Work Session and Public Hearings

This week I have a couple more bills inching forward through House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection . SB 463A with a work session and SB 1032A with a public hearing.

SB 463A, is a bi-partisan, bi-cameral solution to a problem that, while not yet a crisis, has all the makings of one if not dealt with very soon.

The concept is simple. The bill requires the Department of Administrative Services to provide a comprehensive report regarding the financial status of the State Insurance Fund on a biennial basis. The reason for this is also simple. I do not believe that we, as members of the legislature and as those responsible for the financial safeguarding of the State of Oregon, have an understanding of the assets and liabilities of the State Insurance Fund. If we did, I do not believe that we would have allowed it to reach this point.

As of last summer, the fund has slightly less than $100 million in its account. However, the cost to comply with a court order from 2017 to replace 90% of curb ramps on state highways to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act has already ballooned to over $1 BILLION. A settlement from 2023 between former foster children who were sexually abused and DHS is set to cost $40 million. And these are just two, high-profile cases. How much has been paid? From what funds were they paid? What other cases are pending? We don’t know the answers, and the attempts to find the answers would likely take a great deal of time and hunting across state agencies. As legislators with a fiduciary responsibility to the people of Oregon, we deserve to have this information readily available.

This is a simple bill that is a solution to a pressing problem. A problem that will undoubtedly become another financial scandal if we don’t gain control of it as soon as possible.

SB 1032A is scheduled to be heard on May 6th in House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection

I will admit that, prior to hearing from a constituent, I was unaware of recreational uses of Difluoroethene, or DFE. I just thought of it as harmless canned air that I used to clean my keyboard. Likely, that’s how most of us see it. But I was brought the story of Joleen, a talented, artistic newlywed whose life was cut short by the decisions of someone who had easy access to this deceptively dangerous product. I am incredibly thankful to Joleen’s aunt and a member of our coastal community, Kim, for bringing Joleen’s story to my attention.

Abuse of DFE is becoming a nationwide emergency. Between 2006 and 2022, over 1,000 deaths and more than 28,000 emergency room visits came from the abuse of DFE. Since there’s no solid way of tracking this data, those numbers are likely severely understated. Given how little the average member of the public knows about the dangers of DFE, it’s no surprise that young people looking for a high, hear about the sense of euphoria that inhaling this chemical can give you, the low price and easy accessibility and see it as a natural choice.

Like so many things, I believe the answer here is education.SB 1032 requires labeling DFE to ensure that those purchasing the product are duly warned against improper use. It limits purchase of the product to adults, and limits the amount that can be purchased. If you use DFE properly, a few cans will last a very long time.

Joleen should still be here today. I dearly wish I could have met her. But what we can do now is raise awareness of what this product can do and ensure that, while it can be used legitimately, clear barriers are set to stop improper use.

Success!

I am happy to announce that SB 465 has made it through both chambers! This bill removes the annual cap on matching funds that an individual development account holder may accrue, which means lower-income individuals can potentially accumulate more matching funds in their IDA accounts.

For over 20 years, Oregonians with lower incomes have used Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) to attain homeownership, further education, start small businesses, and achieve other asset-building and stabilization goals.

Individual Development Accounts use a combination of strategies—matching cash, information about financial systems, and community-based resource navigation—so that participants can leverage the power of their savings toward financial goals. Match amounts and asset goals vary by participant, with timelines ranging from three months to more than three years. The spectrum of financial goals available means that IDAs can address barriers to asset building faced by households in various financial situations by increasing income, improving credit, avoiding harmful debt, and supporting families’ preparedness for financial emergencies.

Transportation Negotiations

I was recently selected by the Co Chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation to work on the details of the transportation package. This is a daunting task that we face, but the difficulty does not stop us from moving forward to find a solution.

The initial framework was provided to us by Co Chairs Gorsek and Mclain last month. You can review that framework here .

Looking for Revenue

I have gotten several emails in the past week regarding HB 3940-A. This bill raises and moves money to pay for wildfire costs and makes certain changes to laws related to forests and fire protection.

Places a surcharge on sales of beverage containers for purposes of wildfire prevention and response.
Directs insurance retaliatory tax revenue to wildfire prevention and response.
Transfers one-half percent of General Fund appropriations per biennium to [a fund] funds for wildfire prevention and response.
Transfers 50 percent of the amount held in the Oregon Rainy Day Fund to [a fund] funds for wildfire prevention and response.
Makes certain changes related to the forest products harvest tax, forest protection districts, minimum assessments and surcharges, the Emergency Fire Cost Committee, forestland acreage assessments, zones for fire protection in certain areas and [the formation of] rural fire protection districts.
Authorizes certain transfers from the State Fire Marshal Mobilization Fund. Requires the Legislative Assembly to make moneys available to the State Forestry Department and the Department of the State Fire Marshal to repay loans from the State Treasurer for wildfire suppression costs. Creates an offset against fire protection costs for certain forestland.

HB 3940A would add an additional 5 cent fee/tax on beverage containers. While I support funding wild fire prevention and having a source of funding to fight fires as needed, I do not support this tax on beverage containers to make that happen.

State mandated ban on student cell phones?

HB 2251-A, would direct school districts to adopt a policy that prohibits the use of student personal electronic devices during school hours. I have received quite a bit of email traffic on this one, but all of those emails have come from outside of our district. I would like to get a sense of how Senate District 16 constituents feel about this idea. Please feel free to email or call in and let my office know what your thoughts are on HB 2251A.

Visitors to the Capitol

A wonderful group of students and staff from Portland Community College came by for a visit to discuss education priorities.

While it has been a very busy week, I always enjoy having visitors from our district. This week I had the opportunity to meet the Congdon family while they were on a field trip to meet their legislators.

I encourage all of you to take time to get familiar with the Capitol and your representatives.

It is always best to email and get on my calendar. However, if you do drop in, I will do my best to get some time with you.

Join me for this May 2nd update of the 83rd Oregon Legislative Session. You can listen in on SoundCloud or watch on YouTube.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716 District Phone: 503-300-4493
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-405, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.SuzanneWeber@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/weber/