Legislature Adjourns Productive 2018 Legislative Session
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File Photo, Oregon House of Representatives. (Brian Gailey)
House Democrats pass legislation to build a better future for every Oregonian
SALEM – The Oregon House of Representatives adjourned the 2018 legislative short session, “sine die,” today. Over the course of the 27-day session, Oregon House Democrats advanced key legislation that will build a better future for every Oregonian.
“After a year of watching President Trump push his anti-immigrant, anti-climate change, anti-consumer agenda, millions of people across the country have stood up in some way to resist his agenda,” said House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson (D-Portland). “Here in Oregon, I’m proud that our legislative leaders also stood up for Oregonian values and spent our 2018 session working to move our state forward.”
Fighting for the Right to Health Care
Oregon House Democrats entered the 2018 legislative session working to ensure that every Oregonian has access to quality, affordable health care. The legislature passed House Bill 4005, aimed at lowering prescription drug prices through the disclosure of consumer information, and House Bill 4018, making sure the organizations that provide health care to Oregon’s Medicaid recipients are accountable and transparent. In addition, budget allocations were made to add more than $9 million to fund mental health services, and $2 million to tackle the opioid epidemic.
Investing in Quality Public Education
A quality public education system from cradle-to-career is vital to providing our children with opportunity and building a strong economy. House Bill 4041 ensures greater student voice and transparency in the tuition-setting process. For those students who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Senate Bill 1563 levels the playing field, giving them the same in-state tuition status as every other Oregon student. Nearly $74 million will be invested in Oregon’s public universities so that they may thrive into the future. With an eye toward the 2019 legislative session, the Joint Committee on Student Success will begin work over the interim to strengthen Oregon’s public schools.
Building Strong Communities
Oregon has been a long-standing leader in the movement to pass meaningful gun violence prevention legislation, and this year Democratic leaders built on that effort. This year, the Oregon Legislature took action to protect survivors of domestic violence by banning people convicted of stalking and domestic violence or under restraining orders from buying or owning firearms and ammunition. With the passage of House Bill 4145, which was introduced by Governor Kate Brown, Oregon became the first state to pass gun violence prevention legislation after the horrific school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Oregon will also invest $250,000 to create the Portland State University/Oregon Health and Science University Center for Violence Prevention Research, Education, and Practice.
The Legislature also continued to address Oregon’s statewide housing crisis by making significant investments in affordable housing and emergency shelters. House Bill 4007 will add money to the only continuous source of funding for affordable housing, as well as create a tax credit for first-time homebuyers. The budget also included $5.2 million to support emergency shelters across the state.
The legislature also took action to secure the safety of Oregon’s most vulnerable children by adding $15.7 million to the Department of Human Services budget to protect children in the foster care system.
Defending Our Environment and Combating Climate Change
House Democrats worked to protect our environment and build a clean energy future that preserves our natural beauty, protects the air we breathe, and creates job opportunities across Oregon. Senate Bill 1541 instituted the Cleaner Air Oregon program to reduce the risk of toxic air contaminants, and the legislature announced plans to form the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction focused on advancing Clean Energy Jobs legislation in 2019.
Strengthening Our Economy
Every Oregonian should have the ability to achieve their American dream. This session, Oregon House Democrats passed House Bill 4144, which makes it easier for small business contractors to start their own businesses, and House Bill 4052 set up advisory committees that will give small business owners a bigger voice in the state’s rule-setting processes. Rural broadband also got a boost with the passage of House Bill 4023.
Ensuring Government is Responsive and Effective
In an effort to keep Oregon’s government as efficient, transparent, and effective as possible, the legislature enshrined in state statute rules to keep elections fair and open.
As the #MeToo movement spread virally starting in October 2017, women from all walks of life have been speaking up about sexual harassment – including women who work in the Oregon State Capitol. In response, legislative leaders requested that the Oregon Law Commission review and advise the Oregon Legislature on how best to revise its laws and policies related to workplace harassment in order to adopt changes in the 2019 session.
Seeking Justice and Equal Rights for All
Every Oregonian should be afforded the same fundamental rights, regardless of their race, religion, gender, age, or sexual orientation. The Oregon Legislature ensured DACA recipients could keep their drivers’ licenses even if the federal program is ended, and reformed plea agreements with House Bill 4149 so that no one is forced to give up their constitutional rights. The legislature supported veterans and active duty military members by passing House Bill 4035, extending scholarship benefits to members of the Oregon National Guard, and House Bill 4098 which seeks to provide veterans with better access to apprenticeship opportunities. In addition, House Bill 4038, championed by Rep. Paul Evans (D-Salem), included, among other things, reentry services for incarcerated veterans, including outreach, and assistance reinstating benefits.
Protecting Consumers at Home and Online
As the federal government increasingly sides with corporations at the expense of consumers, the Oregon legislature took action to protect internet freedom, private information, and personal data. With House Bill 4155, Oregon became the second state to pass legislation enshrining essential net neutrality protections that were rolled back by the Federal Communications Commission in 2017. Six months after the data breach of credit reporting agency Equifax exposed the private information of 145 million Americans, the legislature passed Senate Bill 1551, which will provide victims of data breaches additional protections.
“When the session started, I said that we would fight for a better future for every Oregonian,” Majority Leader Williamson added. “As we adjourn today, I’m proud to say the Oregon House Democrats delivered on our promise to expand opportunity and level the playing field in every corner of this great state.”
Press release from the Oregon House Democrats. A statement from the Oregon House Republicans has not been received at this time. Statements from the Oregon Senate Democrats and Republicans on the Short Session can be read here.
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