Policy Updates
Here is an update on some of the policy issues that the DD Coalition is tracking.
HCBS Workforce Standards Board (SB 1505)
Senate Bill 1505 is a committee bill put forward by the Senate Committee on Rules, which is chaired by Senator Kayse Jama. It would create a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Workforce Standards Board.
The DD Coalition strongly opposes the concept because:
- It will lead to loss of individual choice for people with IDD
- It cannot adequately represent the interests of either people with IDD or the workforce that supports them
- It gives sweeping authority to an unelected Board, and
- The administrative costs are far too great
We also oppose an amendment to focus the Board solely on the IDD system by removing provisions that would apply its workforce standards to the Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) system. The Senate Committee on Rules held a public hearing on Wednesday, February 4th. The DD Coalition provided both oral testimony and written testimony in opposition to the bill, as did several other individual members of the Coalition.
There is no Work Session currently scheduled for the bill. You can contact Committee members directly.
Accessible Housing (SB 1576)
A proposal sponsored by Senator Deb Patterson would:
- Update Oregon’s building code
- Increase the number of wheelchair-accessible housing units statewide
- Expand accessible units in housing built with state funds
This proposal builds on efforts from the 2025 Regular Session. The proposed legislation had a public hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development on Thursday, February 5th. The DD Coalition provided oral testimony in support of the bill, as did several other individual members of the Coalition.
A Work Session is scheduled on the bill for Thursday, February 10th at 3PM. Testimony is not taken during Work Sessions, but you can contact Committee members directly.
Health Care Omnibus Bill (HB 4040)
The House Committee on Health Care has a large health-care related committee bill that includes several proposals that impact people with IDD. The proposed legislation had a public hearing on Thursday, February 5th. The DD coalition provided written testimony in opposition to the concept around “Paying Parents as Personal Support Workers.”
A Work Session is scheduled on the bill for Tuesday, February 10th at 3PM. Testimony is not taken during Work Sessions, but you can contact Committee members directly.
Paying Parents as Personal Support Workers
One concerning proposal within HB 4040 would allow parents in the Children with Extraordinary Needs (CEN) program to be paid as Personal Support Workers, instead of as direct employees of agencies.
The DD Coalition has concerns about:
- Less training and accountability
- Reduced choice and self-determination for children
- Challenges when children transition to adulthood
- Difficulty moving to outside providers if caregiving becomes the family’s main income
Taking on the role of a paid provider in addition to the role of parent is tricky. New challenges arise from developmental stage to developmental stage. We believe that CEN providers and kids with IDD alike benefit from the supervision and support structure of an agency provider.
Assistive Technology Right to Repair
Another proposal would remove prior authorization requirements for electronic wheelchair and other “complex rehabilitation technology” repairs up to $1,500 for Medicaid recipients.
The right to repair concept builds upon a law passed that the DD Coalition supported in 2025 (SB 549), which required repair decisions within 72 hours. On the other hand, the other concept around paying parents as PSWs is one that the DD Coalition has voted to oppose for the 2026 Short Session.
Workplace Disability Discrimination (HB 4093)
A proposal sponsored by Representative Travis Nelson would:
- Require BOLI to create resources on reasonable accommodations
- Stop employers from using physical requirements unrelated to job duties
- Improve access to advocates during accommodation meetings
- Add local governments to disability discrimination laws
The House Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a public hearing on the proposed legislation on Monday, February 2nd.
The Work Session is scheduled on Wednesday, February 9th at 3PM.Testimony is not taken during Work Sessions. You can contact Committee members directly.
Abuse Prevention and Out-of-State Placement of Children (SB 1532/HB 4042/HB 4059)
Three Committee bills would make changes to Oregon’s abuse prevention standards and out-of-state-placement system for children under care.
Senate Bill 1532
The Senate Committee on Human Services proposed SB 1532 the Human Services Omnibus bill as a committee bill The provisions on out-of-state placement of children are limited in scope to Indian Child Welfare Act placements and for children with eating disorders who cannot obtain care in Oregon. There are safeguards in terms of licensure, accompaniment of the child, and periodic check-ins. The Committee held two public hearings on the proposed legislation on Tuesday, February 3rd and Thursday, February 5th.
A Work Session is scheduled on the bill for Tuesday, February 10th at 3PM. Testimony is not taken during Work Sessions, but you can contact Committee members directly.
House Bill 4042
The House Committee on the Judiciary proposed HB 4042 as a committee bill. It also addresses out-of-state placements by creating exceptions to some child placement limits. It expands the types of adverse licensing actions ODHS may take against a child-caring agency and modifies certain provisions regarding the use of restraints on children in care.
The Committee is holding a public hearing on the bill Tuesday, February 10th at 1PM. You can REGISTER TO TESTIFY HERE.
House Bill 4059
The House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services proposed HB 4059 as a committee bill. The provisions of this bill change the definition of “threatened harm” from “substantial risk of harm” to an “imminent risk of severe harm.” It also proposes changing the evidentiary standard for substantiating abuse from “reasonable cause” to the higher standard of “preponderance of the evidence” making abuse harder to prove.
The Committee is holding a public hearing on the bill Tuesday, February 10th at 8AM. You can REGISTER TO TESTIFY HERE.
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