an Advocacy Day in Salem on March 4!
RSVP for the Advocacy Day in Salem on Mar. 4 here: Register
Alliance for a Safe Oregon Legislation Priorities See this list of gun safety bills supported by a coalition of groups deeply concerned about the continued need for better gun regulations.
SB 11 Citizenship Status Question During Arrest COIN is WATCHING this bill, pending opposition.
Directs an arresting officer to inquire about citizenship when the officer arrests a person for a crime and the person is in possession of a firearm.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 203 ERPO Improvements COIN endorses this bill.
Requires the Judicial Department to study the number of extreme risk protection petitions filed and orders issued each year. This bill will improve our Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law and strengthen protective orders. Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 429 Background Check Requirements COIN endorses this bill.
The Act requires gun dealers to wait 72 hours from the time of asking for a background check, and to have the approval number from the check, before giving a firearm or certain unfinished firearm parts to a buyer. Oregon has high gun suicide rate. A 72 hour waiting period has been shown to reduce suicides by 20%.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee
This legislation is supported by Alliance for a Safe Oregon.
SB 696 Rapid Fire Activator Ban COIN is WATCHING this bill, pending endorsement.
Creates the crime of unlawful transport, manufacture or transfer of a rapid fire activator. Devices like bump stocks and Glock switches increase the firing rate of semiautomatic guns enabling them to function like machine guns.
17 states have enacted laws to ban these devices, often with bipartisan support
In the Senate Judiciary Committee
Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.
SB 697 21 to Possess a Rifle COIN endorses this bill.
Prohibits a person under 21 years of age from possessing firearms with specified exceptions. Raises the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles and long guns to age 21.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee
Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.
SB 698 Public Buildings Gun Bans COIN endorses this bill.
Authorizes the governing bodies of certain public entities that own or control public buildings to adopt a policy, ordinance or regulation limiting the affirmative defense for concealed handgun licensees for the crime of possessing a firearm in a public building. Allows ban on concealed carry firearms in public buildings, like the Zoo and city halls.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee
Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.
SJR 27 Right to Carry Ballot Measure Proposal COIN opposes this bill.
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution establishing a right to carry concealed firearms. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
In the Senate Rules Committee
HB 2396 Guaranteed Permit to Purchase COIN opposes this bill.
Provides that a person is automatically qualified to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm if the person holds a valid concealed handgun license. A person with a concealed carry permit would not have to go through the new background check process.
In the House Judiciary Committee
HB 2780 Same as HB 2396 above COIN opposes this bill.
In the House Judiciary Committee also.
HB 3075 Ballot Measure 114 Revision COIN is WATCHING this bill.
Modifies the firearm permit provisions of Ballot Measure 114 (2022). The bill describes more precisely the background application process, modified fees, adds to the those qualified as training course instructors and protects them from civil liability in certain circumstances, and makes it a crime for a dealer to provide a firearm to someone without a valid permit to purchase. In the House Judiciary Committee
HB 3076 Gun Dealer Licensing Study COIN endorses this bill.
Directs the Department of Justice to study the establishment of a state gun dealer licensing program, and to provide the results of the study to the appropriate interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than December 31, 2026.
In the House Judiciary Committee
Hopefully, this study will result in a future bill to stop the illegal flow of guns into our communities by licensing and inspecting gun dealers.
From the Oregon Capital Chronicle: legislative-bill-would-stem-overflow-of-illegal-guns-violent-crime
Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.
HB 5014 Community Violence Intervention Funding COIN endorses this bill.
Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Department of Justice for biennial expenses, including funding to support the Community Violence Intervention Program.
In the Joint Ways and Means Committee
Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.
Topic: State Finance and Revenue
HB2966 State Finance Task Force COIN endorses this bill.
Establishes a task force composed of diverse interests and directs it to study different methods
of public financing including the feasibility of a state bank.
HB2966 is in the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection
The potential benefits of these methods are incalculable. We can dramatically boost the abilities of local credit unions and community banks to offer loans and stimulate economic activity. We can partner with them
for participatory homeownership loans at lower costs than are charged by Wall Street banks, we can be responsible stewards of public dollars by facilitating development of local governments’ large infrastructure needs for less costs than are imposed by large banks, and so very much more.
HB 2699 is the first step to bringing any of these benefits home. There are complex financial issues
involved and it is only with the significant expertise assembled by the task force that we will be able to solve them and get this right.
