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Legislative Report - Week of 2/24

Social Policy Team

 

Coordinator: Jean Pierce  

  • After-School Care and Children’s Service: Katie Riley

  • Behavioral Health: Karen Nibler, Stephany Aller

  • Education: Jean Pierce

  • Equal Rights for All: Jean Pierce, Kyra Aguon

  • Gun Safety and Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley

  • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith, Becky Gladstone

  • Higher Education: Jean Pierce

  • Immigration/Refugee/Asylum: Claudia Keith

  • Health Care: Christa Danielsen,

  • M110 Public Safety, Justice Issues: Karen Nibler

  • School-Based Health Centers: Chloe Acosta, Anai Beng

  • Housing: Debbie Aiona, Nancy Donovan

  • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner

 Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2025 Social Policy bills.

Jump to topic:




Age Discrimination/Reproductive Health

By Trish Garner


HB 3187: League supports. A hearing was held on this workplace age discrimination bill in the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee on February 19, 2024. The bill closes a loophole that exists regarding lawsuits claiming discrimination based on age such that even if employers take a negative action regarding employees or job applicants based on age, they can avoid liability by claiming that they made the decision based on salary, retirement status or length of service. This loophole does not exist in cases based on discrimination based on race or gender.


SB 548: League supports. A hearing was held in the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 19, 2024. The bill provides that the minimum age for marriage is 18, with no exceptions. Marriage at earlier ages disproportionately harms girls by potentially disrupting their education, increasing the risk of domestic abuse and causing serious health consequences. It also raises significant questions about the voluntary nature of entering into marriage as minors under 18 are more vulnerable to pressure from family and peers. Under Oregon law, once an individual marries, they are considered emancipated adults. This change carries significant financial, social and psychological consequences. For example, parents are no longer legally obligated to support their children or provide medical insurance coverage when their children are emancipated.



Behavioral Health

By Stephanie Aller


HB 2596, the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, passed in the House on February 20.


HB 3129 would establish the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund. The bill will have a public hearing on February 25 before the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. The League will submit testimony.


The League of Women Voters of Oregon submitted testimony in support of HB 3351 which would enact the interstate Counseling Compact. There is a critical shortage of behavioral health workers in Oregon. HB 3351 can help increase access to care, particularly among underserved populations.


Criminal Justice

By Marge Easley


LWVOR submitted testimony for HB 2233, which renews funding for a legal services program for adults in custody at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, unanimously passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on February 18 and was referred to Ways and Means. The total fiscal impact is estimated at $1.6 million.


Education

By Jean Pierce


Education Committees from both Chambers will hold a joint meeting at 5:30 on Wednesday, February 26 to hear a report commissioned by the Legislature from the American Institutes for Research (AIR), which studied recent education financing in Oregon. This follows a Quality Education Model (QEM) Report issued in August, 2024, which concluded,


Due to tax revenue barriers and decreased prioritization of K-12 public education funding over the past 25 years, Oregon is projected to fund its K-12 system close to two billion dollars less per biennium than is needed to run a system of effective schools.


The AIR report recommends that the QEM consider additional factors in its cost projections. 


The League submitted testimony for SB604, which would fund the Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s Strong Start program, which has a history of success in supporting underrepresented students at public universities. 


LWVOR also submitted testimony for HB2997, which directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to establish a grant program supporting organizations with proven track records of expanding access to populations which are under-represented in colleges and universities. 


LWVOR is tracking HB2953, which would remove the artificial cap on special education funding provided to districts. HB2953-A was considered in a House Committee on Education work session on February 20, which concluded “Do pass with amendments, refer to Revenue and then to Ways and Means”.


LWVOR is also tracking HB2586, which would permit an asylum seeker who is a student at a public university in this state to receive an exemption from nonresident tuition and fees. The bill received a public hearing on February 4th. 


Healthcare

By Christa Danielson


LWVOR submitted testimony for HB 2010-A, which extends assessments from health plan premiums, payments by Oregon Health to managed care, hospitals, and the Oregon Reinsurance program.


Previously, this amended bill passed through the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care. The League submitted testimony for a public hearing held by the House Committee on Revenue. The committee voted to pass the amended bill on February 20.  



Housing

By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona


HB 2958 would extend the sunset date for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by six years, from Jan. 1, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2032. It would increase Oregon’s percentage of the federal EITC for lower income taxpayers from nine percent to 20 percent and for those with children under age three from 12 percent to 25 percent. The bill also would expand eligibility to all childless adults over the age of 18.  


League testimony explained the importance of strengthening the tax credit. This tax policy currently provides critical support for Oregonians struggling to make ends meet. Costs for food, housing, child care, transportation, health care, and other essentials continue to grow, placing a significant strain on household budgets. By strengthening the state EITC, individuals and families will receive help keeping up with those growing costs.


The bill is scheduled for a February 25 public hearing in the House Committee on Revenue.  


LWVOR submitted testimony supporting HB 3507. This bill proposes to invest $30 million in down payment assistance to Oregon Housing and Community Services to increase the eligibility of its Culturally Responsive Organization Program and Homeownership Program targeted to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers. Investing $30 million will open the door to an estimated 750 first-time and first-generation homebuyers, helping them plant roots in their communities.


Moderate Income Revolving Loan program: In good news on the housing production front, Governor Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services announced the start of the new Moderate Income Revolving Loan program. It will provide zero interest loans to cities and counties. They will offer grants to developers building rental or homeownership units affordable to households earning no more than 120 percent of area median income. Over time, the grants will be paid back to local jurisdictions which will repay the state fund, thus providing a stable source of funds for future projects. 


Immigration

By Claudia Keith


Find below a list of policy and or funding-related bills that may have traction. Additionally, there are a number of other bills proposed in Oregon supporting the new 2025 federal administration potential policies that, given House and Senate Democratic supermajorities, will likely not receive a public hearing.


Given where we are in the session, it is not clear if these bills will receive public hearings. Depending on the revenue forecast the funding bills may show up in the end-of-session reconciliation bill. (Christmas tree bill) 


  • SB 149 DHS Immigration Study - Sen Jama


  • SB 599: Immigration status - discrimination in real estate transactions - Senator Campos


  • SB 611: Food for All Oregonians Program - Senator Campos, Representative Ruiz


  • SB 703: A bipartisan immigration status update funding bill - Senator Reynolds, Representatives Neron, Ruiz, Smith

  • HB2788: Aunding to nonprofits to assist with lawful permanent resident status / legal aid - Representatives Neron and Ruiz, Senator Reynolds


  • HB 2586: Nonresident tuition exemption for asylum seekers. - Representative Hudson, Senator Campos; Work session 2/27

  • HB 2543: 15$M for Universal FUND: The Act gives funds to Oregon Department of Administrative Services (ODAS) for universal representation and the Act gives funds to Oregon State Bar for legal help for immigration matters.


  • HB 5002: ODAS Agency Budget: includes 7$M for Oregon Worker Relief Fund


Immigration resources in Oregon


  • Coalition of Communities of Color

  • Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO):
Serves immigrants and refugees in Portland, Oregon. 



  • Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (OIRA):
Advocates for immigrants and refugees in Oregon. OIRA is part of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). 





  • Oregon Department of Justice has a Community Toolkit with information about immigration and civil rights. 






  • Oregon Justice Resource Center Offers case assistance for immigrants through the Immigrant Rights Project (IRP). 






 


Education



Immigration and Refugee News and events and Mission, Vision and VALUES: “As OIRA talks with federal, state, local and community partners, we will continue to post the most updated information we have on this web page.”




In the News




Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency, Governance, and Natural Resources report sections.

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