2016 Mid Session Report
The Oregon Student Association started off the session with a successful lobby day. Since then, Students have been in the building every day testifying and lobbying on our priority issues. This short session has been an extremely busy one, as members debate the minimum wage, housing, and balancing the budget. There is still about two and a half weeks left of session, which means we will have a short amount of time to get the rest of our bills through! Below is an update on where our bills are at currently.
Priority 1 Bills
Civic Engagement Bill (SB 1586) – At the beginning of February, Oregon Students began lobbying the legislature for full passage of SB 1586. Our Civic Engagement bill is scheduled for a work session today, Tuesday (2/16) and has the support of most of the members on the Senate Rules Committee. On Tuesday, members will also be discussing an amendment that OSA and Universities jointly developed which will put the responsibility of requesting access for nonpartisan voter engagement work on student governments. After Tuesday’s committee vote, the bill will then go to Ways and Means where they will discuss the fiscal impact of the bill before sending it to the floor for a vote.
Budget Ask- The state’s revenue forecast[1] that came out last week showed lower revenue than the Co-Chairs of Ways and Means expected. The forecast showed that there are additional funds that could be dedicated to Higher Education, but not at the $15 million level we were hoping for. OSA will continue to work with the Co-Chairs to ensure some of their discretionary funds go towards Higher Education.
Priority 2 Bills
Housing (HB 4143 and HB 4001)- Passing Housing policy is priority for legislative leadership and the Governor this session. HB 4001- Contained both Inclusionary Zoning and Tenant Protections. The Tenant Protection pieces from HB 4001 were moved to HB 4143 last week. This was done because there are members in the Senate who do not want Inclusionary Zoning to move forward this session, which meant we had to split up HB 4001 in order to preserve the tenant protections piece. HB 4001 is no longer expected to move, but HB 4143 is expected to move out of committee this week.
Campaign Contribution Reform (HJR 205 – Amends OR Constitution to permit campaign contribution limits) There is currently no movement on this bill.
Amending the Oregon Promise (HB 4076– Amends the Oregon Promise and allocates $2.5 million to community colleges). This bill moved out of the House Higher Education committee and is currently in Ways and Means.
Researching Student Loan refinance (HB 4021) – Passed the house with 54 ayes- 6 nays. It is now on the Senate President’s desk and is awaiting to be assigned to the Senate Education Committee.
Increasing opportunities for math majors (SB 1540)- At the request of the HECC, this bill was amended to increase the number of people in math related programs. The HECC wanted more flexibility on how they conducted their research than just providing tuition waivers. SB 1540 passed through the Senate 27-1 on Monday the 15th.
Expanding Student Privacy (SB 1558)- This bill passed through the Senate unanimously without one word of debate on Monday the 15th.
K-12 Bullying (HB 4024)- creates standardized systems of response, and documents cases of bullying, harassment, intimidation and cyberbullying. Passed out of committee will be moving to ways and means.
Extending Profiling Task force (HB 4003) -Passed through House unanimously, and is awaiting a hearing and work session in Senate Judiciary.
Opposing
Equities Bill (HJR 203– would allow universities to be able to invest in stocks; is a ballot measure referral to change the constitution to reflect current statute) – This ballot measure referral has passed out of the House chamber almost unanimously. HJR has a lot of support from members because they have technically already supported Universities being able to invest in stocks when they passed SB 270 in 2013. At this time because of the overwhelming support to pass this legislation in order to make the constitution mirror legislation it’s your staff’s recommendation that we do not spend any more capacity fighting this legislation.
[1] http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/OEA/docs/economic/forecast0316.pdf