Chief Sponsor Summary from Rep. Mark F. Gamba
SB2966 Testimony Toolkit, provided by Cultivating Solutions, formerly known as the Rural Engagement Project
Topic History: COIN endorsed the 2023 bill that would have studied the establishment of a Public Bank in coalition with the Oregon Public Banking Alliance.
A public hearing for HB2966 was held on 1/28. Catherine Thomasson of MCAT and the COIN CEE Team presented testimony in support of this bill. Dan Meek of COIN and the Oregon Progressive Party also offered testimony in support. Watch the recording here.
HB2084 Tax Compliance for Public Contracts COIN is WATCHING this bill, pending endorsement.
Requires that people who get public contracts obey the tax laws of the state, cities and counties and must show proof of compliance with the tax laws. Requires public contractors to demonstrate and maintain tax compliance as a condition of the execution of a public contract. Currently, anyone signing a contract with the State for more than $1000 must sign a form stating that they comply with all of Oregon’s tax laws. However, this form provides no definition of tax compliance or what the consequences are for not telling the truth on the form. The jail terms and/or fines were set in 1971 and are ill-defined. Several recent investigative reports have found people not in compliance while doing millions of dollars of business with the State of Oregon.
Currently in the House Revenue Committee
A public hearing for HB2930 was held on 1/23. Watch the recorded hearing here.
Topic: Economics
SB916 Unemployment Eligibility During Labor Disputes COIN ENDORSES this bill.
Provides that an individual otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits is not disqualified for any week that the individual's unemployment is due to a labor dispute in active progress at the individual's place of employment.
Currently in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business
HB3434 is the House version of SB916
This bill gives leverage to workers compelled to go on strike to resolve labor disputes. Many such workers don’t have the means to strike for any length of time without jeopardizing their housing, food security, etc. Employers are aware of this fact and hold out on offering meaningful concessions that would materially improve their employees’ lives. This bill would ensure a steady source of income while they strike. Also, some non-union employees lose income as a byproduct of the strike and may deserve unemployment insurance benefits during the strike.
OPB addresses the conflict with this article.
A public hearing for SB916 was held Thursday 2/6. The recording can be found here.
Another public hearing was held 2/11. Watch the recorded session here.
ACTION ALERT: An informational session for SB916 has been rescheduled for 8:00am Tuesday 2/18. Watch the session here.
HB3435 Phases in free school lunches and breakfasts for all Oregon school children COIN ENDORSES this bill.
While most schools in Oregon have opted to serve free meals, there remain some that need help to do so. School meals at no cost is a program that is widely supported by parents, teachers, and other professionals; these no cost meal programs have resulted in improved academic and social outcomes, attendance and health outcomes while reducing food insecurity and behavioral discipline rates. Universal meal programs remove the stigma of school meals and often result in more meals being served. When compared to the free and reduced price meal model, school meals at no cost reduce administrative costs and overhead and result in investing in higher quality ingredients, preparation and service. Meals that meet higher nutritional standards were estimated to save up to $792 million in health care related costs over 10 years. See more info at School Meals for All Coalition.
The bill has some bipartisan support. But these programs, the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are part of the federal Dept. of Agriculture and some funding is obtained from the federal Dept. of Education. The existence and support of these meal programs depends, at least in part, on any cuts that are pending at the federal level.
There is already in the Reconciliation Bill before Congress a plan to cut the Community Eligibility Provision which funds these programs. The Community Eligibility Provision allows the nation’s highest-poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as SNAP and TANF. Currently, schools can qualify if 40 percent of students receive these programs. The proposed budget cut would lift that to 60 percent. Congress is also looking at a provision to require students to submit income verification. All of this means that 285,000 Oregon students already receiving school meals would be cut from the program. This would make it much harder for Oregon to fund school meals for all.
Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB3435
Info from School Meals for All Coalition about submitting testimony prior to Feb. 23.
ACTION ALERT: School Meals for All Coalition would like people to meet with, write or call their members of Congress and urge them not to cut 285,000 Oregon school children from the school lunch and breakfast programs which will happen if cuts are made to the Community Eligibility Provision as proposed in the Reconciliation bill. And, it will make it much harder, if not impossible for Oregon to fund a school meals for all program.
Find your Members of Congress here.
ACTION ALERT: There is also a Lobby Day planned for March 19 in Salem in support of this bill, HB3435. Plan to attend!