We are nearing the end of the 2022 Legislative Short Session. My personal priority bill, HB 4150, passed out of the Senate on Tuesday and is headed to the Governor for signature. This is an important bill to help move us toward more efficiently and effectively addressing the social needs of Oregonians. There is still a great deal of work to be done and especially in light of a strong state budget forecast, we have the opportunity to save more money in the Rainy Day Fund as well as make some important investments in our communities. Read on for an update on session accomplishments thus far, the date of my next town hall, upcoming community events, and more.
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The new state-of-the-art Patricia Reser Center for the Arts recently opened in Beaverton with the help of legislatively-directed ARPA investments from the 2021 session. Join us on March 13th for a free community open house and celebration when The Reser Center will be fully active for the very first time. This family-friendly event will include tours of The Reser, arts activities, and fantastic performances featuring many beloved local performers and organizations. Performers include ISing, Beaverton Civic Theater, The Bundy Band, Oregon Rhythmic Gymnastics & Dance Academy and more. The Beaverton Symphony Orchestra caps the day with a special concert to celebrate the grand opening!
Conversations on High School Graduation Requirements
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is hosting a conversation with Oregon policymakers via Zoom to learn what is most important to our community relating to graduation requirements and the receipt of a high school diploma . Come share your educational experiences and insights with policymakers on March 9th at 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. for the NW Regional Meeting, and March 8th from 6-8 p.m. for the Multnomah County Meeting. You must register in advance for each meeting. If you’re unable to attend these events, you can share your thoughts here before April 15th.
My hope is that we can start getting together in person this spring, and I will continue to hold virtual events for the foreseeable future so that we will have options that are acceptable to as many people as possible. If you have additional thoughts on how I can engage your community, please let me know.
The best way to reach me is through my email: Rep.MaxineDexter@oregonlegislature.gov. If you would like to speak with me individually, my office can help set up a time for meeting.
Zoom Town Halls
A warm thank you to all of you who attended my town hall on Wednesday, February 16th. I will be hosting another Zoom Town Hall on March 26th at 10am to focus on how to address community safety with local community leaders. This time is subject to change.
Some of the best ideas we get for policy come from my constituents and people who care and think deeply about issues of concern to them. Thank you to all those who have submitted an idea! We look forward to following up with you. Please submit here. No idea is too big or too small! We look forward to dreaming big together to help make sure we all have the ability to live healthy lives, in a healthy community, on a healthy planet.
With only 10 days left in the legislative session, my colleagues and I are working diligently to pass policies that will benefit all Oregonians. Read on below for updates on my bill, HB 4150, and the accomplishments from the session thus far.
House Bill 4150 - Community Information Exchange
Access to healthcare is critical, of course, but the social determinants of health such as education, living environment, air quality, economic security, and access to food have significantly more impact on an individual’s health and quality of life. Oregon healthcare delivery systems are not effectively integrated with social service delivery systems, despite the important role they play in our health. We need to begin the process of connecting medical and social services through a secure and confidential statewide electronic closed-loop referral system to optimize coordination of care and services for all Oregonians as well as have transparency and accountability as a state on where and how we are spending our funds. Imagine if a school nurse could refer students and their families to a local social worker, get outpatient medical or behavioral therapy, and/or to get food stamps, all on one platform!
House bill 4150 establishes the Community Information Exchange Workgroup through the OHA and the group is tasked with determining how a statewide system can be best designed to fit the needs of Oregonians. On February 11th, HB 4150 passed in the House, and on February 21st it passed in the Senate. It is now off to the desk of the Governor for her signature. I look forward to using the recommendations from this bill to create 2023 legislation for a statewide community information exchange.
