From the District Podcast

Please join me for this week’s packed update of Oregon’s Legislative Session.  We talk about a myriad of issues (link is below):

• Kidney dialysis in Tillamook and my disappointment in the delays in getting this clinic back up and running.
• A couple updates on ODOT and their missing 1 billion dollar issue.
• Tax on tires  HB 3362
• Governor’s Accountability Bill  SB 141. The concern is that we keep giving education more and more money, but we have not seen the proficiency increase.
• The Ways & Means road show is coming to Astoria!

 

I was thrilled to see this spotlight video of Future Natural Resources Leaders!

The Neah-Kah-Nie High School FNRL program provides students with hands-on learning experiences in forestry, conservation, and natural resource management. Through competitions, fieldwork, and industry partnerships, students gain valuable skills in leadership, sustainability, and technical forestry practices.

Senate Bill 381 makes a very, very modest adjustment. Instead of exempting the first million dollars, SB 381 exempts the first 5 million dollars of gross sales.

It’s important to know that SB 381 still would require high gross income businesses to pay the vast majority of what they pay now. The vast majority of revenue from the Student Success Act comes from those businesses who bring in far more revenue than five million dollars. However, those smallest businesses who make over $1 million in gross revenue, but under $5 million will see a massive relief. This will allow them to invest more in their business, and hopefully grow to become one of those larger businesses who will then come to pay into the Student Success Act revenue when they exceed 5 Million dollars in revenue.

Senate Vote Today Calls for Easier Clean-up of Abandoned, Decaying Boats

Some derelict vessels can be treated as marine debris under SB 795-A

Boats left abandoned on waterways will be easier for public officials to remove under legislation passed today in the Oregon Senate. The vote was 29 to 1.

SB 795-A makes key changes to legislation passed in 2023, which created a program to remove and dispose of unusable or decaying watercraft. Under current law, fully submerged and inoperable vessels have been treated the same as those in working order. Officials had to store them for at least 30 days after giving notice to the owner and had to inventory all personal property onboard.

“This program has seen great early successes, but we can’t have any delays in removing dangerous, polluting boats,” said Senator Kathleen Taylor, D – SE Portland. “The current process is far too time-consuming, and this bill removes those barriers.”

Under SB 795-A, nonworking vessels abandoned without any identifying information regarding ownership can be treated as marine debris and removed without notice. When ownership information is available on a stranded, dilapidated watercraft, officials must give two weeks’ notice before removal.

Vessel owners have rights and responsibilities under the new measure. An owner can request a hearing on the planned seizure of their boat within 10 business days of notice being given. Owners can be found responsible for the costs of salvage, towing, storage, and disposal.

The bill now advances to the Oregon House of Representatives.  If this is something you support I would encourage you to write to the House members and let them know you would like to see it pass.

Often we are very busy and it is difficult to find time to get together, but it takes personal conversations to understand the challenges of a bill.   Senator Jama and I met to discuss SB 478, that would give college students a voting position on their college board. It has both bipartisan opposition and support.  I’d like to share what I’m hearing from folks and look forward to hearing your thoughts on this bill as well.

Emails in Support

There are many student advisory organizations that offer a student perspective, during board meetings, but that voice goes no farther than that, just a voice in the room. But SB 478 would ensure that there is an elected representative (elected by the student body), that has a voting voice for all issues that come up in board meetings. Ensuring students have a voice that holds weight, ensures that school boards are further held accountable by the student body.

Emails in Opposition

The Student that holds the voting position for the college, is not elected by the general public of that district, like the other members of that board are. In addition, that student would create an even number of seats on the board which would more than likely result in a voting standstill on issues, thus making these district school boards far less efficient.

What are your thoughts on SB 478? Please let me know!

Visitors at the Capitol

American Federation of Teachers – Oregon visited to discuss key issues impacting Oregon’s public schools and the students they serve.

Thank you to the crew from Oregon Recovers!  I wasn’t able to get Oregon Recovers Advocacy Day on my calendar officially, but with patience and perseverance we were able to make some time between committees.   It is important to get even a few minutes to hear directly from the people with lived experience in the topics that are being discussed in this building.  Below are some of the priorities they shared with me:

1. ACCESS TO SERVICES: People cannot recover without access to services, and Oregon has many gaps in the continuum of care: prevention, outreach & peer support, treatment, and housing.

2. RECOVERY HOUSING: Sober living is a growing model of care, and it helps people by providing supportive services as they transition from a life of using substances.

3. IMPROVING THE SYSTEM: A long-term vision that includes improving government strategies and focusing on access to care, especially youth and primary prevention, is needed.

It was good to see some local faces from Sauvie Island come to advocate for HB 3133 which would amend conditions under which a county must approve a farm stand on lands zoned for exclusive farm use.

I enjoyed getting to hear from Southern Oregon University this week.  They are a wonderful school with ample opportunity for their students.

I had the honor of being sworn in this week as Tillamook Bay Community College’s newest board member.   I was selected to fill this roll to satisfy the remaining term of a vacating board member.   Two TBCC students accompanied the board to the capitol to join in this occasion.  I was delighted to get to visit with them.

I didn’t get to visit with the Home Education Freedom Works parents and students that were around the Capitol to discuss their education priorities.  However, I did find a delicious surprise left to let me know they had stopped by.    Thank you!

Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will travel to libraries in 18 different communities in February, March, and April to assist taxpayers filing their own returns in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon.  See more about these sessions on the DOR website.

Upcoming stop in Seaside: March 13 and 14

Seaside Public Library  1131 Broadway Seaside, OR 97138​​

​1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Thursday, March 13

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Friday, March 14

Taxpayers are encouraged to:

• Use the IRS’s Eligibility Checker to see if they qualify to use IRS Direct File
• Set up an IRS online account through ID.me. Taxpayers can watch this 5 Easy Steps to Register an ID.me Account with IRS video to learn how.
• Make sure they have a Revenue Online account. This How to Set Up and Log In to Your Revenue Online Account for Individuals video can show them how.
• Bring the following information with them

 Identification documents

·         Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return

·         Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)

Common income and tax documents

·         Forms W2 (wages from a job)

·         Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)

·         Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)

Optional documents to download

·         Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit

·         Last year’s tax return

From the District

Please join me for this week’s packed update of Oregon’s Legislative Session.  We talk about a myriad of issues:

• Kidney dialysis in Tillamook and my disappointment in the delays in getting this clinic back up and running.
• A couple updates on ODOT and their missing 1 billion dollar issue.
• Tax on tires  HB 3362
• Governor’s Accountability Bill  SB 141. The concern is that we keep giving education more and more money, but we have not seen the proficiency increase.
• The Ways & Means road show is coming to Astoria!

You can listen in to Audio only by clicking the SoundCloud picture to the left.  Or you can watch on YouTube by clicking the picture below.

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/​