With only two weeks left in the 2022 Legislative Session, AOC staff have been busy advocating for county priorities. While the Session is not over until the final gavel falls, it appears most bills that the AOC Governance and Revenue Steering Committee took positions on will end up with their desired status. 

Marijuana Taxes

HB 4056 cleared the House with unanimous support and just cleared a work session in the Senate. The bill indexes the annual $45 million cap on marijuana revenue going to Measure 91 recipients, including counties, to grow with inflation. AOC testified verbally in support of this bill during both public hearings and set the stage for other long-term conversations about marijuana revenue. 

SB 1506, originally a bill allowing all local governments to increase marijuana taxes via a local vote, was amended to only apply to the city of Ontario. It faces a steep road to passage. AOC staff will continue to advocate for a local option in ongoing marijuana revenue discussions.

SB 1587 was amended to only include a one-time, general fund backfill for cities and counties for their Ballot Measure 110 losses. The bill passed out the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation on a bipartisan vote and is currently awaiting referral to a Joint Committee on Ways and Means subcommittee.

Cybersecurity

HB 4155, a bill establishing the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and providing funding streams for local government cyber needs, passed out of the Joint Committee on Information Management and Technology and is awaiting referral to a Joint Committee on Ways and Means subcommittee. AOC offered written and verbal support. 

Threats to Local Control and Budgets

HB 4019 gives the Department of Administrative Services audit authority of local government procurement. AOC has pointed out that counties are already compliant with Oregon Forward contracting obligations and that this bill adds unnecessary cost and bureaucracy. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Rules to be kept alive, but passage appears unlikely as it has yet to receive a public hearing.

SB 1582 gives rural fire protection district directors unilateral annexation authority and has the potential to raise property taxes on rural citizens without their vote. It cleared the Senate on a 18-8 vote (1 absent, 3 excused). The bill has a public hearing on February 22 in the House Committee on Revenue where AOC will again offer verbal and written opposition.

HB 4140 would greatly expand the investigatory powers of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. AOC opposed the bill as written while offering suggestions for improvement. The bill has not been scheduled for a work session and passage appears unlikely. 

For questions, or feedback, please contact AOC Legislative Affairs Manager, Tyler Janzen.

Contributed by: Tyler Janzen | Legislative Affairs Manager