Senate Bill 1567 - Central Energy Infrastructure Bill
The stability of Oregon’s Central Energy Infrastructure Hub which is located in HD33 is a topic of great importance to me and to many of our neighbors. The CEI Hub contains nearly 90% of the state’s liquid fuel supply and is a critical piece of statewide infrastructure. Precariously, the hub sits within the Cascadia Subduction Zone, built on river fill that will liquify in an eight or higher magnitude earthquake. Should that happen, it is estimated that over half of the active tanks could release between 50-100%of their contents. If we fail to take decisive action, it is anticipated that 94 to 194 millions gallons of fuel and oil would be released into the ground and the Willamette river, rivaling the largest marine oil spill in history, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Senate bill 1567 will give the DEQ authority to require fuel storage facilities to assess their seismic vulnerability and implement mitigation plans to reduce risks. Newer tanks mean significantly less risk for storage failure. This bill would also require the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to develop an Energy Security Plan that recommends steps to improve community resilience by increasing geographic diversity of fuel storage capacity. SB 1567 will cover terminals with a combined capacity of two million gallons or more that are located throughout the state; that includes Portland and Eugene storage facilities. I testified during the public hearing for this bill on February 7th. This bill is currently in the Joint Ways & Means Committee. I am grateful that this bill was introduced this session and am proud to be a Chief Sponsor.
Housing Investments
Oregon has an affordable housing crisis and one of the largest houseless populations in the nation. We need to invest in affordable, supportive, and innovative housing solutions to help our fellow Oregonians into stable living conditions that will help their lives flourish. In the 2022 Legislative Session, we are making targeted investments towards this goal. HB 4064 expands the eligibility of prefabricated homes in zones that allow single family dwellings and also helps Oregonians rebuild from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. HB 4058 and SB 1536 will provide heat relief for tenants and houseless people through grants and building requirements. House District 33 includes the zip code 97209, and during our 2021 heat dome event this area suffered the highest number of heat-related deaths in the state. These bills are critical to keeping folks safe and housed. We will also continue making investments in affordable housing so working families can become homeowners and build generational wealth. This includes Project Turnkey, an innovative model that buys and turns hotels, motels and other buildings into shelter and supportive housing units for people experiencing houselessness. Thus far, Project Turnkey has been successful, with all rooms full at the Arbor Lodge shelter and three more Metro area locations opening soon.
Community Safety
It is critical that we cultivate a healthy and trusting relationship between the community and law enforcement. We must address the rise in gun violence and hate crimes and we need to give law enforcement the resources needed to investigate these crimes. We have significant work to do and I am committed to working with all parts of our community to help understand how to best address our challenges. Lawmakers have been listening and some policies meant to address concerns we are hearing about include: HB 4102which allows the Oregon State Police to coordinate with tribes to investigate missing and murdered Indigenous People cases; SB 1510 aims to reduce law enforcement interactions with Oregonians for small, less dangerous infractions such as broken tail lights and liberate law enforcement to dedicate more of their crime to solving serious crimes; andHB 4075 will make it more likely that crime victims, including burglarized small businesses,receive restitution for damages.
Uplifting the Economy
We need to build an economy that works for working families and small businesses, not just big corporations. That means investing in skills training, reducing barriers to people starting and expanding small businesses, and requiring corporations to pay their fair share. In the 2022 Legislative session we have two bills specifically aimed at driving down the cost of starting businesses. HB 4015 will expand Entrepreneurial Development Loans and allow for greater investments in small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs across the state. SB 1579, the Equity Investment Act, would establish a fund to provide services to support economic stability, self-sufficiency, wealth-building, and economic equity among disadvantaged businesses/individuals.
Supporting our Schools
Students learn best when they are in a safe school, five days a week, with their teachers and classmates. One key part of this are the issues of teacher burnout and educator workforce shortages, problems complicated by the pandemic. In the 2022 Legislative session, there are a few bills focused on solutions. They includeHB 4030 and SB 1522, which will increase educators in the workforce by simplifying the application to become a teacher, suspending non-essential state reporting requirements, and supporting substitute teachers and educational assistants by reimbursing costs for training and licensure. The Legislature also invested $150 million in schools this session to create summer programs, educator recruiting and retention programs, and support of school districts impacted by the 2020 Wildfire season.
Oregon has the third lowest cumulative COVID-19 case rate in the nation and the seventh lowest COVID-19 death rate since the start of the pandemic. Oregon’s comparatively strong compliance with mask rules and its high vaccination and booster rates have blunted the Omicron surge and – for now – prevented Oregon’s hospitals from breaking under the potentially hundreds more hospitalizations they could have faced so far.
As announced by the state health officials,Oregon will remove general mask requirements for indoor public places no later than March 19.
Once requirements are lifted, employers and businesses may continue to establish their own mask requirements to protect employees and customers. I urge you and your loved ones to continue making the personal decisions that are best for your health.
If you have questions about boosters and third doses, you might find it helpful to watch the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Q & A here. You can visit this website to find a vaccination location near you, and many pharmacies are allowing walk-in vaccinations.
Oregon has a new Positive COVID Test website where people who test positive can find important information on isolation and other ways to keep themselves and those around them safe as they recover. In addition, reporting your positive test helps the Oregon Health Authority monitor the spread of COVID in our state. Positive COVID Test website and COVID-19 Case Support Hotline, 866-917-8881.
Rotigo is a brand new spot off of NW 23rd Ave. They offer vegan and gluten free options as well as meat and dairy options. Their menu reflects a mediterranean palate with ingredients like fennel, basil, and oven roasted tomatoes on their sandwiches. Their shop features a wine bar and a small bodega with fancy grab and go snacks. With their floor to ceiling windows this spot is the perfect retreat for lunch.
The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) is still accepting new applications, and Washington County’s local Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program continues to help folks through existing local pathways.
Tenants in need now should reach out to local organizations for assistance. Community Action Agencies receive resources from the state to prevent eviction and were granted additional funds in the December Special Session's eviction prevention package to keep Oregonians in their homes. More information about local jurisdictions with ERA funds available to renters can be found here. Homeowner Assistance Fund
Congress established the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), resulting in $90 M to prevent Oregon homeowners from losing their homes. This program will open in phases and currently are accepting applications from homeowners in Phase 1 to target those at most risk for foreclosure. You can view the application guide or the plan that was submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department for more information.
Landlord Guarantee Program
The effects of the pandemic have affected not only tenants but landlords as well. If you are a landlord and you have tenants with rent owed, the Oregon Landlord Guarantee Program can help. Oregon Landlord Guarantee Program reimburses landlords for eligible non-payment costs such as rent and late fees incurred during the “safe harbor” period. You mayqualify for funds if your tenant provided you with documentation they received from a rent assistance provider showing that they applied for rent assistance and you: 1) Delayed delivering a Termination Notice for Non-payment or 2) Delayed initiating or continuing an action for possession based on a termination notice for non-payment. If you have questions, feel free to reference the FAQ or reach out to the LGP Team.
The best way to stay informed and connect with my legislative work is through my Facebook page (State Representative Maxine Dexter), my Twitter account (@RepDexterOR), and my Instagram (@RepDexterOR). In addition, please feel free to reach out to my office at Rep.MaxineDexter@OregonLegislature.gov.
I am honored to represent you in Salem and look forward to continuing to serve you as we work towards healthy lives, in a healthy community, on a healthy planet.
Housing assistance: Family Promise of Beaverton is committed to helping children and their families affected by homelessness in the Beaverton area. (https://www.familypromiseofbeaverton.org/#homepage)
Housing assistance: Community Housing Fund focuses on providing affordable housing and works on community projects.
Housing assistance: Community Action helps pay rent and help to get people in need of housing.
Housing assistance, utility assistance, food assistance: United Way of the Columbia-Willamette provides access to critical services like housing assistance and utility assistance and access to food.
Utility assistance: Oregon Energy Fund is a 30-year-old nonprofit that provides energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians in support of household stability.
Utility assistance: EnergyTrust helps people save money and energy.
Disability assistance: Plan For Work services help individuals with disabilities and provide different services to those in need.
Youth assistance: New Avenues for Youth provides meals, showers, laundry, respite from the streets, engagement activities, and legal counsel.
Community assistance: Oregon Solutions solves community problems using a problem-solving system.
Transportation assistance: Trimet has a reduced fare for low-income rider and seniors age 65+.
Food assistance, water bill assistance, and grants, utility assistance: Care To Share coordinates assistance to families and individuals who seek emergency food and other basic necessities.
Food assistance: Mercy Corps Northwest provides assistance for community members returning from prison.
Food assistance, housing assistance, utility assistance, disability assistance: Department of County Human Services ensures that everyone can reach their potential and contribute to communities.
Follow Representative Dexter on social media to stay connected!
