2018 Short Session Summary

E. Werner Reschke, Oregon State Representative 3/14/18

By Constitution, Short Session runs 35 days during even years 
 

This year, 2018, the Legislature finished its business in 28 days — the shortest short session to date. The pace was quick and hurried. Short session has evolved from its original purpose to resolve discrepancies on past bills and make minor budget adjustments — to introducing new bills and major policy changes. These busy and controversial short-sessions leave little time for all legislators to properly vet the new bills. This said, I’m glad I was able to accomplish good things for Klamath and Lake counties in this brief time. 

House District 56 Wins

HB 4035 - Oregon is the only state in the union that does not give college tuition assistance to qualified national guard members. I am on the Higher Education Committee that heard the testimony for this bill to make Oregon’s national guard members are on par with the rest of the nation and to ensure we keep our national guard strong and ready for the challenges ahead. I am excited those who serve our county at Kingsley Field will be able to take advantage of tuition assistance. I co-sponsored this bill which passed unanimously in the House and Senate.

HB 4073 -  Makes provisions to ensure burials at cemeteries go uninterrupted no matter the status of ownership at the cemetery. In our community, this applies to Eternal Hills in Klamath Falls. I chief-sponsored this bill which passed unanimously in the House and Senate.

HB 4023 - I helped author the Rural Broadband Bill, an Economic Development and Trade committee bill, which authorized $750,000 in order to help equip rural communities with public schools or local state offices with high speed internet. This will help rural Oregon catch up and stay on par with our urban counterparts. This infrastructure investment also paves the way for an opportunity with local residential and business service. This bi-partisan bill passed unanimously in the House and also passed in the Senate.

SB 5702 - I worked to reauthorize the use of a $5 million bond so Oregon Tech can continue to make needed infrastructure repairs on campus.

HB 5201 - Provides another year of funding for Public Teachers Civics Training. Last year I was able to nominate three Klamath teachers to this civics training at the Capitol. All three said it was well worth the 400-plus mile round trip and so I worked hard to make certain adequate funding was available for 2019.

HB 4058 - I chief-sponsored this bill in response to an outcry of local small businesses crippled by the Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI). This new bill deregulates the requirements for janitorial services. In 2017 the Legislature passed a seven-page bill requiring janitorial service companies to register with BOLI. That quickly turned into 40 plus pages of rules and regulations. HB 4058 fixes the invasive rules by the State bureaucracy so that janitorial services can spend their time serving customers instead of burdensome paperwork for the State. This was my second bill of short Session that passed unanimously in the House and Senate. 

State Wins

HB 4001 - As Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Energy & Environment, I helped lead the effort to stop this new and expensive tax on energy called Cap & Trade. This bill raises taxes on energy companies which would significantly increase the cost of living for individuals across Oregon.

HB 4046 - This important bill ensures public university and college employees cannot include outside salaries to be used when calculating their retirement (PERS) benefits. I co-sponsored this bill as a step in the right direction to help control rising costs of PERS.

HB 4089 - I co-sponsored this bill which catches Oregon up to the Federal law concerning the growing of industrial hemp.

SB 1544 - Since the legalization of marijuana by Oregon voters in 2014, law enforcement has struggled to ensure growers are in compliance with State laws and regulations. I voted for SB 1544 to provide additional funding to ensure growers and sellers are abiding by Oregon statue, thereby focusing on safe marijuana use in our local communities.

HB 1506 - I co-sponsored this bill to allow Oregon’s DMV to issue special parking permits to qualified wounded warriors. 

Committee Bills

HB 4016 - As Vice-Chair, I directly worked on this committee bill with the Chair of the House Committee on Energy & Environment. This bill allows Klamath project users to temporarily transfer their determined water claims within the project. It promotes effective management of a limited resource. Despite multiple supporting testimonies from local constituents, this bill died in committee, due to opposition from Portland environmental and local tribal groups. 

SB 1528 - The democrat majority voted to disconnect Oregon from the small business growth incentives provided by the Federal 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act. Unfortunately, Oregon small businesses will see little to no benefit from the Trump Republican tax plan. This means that Oregon small businesses will pay an additional $1 Billion to the State Treasury during the next five years.

In closing, let me say again; It’s an honor to serve Southern Klamath and Lake Counties — the communities we care about and call home. Thank you.

Your Liberty first,

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-377, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke