College and university students in Oregon are reporting increased rates of food insecurity, housing instability, and challenges affording and accessing textbooks, transportation, childcare, and other basic needs. HB 4162: The Student Emergency Needs Package is a bipartisan, student-centered effort to support Oregon’s Basic Needs Navigators and Textbook Affordability Program with $6 million dollars in one-time, emergency funding.

At the ten year mark of Oregon’s new Public University Governance System, it is important to comprehensively study trends and compile data to better inform future policy considerations. HB 4125 will commission a study that aims to assess important aspects of our Public University ecosystem. It will help to identify areas for smart investments and iterative improvements that uplift Oregon’s higher education students, instructors, staff, and universities. This bill will ensure we enter the next decade of decision making with accurate data and trends.

SB 1592 provides funding to support initiatives at several of Oregon’s public universities for expanding and diversifying the state’s behavioral health workforce to help address Oregon’s need to provide culturally-specific providers and support underserved communities.