Dear Michelle,

The 2023 Oregon State Legislative Session has come to an end! Keep reading to see the legislative progress we've made and where more work is needed in the future.

Thank you for your work in advocating for bills this session - we could not have made progress this year without you.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is proud to have participated in policy advocacy this session that makes Oregon a better, more caring and more welcoming place.

Britt, Cherice, Lorena, Olivé, Nacia, Kim, and Julia

Welcoming the Stranger

Successes:

• Protect Asylum-Seekers
• Provide housing and wrap-around supports to newly arrived asylum seekers.

• SB 940: Prevent refugee, immigrant youth from dropping out of school
• Advanced by Sen. Michael Dembrow, this bill creates statewide plan on translating and interpreting international transcripts, ensuring youth are not forced to unnecessarily repeat classes or entire years of high school - a reality that drives some to leave school altogether.
• This bill was informed by the experiences of families resettled in Oregon as refugees by EMO's Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR) program.

• Maintain and Grow State Support for Refugees
• Ongoing funding for Refugee Extended Case Management, ensuring the newest Oregonians have access to employment, healthcare, housing and other supports.
• $2.5 million to support Afghan Parolees

The Work Continues: Bills to be Pursued Again Next Year

• SB 610: Food for All Oregonians

Would have provided SNAP-like benefits to those who are ineligible for the federal program because of their immigration status. EMO’s community organizers recruited testimonies from rural Oregon for this bill

• HB 2957: Increase Access to Affirmative Immigration Legal Services
• Led by Rep. Ricki Ruiz of Gresham and co-authored in its final form by legislators of both parties, this bill earned unanimous support in its first committee, and was supported by a large coalition of community-based organizations,

Sheltering the Houseless

Success:

• HB 2001 and 5019: Supporting Youth Experiencing Homelessness
• $25 million to Support Youth: Signed into law by Governor Kotkek on March 29!
• Increased funding for shelter, outreach, transitional housing options and volunteer, youth-selected host homes
• $5 million for emergency housing for school-aged youth and families to prevent homelessness in the first place

The Work Continues: Bills to be Pursued Again Next Year



• HB 3482, Affordable Housing
• Would have provided $20 million in grants and revolving loans to help nonprofits, faith entities, tribes and others build affordable housing

Securing Criminal Justice Reform

The Work Continues: Bills to be Pursued Again Next Year

• SB 579: Voting Rights for People Who Are Incarcerated
• Would have given people incarcerated the right to vote while in prison

• SB 520: Compassionate Release
• Would have formed a medical committee who decides, from a medical point of view, whether an incarcerated individual should be released from prison due to their medical status.

Advancing Climate Justice

Successes:

• HB 3409 and 3630: Climate Policy Package
• Included funding for Community Resilience Hubs, a program EMO helped design that would direct $10 million to establish a grant program under the Oregon Department of Human Services for communities to prepare for, recover from and respond to natural disasters.

The Work Continues: Bills to be Pursued Again Next Year

• HB 3459: Preventing Utility Disconnections
• Original goal: Maintaining heat and electricity for Oregonians
• Winter shut-off moratorium
• Year-round protection for households with children or those over 65
• Utility-Backed compromise amendment
• Extension of ratepayer-funded energy assistance program
• EMO community organizers recruited many impacted members to testify to the need for this energy assistance
• The Legislature's failure to extend this law puts thousands of households at risk of losing their heat or electricity.

• HB 2601: Treasury Investment and Climate Protection Act
• Would have directed the Oregon State Treasury to phase out fossil fuel investments and require far greater transparency re: investments
• Divest Oregon and EMO will continue to urge the Oregon Treasury to move PERS funds out of fossil fuel investments