2026 Regular Session, 2026R1 - House Chamber [Source] Translate

The meeting began with a flag salute and a moment of silence. Representative Evans introduced Director General May Lin from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, emphasizing Taiwan's role as a democratic ally. Representative Scharf acknowledged his daughter, and Representative Edwards recognized his legislative assistant for his hard work. A quorum was verified, with some representatives excused. Messages from the governor and Senate were noted, and committee reports were distributed. Representative Reschke moved to suspend certain reading requirements for several bills, which was approved. House Bill 4076, concerning energy, was discussed. Representative Gambaugh highlighted the need for Oregon to meet clean energy goals and proposed using existing energy infrastructure more efficiently. The bill, which allows new energy projects to utilize surplus interconnection capacity, passed after a vote. House Bill 4142, related to medical marijuana use in hospice care, was presented by Representative Chaichie. The bill aims to improve access to cannabis for hospice patients and requires facilities to adopt policies and train staff. Representative Evans shared a personal story in support, and the bill passed after a vote. House Bill 4156, regarding medical assistance reimbursement for emergency medical services, was introduced by Representative Smith, who read a letter from Umatilla County Fire Chief Scott Stanton about the importance of stable funding. The bill passed after a vote, with Representative Scott expressing appreciation for fire chiefs. House Bill 4149 aimed to protect homeless students by codifying the federal McKinney-Vento Act into Oregon law. Representative Emerson-Levy emphasized the need for stability for vulnerable students. While some representatives supported the bill, concerns were raised about budget commitments for implementation. Despite this, the bill passed with a constitutional majority. House Bill 4021 sought to improve Oregon's rulemaking processes by establishing a minimum 28-day period for new rules to take effect. The bill passed with a constitutional majority. House Bill 4137 aimed to streamline the process for dismissing parking tickets for sellers who have submitted a notice of sale to the DMV. The bill passed. House Bill 4140 addressed copper theft affecting telecommunications infrastructure, receiving bipartisan support and passing. Senate Bill 1518, known as the Oregon Caregiver Protection Act, aimed to protect the rights of domestic and in-home care workers by ensuring they retain minimum wage and overtime protections. The bill passed with a constitutional majority. Senate Bill 1520 granted the Oregon Employment Department narrow rule-making authority for the Paid Leave Oregon Trust Fund, ensuring compliance with federal tax treatment changes. This bill also passed with a constitutional majority. Following the bill discussions, representatives commended Attorney General Dan Rayfield for a Supreme Court ruling blocking unlawful tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, highlighting its positive impact on Oregon's economy. There were discussions about federal budget policies affecting state programs, particularly SNAP, emphasizing the need for state policies that support working families. The meeting concluded with a call for collaboration on disaster recovery efforts and a reminder of the importance of supporting public officials defending state interests. The House was adjourned until the following Monday.