Late in a legislative session, the Legislature typically passes a bill a budget reconciliation bill, allocating funds to specific projects. This bill is most often referred to as the “Christmas tree” bill. Its name comes from the provisions, or “ornaments” attached to the bill.

This Session’s Christmas tree bill, House Bill 5050, contains a number of allocations critical to Oregon counties, including:

Public Safety Allocations

  • $3,000,000 for implementation of grand jury recordation;
  • $136,695,000 to the County Courthouse Capital Construction and Improvement Fund;
  • $2,000,000 for planning associated with the replacement of the Benton County Courthouse; and
  • $2,000,000 to Clatsop County for the Clatsop County Jail.

Natural Resources Allocations

  • $200,000 for predator control (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife budget Senate Bill 5510);
  • $200,000 for APHIS predator control (Oregon Department of Agriculture budget House Bill 5002);
  • $100,000 for Klamath Lake water monitoring (Oregon Department of Agriculture budget House Bill 5002)
  • $15 million bonding capacity for water supply development projects (Water Resources Department)
  • $1,700,000 to combat Sudden Oak Death (SOD) in southwest Oregon; and
  • $30,000 to Klamath County to acquire, install, and maintain stream gauges.

Land Use Allocations

  • $500,000 to Association of Oregon Counties for urban growth boundary planning grants to administer to Eastern Oregon counties.

County Solutions Project Allocations

  • $6,000,000 to Oregon Business Development Fund for the tide gate and culvert repair and replacement grant and loan program.

Veterans, Health and Human Services Allocations

  • $1,000,000 for a grant to the Family YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties to construct veterans affordable housing in Salem;
  • $6,000,000 for community mental health programs;
  • $1,000,000 for the Umatilla-Morrow Head Start Early Learning Center;
  • $1,643,532 for the Umatilla County Jail Expansion/Mental Health Facility;
  • $2,500,000 for veterans’ behavioral health services within Oregon Health Authority;
  • $1,500,000 for Mental and Behavioral Health TANF Pilot Program pursuant House Bill 2032; and
  • $2,235,831 for local Area Agencies on Aging for aging and intellectual/developmental disabilities programs.

HB 5050 passed the joint committee on ways and means on June 25, with all present voting in favor of the bill. Senate Republicans on the committee were absent from the vote. 

The bill is anticipated to reach the House floor for a vote on June 29.

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate