‘Oregonians won’: Sen. Tim Knopp reflects on M. 110 reforms, major housing funds and legislative progress this time

(Adding video, comments by Senator Tim Knopp, Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang)

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Legislature wrapped up its month-long “short session” three days before the deadline Thursday night, with Democrats, Republicans and Gov. Tina Kotek expressing satisfaction with what got done on Measure 110 fixes, major housing funding and other issues, in contrast to last year’s GOP walkout-hobbled session.

Lawmakers passed more than 30 bills on a variety of topics and issues, from more housing to Measure fixes 110 during the 35-day session. All are headed to the governor's desk for signing.

State Senator Tim Knopp of Bend, the Senate Republican leader, talked with NewsChannel 21 on Friday about what happened, what worked -- and why.

"I think this legislative session went much differently than 2023 did," he said. "There was a better spirit of cooperation from the majority party, which we appreciate. We were able to do our priorities."

After the session adjourned, Governor Tina Kotek announced she would sign Measure 110 reform-- a major win for Republican lawmakers.

House Bill 4002 was introduced by Democrats earlier this year as Republicans pushed to repeal statewide drug decriminalization. The bill would recriminalize fentanyl and heroin possession, making it a misdemeanor with up to six months of jail time, but opportunities for diversion and something new, "deflection." 

Knopp said this bill will transform Deschutes County.

"Oregon's experiment with decriminalizing hard drugs was a failure," he said. "Overdosing Oregonians were dying at a rate of three to four a day, and we thought that was an emergency. And we're obviously hoping to bring that number down to zero, or near zero."

This was Knopp's final legislative session in the Senate (at least for now), after court rulings on Measure 113, and as minority leader after losing the ability to run for re-election due to the Republican walkout last year. His replacement will be determined by voters this November, and after the first endorsed candidate, Shannon Monihan, was disqualified, Knopp has endorsed a new candidate, Redmond School Board Chairman Michael Summers.

A package backed by the governor also passed. It is a combination of three bills providing nearly $400 million to assist renters and develop more housing across the state

It would also provide funding to keep homeless shelters open.

"Oregonians won, because their voices were heard and legislation was passed that I think will improve their lives and I think it will actually save lives," Knopp said.

Bend state Rep. Emerson Levy earlier this week saw the passage of legislation she helped develop, called "Trenton's Law," creating new language to definite three classes of electric bikes, which could lead to reform and safety laws, if progress continues. She also won unanimous passage of House Bill 4113, making prescription drugs more affordable, by requiring insurers to count coupons and other discounts toward yearly deductibles.

County Commissioner Phil Chang also weighed in Friday on the session, saying he'd hoped for more wildfire legislation,

"The Legislature had three bills that they were looking at, to try to adequately fund state wildfire suppression capacity at the Oregon Department of Forestry," he said, "And none of those bills made it through. So I have concerns that we're going to have enough money to fight fires and enough resources to fight fires this summer that's only a few months away. "

With only 35 days to get things done, numerous other bills didn't make it through, such as one that would ended daylight saving time and kept Oregon on standard time - if California and Washington did the same. It narrowly passed the Senate but never made it to a vote in the House 

Here's what each party had to say in statements issued Friday night, after the gavel came down at "sine die" -- that means adjournment, including Gov. Kotek's announcement that she does plan to sign the Measure 110 bill, working with those concerned about its impacts.

Senate Democrats Turn Oregon’s Shared Challenges into Shared Solutions in 2024 Session

Statement from Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber on adjournment of the 2024 Legislative Session

SALEM, OR – Oregon’s 82nd Legislative Assembly adjourned the 2024 Legislative Session today having delivered major victories for the people of Oregon. This session, Senate Democrats worked to turn Oregon’s shared problems into shared solutions. Lawmakers prioritized taking action on the most urgent issues impacting all Oregonians: reducing homelessness, increasing affordable housing, improving public health and safety – including real solutions to the drug crisis – and strengthening our schools and the economy.

Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D - Beaverton & SW Portland) issued the following statement on the major wins Senate Democrats delivered for the people of Oregon:

“Oregonians are the winners of this legislative session.

“I’m so proud of the job our caucus did this year, taking on our state’s toughest challenges to make a real, positive difference in peoples’ lives. I’m proud of the way we worked together, with our fellow Democrats and Republicans, to deliver meaningful progress Oregonians’ biggest priorities, including major investments in the homelessness and housing emergencies and common-sense solutions to the drug crisis.

“This responsibility is never easy, and we had to make some really hard decisions this session, but I’m confident that Oregon’s future is brighter because of the victories we secured for communities in every corner of our state.”

Senate Democrats’ 2024 Uniting Oregon Agenda focused on bringing people together to solve our state’s most pressing problems with the goal of making life better for all who call Oregon home. Legislation passed to accomplish this goal includes but is not limited to:

HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS

• Bipartisan Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package (SB 1530, SB 1537)
• Supporting First Time Home Buyers (SB 1527)

SAFE, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

• Oregon Drug Intervention Plan (HB 4002, HB 5204)
• Urgently Expanding Drug Treatment in Oregon (HB 4151, HB 4001, HB 4023, HB 4092)
• Protecting Oregonians on Public Transit (SB 1553)
• Strengthening Support for Survivors of Child Abuse, Domestic and Sexual Violence (HB 4140, HB 4146, HB 4156)
• Improving Government Accountability and Transparency (SB 1533, HB 4117)
• Building on the Success of Oregon’s Marine Reserves (HB 4132)
• Modernizing Oregon’s Emergency Medical Services (HB 4081)
• Protecting Kids Getting On and Off School Buses (HB 4147)
• Safeguarding Oregon’s Economic and Environmental Future (HB 4083)
• Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable for Oregonians (HB 4113)
• Keeping Insulin, Prescriptions Affordable for Oregonians (SB 1508)
• Managing Monsanto Settlement to Protect Oregon’s Environment (SB 1561)
• Defending Voters, Elections from Artificial Intelligence (SB 1571)
• Task Force on Community Safety and Firearm Suicide Prevention (SB 1503)
• Human Services Omnibus to Improve Systems of Care (SB 1521)
• Ensuring Access to Mental Health Care for Youth Under 21 (SB 1557)
• Legislature Passes Bipartisan, Practical Limits on Money in Politics (HB 4024)

STRONG SCHOOLS, STRONG ECONOMY

• Safety and Fairness for Oregon Workers (HB 4080, HB 4127)
• Stepping Up Support for Oregon’s Students (SB 1552, HB 4084, HB 4082)
• Anticipating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (HB 4153)
• Student Success Plan for Immigrant and Refugee Students (SB 1532)
• Protecting Oregonians from Predatory Collections Practices with the Family Financial Protection Act (SB 1595)
• Reducing Hunger, Ensuring Equal Access to Hot Food (SB 1585)
• Lowering Costs, Protecting Consumers with Right to Repair (SB 1596)
• Bipartisan Bill to Improve Transparency in School Boards (SB 1502)
• Stabilizing Oregon’s Rainy Day Resources (SB 1562)
• Boosting Economic Development Through Education and Childcare (HB 4098, HB 4154)
• Increasing Transparency for Prescription Drug Costs (HB 4149)

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2024 SESSION RECAP: Senate Republicans Prioritized Emergencies Like Measure 110 and Housing Supply; Lowered Costs for Oregonians, Protected the Kicker

SALEM, Ore. – This evening, the 2024 Legislative Session adjourned sine die. Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) released the following statement:

“Since the first day, Senate Republicans have been consistent: this 35-day short session must be focused on bipartisan work to tackle emergencies, fine tune technical fixes, and make reasonable budget adjustments. With few exceptions, the 2024 short session met these criteria. I am proud our Caucus remained dedicated to delivering on these promises by recriminalizing hard drugs, giving law enforcement the tools necessary to crack down on drug dealers, unleashing builders and funding critical infrastructure to boost housing production, strengthening services for children who are victims of abuse, and giving needed financial relief to wildfire victims.”

Republican accomplishments include:

Boosting Housing Production

SB 1564: Allows cities who do not have the bandwidth to create and administer their own model ordinance codes to adopt a code created by DLCD that is aligned with that city’s population.

HB 1530, HB 1537: A bipartisan package of housing bills aimed at boosting housing production, funding critical infrastructure in communities across the state, developing an innovative revolving loan fund, and focusing on workforce housing levels.

Addressing Drug Addiction, Homelessness, and Crime

HB 4002, HB 5204: A bipartisan proposal to give law enforcement, district attorneys, and local government leaders many of the tools they say are needed to get people off the streets and into life-saving addiction treatment. It signifies an end to the nationwide decriminalization movement.

SB 1579: Begins the work of funding and expanding access to underserved, historically marginalized, low-income areas of the state while offering needed services to children who have been abused through Child Advocacy Centers. This critical investment will help ensure equitable access and services for children who have been abused and neglected. It will give all of Oregon’s CACs the opportunity to be accredited with the standards and best practices of the National Children’s Alliance, leading to better standards of care and services.

Defending the Kicker, Growing the Economy, Lowering Costs

SB 1520: Allows Oregon wildfire victims to recover and rebuild their lives without the additional strain of taxation or settlements related to their wildfire losses. The measure proposes to exempt legal settlements from state income taxes for wildfire occurring after January 1, 2020, that were declared state and federal emergencies.

SB 1545: Authorizes a county to allow a homestead rebuilt by the same owner on the same lot to replace the homestead destroyed by the September 2020 wildfires to have a specially assessed value equal to the destroyed homestead's real market value for the 2020-2021 property tax year, to the extent of the square footage of the destroyed homestead.

SB 1562: Increases the limit for transferring funds from the General Fund to the Rainy Day Fund from 7.5 percent to 12.5 percent of revenue received in the prior biennium. This will allow the state to increase the reserves in Rainy Day Fund as compared to current law.

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Legislative Session 2024: Governor Kotek Issues Statement on Housing and Homelessness, Education, Campaign Finance Reform, and House Bill 4002 

Salem, OR – Today, after Oregon lawmakers concluded the 2024 legislative session, marking continued progress on critical issues facing Oregonians, including housing and homelessness, education, and more, Governor Tina Kotek issued the following statement:

“I commend lawmakers for a productive session with bipartisan successes and a strong focus on the top issues facing Oregonians.

“Oregon will now have more tools to meet the urgent demand for all types of housing, in all parts of the state. Senate Bill 1537 will help stabilize housing costs by increasing housing production through cutting red tape in permitting processes, establishing some of the strongest affordability standards for new construction in the country, and other critical reforms. Combined with investments in Senate Bill 1530, I look forward to ensuring that every dollar advances housing production.

“Our students will have more educational supports this summer to offset the learning loss between school years, and we are on track to make budget information that the State already collects from school districts more accessible and easier to understand.

“This session also marks the historical passage of campaign finance reform with strong bipartisan support. I applaud all those who came to the table to find compromise and deliver a policy that will strengthen transparency and confidence in Oregon’s elections. I want to thank legislative leadership for their commitment and urgency in getting it done this session.

“Finally, reforms to Measure 110 will start to take shape, as I intend to sign House Bill 4002 and the related prevention and treatment investments within the next 30 days. As Governor, my focus is on implementation. My office will work closely with each implementing authority to set expectations, specifically in response to the Criminal Justice Center’s Racial Equity Impact Statement, which projected disproportionate impacts to communities of color and the accompanying concerns raised by advocates. House Bill 4002 will require persistent action and commitment from state and local government to uphold the intent that the legislature put forward: to balance treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and accountability.”