Passing or stuck — Where Eastern Oregon lawmakers’ bills are in the short session
Published 7:00 am Saturday, February 17, 2024
- Owens
SALEM — Rep. Greg Smith’s bill to put money into the Natural and Working Lands Fund is on the way to the Oregon Senate.
The state House of Representatives on Thursday, Feb. 15, passed House Bill 4102 on a vote of 53-1, with six excused, to specify the sources of money for the fund.
Smith was the chief sponsor of the bill.
“Last session, the Natural and Working Lands Fund was established to allow landowners to protect the environment and rural Oregon’s way of life” Smith, R-Heppner, said in a statement. “This bill is a technical fix, which makes sure that the Natural and Working Lands account itself can receive all types of funding, when such funds become available.”
Smith also is the chief sponsor of HB 4116, which provides that Oregon State Police forensic scientists and evidence technicians qualify as police officers under the Public Employees Retirement System.
Smith said the bill was folded into the larger PERS bill, HB 4045. The House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government and Veterans unanimously passed the amended, which is is now in Joint Ways and Means.
The short session began Feb. 5 and by law must end by March 10, meaning bills can move quickly. Here is a breakdown of bills Eastern Oregon lawmakers are carrying as chief sponsors and where they are in the legislative pipeline as of Thursday afternoon, Feb. 15.
Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena
What is it?
The measure directs the Water Resources Department to collaborate with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the state of Washington to implement and guide bistate water management in the Walla Walla River Basin pursuant to the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan, with advice from a Walla Walla River Basin advisory committee. The bill also requires the department to report to a committee or interim committee of the Legislature related to water by June 30, 2026, and to report, in coordination with the CTUIR and state of Washington, to the Walla Walla River Basin advisory committee.
Where is it?
The Senate Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs held a public hearing on the bill on Feb. 13 and a work session two days later. The committee passed the bill 5-0. It now awaits transfer to the desk of the Senate president
What is it?
The bill protects a children’s advocacy center from legal action for looking into the abuse of a child if a nationwide group says the center meets certain standards. The act also protects the center’s employees. The act does not protect a center from legal action based on its employees’ adverse treatment of a person on the basis of a protected class. The act goes into effect when the governor signs it.
Where is it?
The Senate Committee on Judiciary on Feb. 15 passed the bill 5-0. It now awaits transfer to the desk of the Senate president.
Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale
What is it?
The bill increases the exempt amount and filing threshold for purposes of the corporate activity tax. It also exempts reimbursements for certain health care services, including care provided to medical assistance recipients and to Medicare recipients. Applies to tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment.
Where is it?
The Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue held a public hearing on the bill on Feb. 12. The committee on Feb. 5 also referred the bill to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
What is it?
The bill decreases weight-mile taxes and places limits on the Oregon Department of Transportation for certain expenditures. The bill takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment.
Where is it?
The bill is in the Joint Committee On Transportation, which held a public hearing on the bill on Feb. 15.
Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo
What is it?
Provides that compensation for loss or injury to livestock or working dogs under the wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program must be based on certain multipliers of fair market value. Caps compensation at $15,000 per animal. Removes provision authorizing compensation for missing livestock.
Where is it?
The bill is in the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water, which has set an information meeting on the bill for Feb. 20.
What is it?
The bill requires a health care practitioner to exercise the proper degree of care to preserve the health and life of a child born alive after an abortion or an attempted abortion. The bill also requires a health care practitioner to ensure a child born alive is transported to a hospital. Levy’s bill also creates a crime for failure to exercise proper standard of care, punishable by a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both.
The bill also allows specified persons to bring civil action for damages and equitable relief against a health care practitioner for failing to exercise proper standard of care and directs the court to award attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff. Finally, the bill allows the court to order the identity or personally identifiable information of specified persons is protected from disclosure.
Where is it?
The House Committee on Judiciary has the bill and has not scheduled any meetings on it.
Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane
What is it?
The bill requires insurance coverage for motor vehicles to be made available as part of a peer-to-peer car sharing arrangement. The bill also requires certain disclosures to the owner and driver of the shared vehicle, and it requires the shared vehicle owner to address recall notices for defects that affect the safety of the vehicle.
Where is it?
The bill is in the House Committee on Business and Labor, which has not set any meetings for it.
What is it?
The bill authorizes the Oregon Health Authority or a third party to provide electronic notification to a practitioner in certain circumstances when the practitioner’s patient has a fatal or nonfatal overdose. The bill also limits the use and retention of practitioner information. The bill takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment and sunsets Jan. 1, 2028.
Where is it?
The bill is in the Senate Committee on Health Care, which has recommended passage and has set a public hearing and possible work session for the bill on Feb. 21.
Other legislation
Hansell is the chief sponsor of two Senate concurrent resolutions.
What is it?
Commemorates the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Inland Northwest Musicians based in Hermiston. Senate President Rob Wagner also is a chief sponsor.
What is it?
The resolution honors the life and memory of Mike Donahue, who for 44 years works at KOIN 6 News in Portland and became a trusted local TV news anchor. He died in 2023 at the age of 77. He and Hansell were college friends.
Where are they?
The Senate Committee on Rules has passed both resolutions.
Levy is a chief sponsor of House Joint Memorial 201, which urges Congress to continue full and unequivocal support of Israel in its war against Hamas. The bill is in the House Committee on Rules, which has not set any meetings for the matter.
You can check the action in the Oregon Legislature at the Oregon Legislative Information website, shorturl.at/qMSY9.
