Oregon Legislative results for 2021 session
  • Report on democracy reforms by ORUUVoices for Justice Board member, David Delk (June 27, 2021)
  • Report by Jonathan Levinson of OPB:  Oregon lawmakers OK police accountability measures, but face calls for bigger change (April 27, 2021)
  • Report (House Democrats Historic 2021   Session Delivered on Promises to Oregonians) from the Oregon House Democrats showing progress on areas of Housing, Equity, Racial Justice,  Economic Recovery,  Education and Workforce Development,  Energy, Public Health and access to healthcare, Climate change,  Modernizing the Legislative process,
    [Note that their list of achievements does not include any work on one of the most important issues to Oregonians:  enacting limits on campaign finance contributions, dark money, etc]
  • News report (How working people and unions fared in the 2021 session of the Oregon Legislature)  from NW Labor Press on how the legislature treated labor during the session, including which bills passed, did not pass. 
  • NW Labor Press published a similar report for Washington State.
  • Education focused legislation enacted this OR legislative session summary. This report was supplied by Sen. Dembrow, Chair of the Senate Education Committee.
  • Democracy Lens for 2021 Oregon Legislature - a report from Oregon Common Cause.  Conclusion is that the biggest failure was not enacting effective limits on campaign contributions.   Concludes that there is still a chance for the Legislature to act in next years Legislative short session or we will have to do this via the Oregon initiative process.

Who represents me in Oregon legislature and Congress

Find your Oregon Representative and Senator
Find your US Representative and Senators 

Legislative priorities of legislators and organizations

Legislative priorities of the Black, Indigenous and People of Color Caucus
Rep. Khanh Pham
Rep. Pham starts her legislative priorities with the three bills of the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign. 
Rep. Dan Rayfield
Our office has drafted and sponsored numerous policies for the 2021 Legislative session that range from expanding access to health care to campaign finance limits.  Here is a snapshot of some of the concepts our office will be working on:
Campaign Contribution Limits – HB 2680
Oregon is one of a handful of states without campaign contribution limits.  This bill will establish campaign contribution limits to lessen the impact of big money in politics. Campaign contribution limits are the first step towards making the voices of everyday Oregonian’s as loud as big monied interests. 

Increasing Health Care Access for Adults with Disabilities – LC 1148
We believe health care is a human right and increasing access at any opportunity is one of our top priorities. This legislation would allow adults with disabilities, who are otherwise ineligible for Medicaid, to re-enroll in their parent’s commercial health insurance plan if they lose coverage of their own, even if they are over the age of 26. 

Buy Clean – HB 2688
Oregon agencies do not factor in the carbon footprint or environmental externalities of the products they purchase.  HB 2688 would create a pilot program that requires state agencies to factor in the environmental costs of certain construction materials when purchasing those materials. The program effectively incentivizes the purchase of more environmentally friendly products that are more often made locally.

Consumer Protection & Worker Safety – HB 2682
In Benton County, we tragically saw the life-threatening consequences when construction vehicles and machinery are leased in an unsafe condition.  This bill requires that all construction vehicles rented in the state be periodically inspected and be maintained in a safe and reliable condition.   

Non-Lethal Wildlife Conflict Species Deterrent – HB 2689
The management of predator species on farm and range land continues to be a hot-button issue. Modeled after a program that began right here in Benton County, the Non-Lethal Wildlife Conflict Species Deterrent bill would create a pilot program to expand farmers access to non-lethal methods of wildlife deterrence. These methods of deterrence are more humane and often more effective than lethal means. 

Ranked Choice Voting – HB 2678
As we have seen in Oregon and across the nation too many times, candidates win nominations and elections to office while receiving less than half of the total vote. Ranked choice voting (RCV) gives voters more choices, increases the diversity of candidates running for office, and ensures that candidates win with a majority of votes. In 2016, Benton County passed Measure 2-100 and used RCV during the 2020 November election for the first time!

Good Government and Ethics Loopholes – HB 2923 & HB 2922
Under Oregon law it is legal for a candidate to profit off their campaign funds by using those funds to hire a business that the candidate owns and operates.  It is also legal for an elected official to purposely not disclose significant government contracts and legislative interests associated with businesses that they own.  This bill seeks to eliminate both of these loopholes.  

Visit the Oregon Legislative Information System to see more details about the bills that we will be introducing in 2021!
Sen. Rob Wagner
In addition to championing the Oregon Senate Democrats' agenda, I am working to pass legislation on a range of crucial issues for our communities. Some of the bills I'm supporting are described below:

  • Senate Bill 572 - Helping immigrant youth fleeing violence safely stay in Oregon with a trusted guardian.

  • Senate Joint Memorial 2 and Senate Joint Resolution 10: Supporting U.S. Senator Merkley's efforts to reform the 13th amendment of the U.S. Constitution to ban slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment (see LO review article from last week) and working with State Senators Manning and Frederick to change the Oregon Constitution in the same manner.

  • Senate Bill 704 - Many LGBTQ+ individuals across Oregon have reported being physically attacked because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and it has caused a ripple effect of fear throughout the community. This legislation will ban the use of the LGBTQ+ panic defense, so that claims that the discovery of gender identity or sexual orientation provoked violence are unacceptable in our courts.

  • Senate Bill 554 and House Bill 2510 - The last month has shown us that we must continue the work to keep our communities safer from gun violence. I'll be working to pass sensible gun safety legislation to make public buildings safer and require safe storage of firearms.

  • Senate Bill 334 - Building on my service as a Lake Oswego School District school board member 2017 - 2020, this legislation will require local school leaders to receive training on anti-discrimination, equity and inclusion, and various transparency and ethics requirements.

  • House Bill 2564 - Working to authorize the Willamette Falls Locks Authority; in both 2019 and 2020, this bill was close to passage. I know that it will help us to strategically assume control of the locks from the federal government and achieve the bold vision for improving the Willamette Falls area.

  • House Bill 2417 - Building on the success of CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) as an alternative to police response for non-violent 911 calls in Eugene, I've joined a group of legislators sponsoring legislation to support similar programs across the state.
                                         
  • Finally, I'll also continue to monitor the implementation of Adi’s Act, which requires Oregon’s schools to develop and implement suicide prevention plans. I know that so many local leaders across the state are concerned about improving our mental health response at all levels. 

Information on Oregon 2021 legislative session

Legislative committee assignments for 2021
House assignments
Senate assignments
Joint Committee assignments
2021 Oregon legislative calendar
Interacting with the Oregon Legislature - submit testimony/follow bills
Here are some resources to learn how to submit testimony and follow bills during this session:
Additional bills entered in House and Senate 1/25/21
Additional bills entered in OR House and Senate - week of 2-5-21

View 2020 legislation on OR legislative site

Click above button; then click on Bills in right-hand corner, then click either House Bills or Senate Bills.  Hover over the Bill number to see brief summary.