Much to be Done

We observed Memorial Day on Monday — a time for reflection on the sacrifice and service of those who gave all they could for a nation, state, and communities they loved. It provides us with an opportunity for introspection.

We have about thirty-eight more days before we are required to close out the Legislative Session.

This past week flew by. Most policy committees have concluded their work, and those bills that have survived are advancing to the floor for a vote. A handful of remaining bills are being referred to special committees exempt from deadlines. That includes the House or Senate Rules Committee, Revenue, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and the newly created Joint Special Committee on Transportation.

For much of the Legislative Session, policy moves like traffic on an interstate highway. Some bills zip through. Others crawl. Many receive hearings, but a hearing is no guarantee of advancement. The vast majority of drafted legislation never makes it past its original committee. Only a select few continue—either to another committee for a specific purpose or to the House or Senate floor for full deliberation.

Each bill is subject to strict deadlines. If a policy bill didn’t move by this past week, chances are it won’t move at all. And even for those that did advance to those special committees, many will not be scheduled for hearings due to political or timing constraints. This is the point in the session when the Capitol becomes hardest to navigate. The stress and frustration set in as people realize their bill is more likely to die than become law. With most committees closed, many members have idle time. Others are working double-hard.

Tensions rise. Nerves fray. Emotions begin to drive decisions on big issues and small ones alike. It’s an exciting yet difficult phase. The “law of unintended consequences” looms large, and none of us fully knows the complex formula that will determine how—and when—we adjourn. From experience, I know that by this point, most key decisions on major bills and the overall budget have already been made or soon will be.

As co-chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, I work with a team deeply committed to the work of the dozen agencies under our jurisdiction. That includes ODOT, Housing, Business Oregon, Employment, OLCC, and Veterans Affairs. The recent revenue forecast has made our job harder than expected.

Oddly enough, a forecast with deep cuts or major revenue increases can be easier to manage. Big cuts force us to say “no” across the board. Big increases let us strategically invest in new initiatives. But when resources are flat—or just modestly growing—we face the more difficult task of making tough choices among hundreds of legitimate, competing proposals.

We’re finalizing those budgets now. A major consideration is the significant increases requested by the Governor for housing and homelessness. Most other agencies will be funded close to their current service levels. Some agencies may face small reductions or new responsibilities, but sweeping changes are unlikely.

At the same time, almost every legislator has submitted proposals that cost money. Few will advance—largely due to budget limitations. To succeed, the ask will need to be very good, and the sponsor very skilled.

Finally, there are a record number of requests for capital construction and lottery bond funding. These are local projects like water and sewer, parks, and ports. Roughly $2 billion in proposals have been received for the $500 million available. Again, many worthy projects will not be supported.

The sense in the building is that the marathon has turned downhill and we are rushing toward adjournment. But I am mindful that many large and potentially contentious questions remain. On the budget front, that includes transportation funding, housing, and education investments. Possible policy measures include firearms, book bans, unemployment benefits for striking workers, wildfire resilience, utility rates, and even my ongoing concerns about using primates for medical research.

We have only 38 days left. But that is more days than the entire short session scheduled for next year. There is still time for plenty to happen – and plenty to go wrong.

Together, we’ll chart the best course forward in the days and months ahead.

(Much of this overview came from the newsletter of my friend, Representative Paul Evans. I thank him for the thoughts and phrasing.)

Firearms: The Senate is preparing for a vote on SB 243. The original sweeping gun-control package has now been amended to remove provisions that would have required Oregonians to wait 72 hours and increase the age to buy a firearm to 21. They also stripped out language that would have prevented CHL holders from carrying a firearm near a government building. The bill, now out of committee, would ban rapid-fire devices like bump stocks and “Glock switches” and allow cities and counties to prohibit concealed carry, even for permit holders, in public buildings.

Book Bans: The stage is set for a final showdown over SB 1098, which would prohibit removing books from school libraries solely because they are written by diverse authors or contain themes about race, gender, LGBTQ+ issues and other groups protected from discrimination under Oregon law. With the bill, only a student caregiver or district employee who wanted to see books and other materials taken out of classrooms or school libraries could request to do so, a provision designed to prevent outside interest groups from orchestrating campaigns to object to the same book in multiple districts.

The measure was approved in the Senate and is coming to the House floor for a final vote.

Senate votes on SB 1098.

In order to find funds needed for wildfire response, Senator Jeff Golden and now Governor Kotek are proposing a one-time shift of $1 billion from the kicker into a wildfire investment fund. Returns could then be used for current and future wildfire costs. Dollars would be withheld from “high-income earners.” SB 1177 is still in committee.

Governor Tina Kotek speaks with reporters at a press briefing on the wildfire season in early May. She said this week that she supports a plan to use Oregon’s kicker rebate to pay to prevent and fight wildfires.

The measure has seen a number of compromise amendments and now heads to the House floor. A nonpartisan report to the legislature found that overall employment taxes would not be affected and any business without a unionized workforce would not see any change at all. The average unemployment check in Oregon is about $500 a week.

Utility Rates: Legislators are considering at least six bills this session aimed at curbing spending from private, investor-owned monopoly utilities and limiting how and when those utilities can recover costs from customers. The proposals follow five years of residential rate increases that have led to record power and gas shut-offs for Oregonians. They also come as most Oregonians pay far more for electricity and gas. Electricity rates are 50% higher and natural gas rates are nearly 40% higher than they were five years ago.

Using Primates for Medical Research: As problems continue to surface at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, and as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have all but eliminated funding of animal testing in medical research, I have introduced new legislation requiring OHSU to plan for funding reductions, protections of workers, and how to manage the 5,000 monkeys they currently have in inventory.

Animal rights advocates at the Oregon Capitol on May 13, 2025

Recreational Immunity: Landowners who allow the public to recreate on their property have long been shielded from lawsuits for injuries on public land. However, in 2020, a court found the City of Newport could be held liable after a woman broke her leg while walking on a wet bridge. In question was whether she was recreating or on her way to recreate. Fearing similar suits, many local governments chose to close paths, hiking trails, parks, and beach access.

SB 179, making recreational immunity permanent, has now passed both legislative chambers and been signed by the Governor. That means landowners in Oregon, public and private, are once again granted immunity from injury claims when they open their land for recreational purposes.

At almost the same time, the five-year-old lawsuit that changed Oregon’s recreational immunity law reached a conclusion in Lincoln County Circuit Court. A 12-member jury ruled in the City of Newport’s favor, saying the trail was being used for recreational purposes and that the city was not negligent.

Age Discrimination: The Oregon Senate passed HB 3187 A this week, which addresses discrimination that older workers face when applying for a job. I was proud to join my friend and colleague, Representative Nathan Sosa, as a sponsor of this bill, which he introduced on behalf of AARP.

The bill prohibits employers from asking for an applicant’s age, date of birth, or date of graduation until after the initial interview, unless the disclosure of age is a bona fide occupational qualification or otherwise required by law. Currently, many job applications require workers to disclose their age, or when they obtained their degree or certification. This opens the door for discrimination against older workers and prevents them from having the opportunity to interview for the position.

The bill passed through the Oregon Senate on Tuesday on a vote of 20-9. Earlier, it had passed the House 42-16. The Governor has now signed the bill.

Privacy in Your Car: Internet-enabled cars outfitted with ever-growing numbers of sensors and cameras can offer performance and safety benefits, but they also can collect and transmit vast amounts of data to car companies. Plug your phone in, and they can access texts and emails.

We’re beginning to understand that cars are a privacy nightmare.

My bill, HB 3875, provides that a motor vehicle manufacturer must comply with the requirements of the state’s privacy laws in controlling and processing personal data that the motor vehicle manufacturer or affiliate obtains from a consumer’s use of a motor vehicle. The bill has passed both chambers.

So, you can imagine my satisfaction in hearing that Waldport resident Craig Williams was the Screenwriter and Executive Producer for a new family-friendly short film titled “Retrieving Roadie” about a rescue dog. The film just won “Best Animated Film” from the Oregon Short Film Festival. You can watch it for free here.

Statewide turnout hit 27% in May 2023 and 26% during the election in 2021, according to unofficial data posted on the Secretary of State’s website. However, this year’s turnout was higher than the May 2017 election, where only 20% of Oregon voters cast a ballot, according to the historical data.

When only one in five voters participate in elections, Democracy suffers. And while elections for special districts and school boards don’t garner as much media attention and campaign activity, they certainly have the potential to affect our daily lives.

I’m pleased we did better here than the state turnout. Lincoln County saw a 32% response. Benton County was at 28% and Lane at 21%.

Thank you everyone who returned your ballot!

And speaking of return, I was back in Salem early Tuesday after a long and reflective Memorial Day weekend. As you can see, there is much to be done, and the time for doing it is passing quickly.

I’ll be back with another update next week.

House District 10

phone: 503-986-1410

address: 900 Court St NE, H-480, Salem, OR, 97301

website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg