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Legislative Highlights
Legislative Highlights contains the latest news and information on activities at the Oregon Legislature that affect public education. It is published weekly during Oregon's legislative sessions. Subscribe to the OSBA General News email list to receive Legislative Highlights in your inbox.
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Legislative Resources:
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SB 208 FAQ: Charter schools and interscholastic activities (Updated)
Thursday, November 16, 2017Senate Bill 208 allows charter school students to participate in “interscholastic activities” with the district. Interscholastic activities are defined as “athletics, music, speech and other similar or related activities.” (Updated Nov. 16, 2017)
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Political signs point toward Oregon Democratic supermajority in 2019
Tuesday, March 6, 2018If Democrats achieve a supermajority, their 2019 agenda will likely push progressive issues, especially concerning the Public Employees Retirement System and revenue reform.
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Short-session issues will come back to haunt 2019 Legislature
Tuesday, March 6, 2018The Legislature crammed a lot of action into its 28-day short session. Some bills passed, more bills died and legislators will likely return in 2019 to pick up where 2018 left off.
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Legislative Briefs
Monday, March 5, 2018A roundup of action and important events in the Capitol in the past week
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As the 2018 session’s time draws short, so do tempers and patience
Monday, February 26, 2018Constitutionally, this session cannot go longer than 35 days, meaning legislators must adjourn no later than March 11.
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Pair of bills would bring transit funds to schools and students
Monday, February 26, 2018The Legislature expects to pass House Bills 4130 and 4059 that would make a significant investment in student transportation.
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The Week Ahead
Monday, February 26, 2018Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Legislative Briefs
Monday, February 26, 2018A roundup of action and important events in the Capitol in the past week
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House scheduled to vote on bill to make class size bargaining mandatory
Tuesday, February 20, 2018After several fits and stops, House Bill 4113 is scheduled for a vote today, Feb. 20, in the Oregon House of Representatives.
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Governor’s PERS bill moves out of committee
Tuesday, February 20, 2018Gov. Kate Brown appointed a task force in 2017 to look at options that could reduce the Public Employees Retirement System’s unfunded actuarial liability by $5 billion over five years.
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The Week Ahead
Tuesday, February 20, 2018Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Legislative Briefs
Tuesday, February 20, 2018A roundup of action and important events in the Capitol in the past week
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Mandatory bargaining on class-size bill scheduled for hearing today
Monday, February 12, 2018The strongly contested House Bill 4113 on class-size negotiations with teacher unions received a relatively short hearing Wednesday.
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Joint Committee on Student Success begins yearlong effort to foster better schools
Monday, February 12, 2018The committee is working to create a plan to improve educational outcomes for students across the state.
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The Week Ahead
Monday, February 12, 2018Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Legislative Briefs
Monday, February 12, 2018A roundup of action and important events in the Capitol in the past week
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The Week Ahead
Monday, February 5, 2018Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Short session will get to the big issues quickly
Monday, February 5, 2018Legislators will be working on a variety of complex issues from the drop of the opening gavel.
Legislative Highlights - previous issues (Full issues in PDF format)
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Chalk up some wins for schools with bills that went nowhere
Wednesday, July 12, 2017“Wins” during session are not always about getting bills passed, but also include the bills that are stopped. Here are some of the bills that schools are better off without.
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Legislature concludes business, leaving revenue reform work undone
Wednesday, July 12, 2017It was a contentious and frustrating session. Legislators wrestled with raising revenue, cutting spending or some combination of both.
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Education-related bills await action as Legislature races to finish
Friday, June 30, 2017OSBA has compiled a summary of some of the education-related bills still awaiting action.
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Subcommittee considers bill adding flexibility to Measure 98 law
Friday, June 30, 2017The subcommittee sent House Bill 2246-A to the full Ways and Means Committee with a “Do pass” recommendation. It would create the statutory language for Measure 98 and establish the High School Graduation and College and Career Readiness Fund for the grants.
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Legislature approves funding at $8.2 billion for K-12 schools
Friday, June 30, 2017Senate Bill 5517 passed the House 31-28 on June 27, setting the State School Fund for the 2017-19 biennium.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, June 23, 2017Update on Senate Bill 1008-A (clean diesel and school buses) and House Bill 2597-A (distracted driving and school buses).
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Native American curriculum bill heard in funding committee
Friday, June 23, 2017Senate Bill 13 would require the Oregon Department of Education to make K-12 curriculum on the Native American experience in Oregon available by the 2019-20 school year.
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Funding committee hears Farm-to-School funding bill
Friday, June 23, 2017The Farm-to-School program awards grants to school districts to purchase Oregon food products and to develop agriculture- or garden-based educational activities.
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With no “Grand Bargain” in sight, revenue-raising bill turns up heat
Friday, June 23, 2017After a three-hour, often-acrimonious debate, the House passed a bill that would increase Oregon revenue by an estimated $196 million in 2017-19. House Bill 2060 limits the number of people who can take a business tax exemption created in the “Grand Bargain” of the 2013 special session.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, June 16, 2017Update on House Bill 2391 relating to the health care provider tax.
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Legislature restores recreational immunity to school districts
Friday, June 16, 2017Senate Bill 327 would fix a loophole created by the Oregon Supreme Court’s 2016 ruling in Johnson v. Gibson.
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Tax reform bill put under intense public and committee scrutiny
Friday, June 16, 2017HB 2830, the “bridge plan,” would temporarily increase the corporate income tax until a new commercial activity tax would begin.
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Pause for a look at the Legislature before mad dash to sine die
Friday, June 16, 2017This year the constitutional sine die is July 10. Although the session could end before then, it is unlikely because the Legislature still has a lot of unfinished business.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, June 16, 2017$8.2 billion State School Fund to get vote.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, June 9, 2017Updates on bills relating to the Educator Advancement Council, charter student acess to district extracurricular activities, and public bodies and immigration enforcement.
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$8.2 billion State School Fund bill moves quickly despite protests
Friday, June 9, 2017Senate Bill 5517 moved forward rapidly this past week. It passed the Senate with an overwhelming 25-5 vote, and could get a vote in the House as early as next week.
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The Week Ahead
Monday, June 12, 2017Updated: Committee holding hearings on corporate excise tax rates
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Bill Briefs
Friday, May 26, 2017Overview of bills relating to “Lunch shaming” and Child abuse investigation.
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Education funding committee hears governor’s education policy bills
Friday, May 26, 2017The Joint Ways and Means Education Subcommittee held its first hearing Wednesday on Gov. Kate Brown’s two main education policy initiatives remaining this legislative session: Senate Bills 182 and 183.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, May 26, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Delay of physical education requirements moves to House floor without opposition
Friday, May 26, 2017A bill to modify and delay physical education instruction requirements that are scheduled to go into effect in July cleared the House Education Committee on Monday.
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Chamber deadline sharpens focus of Legislature’s work
Friday, May 26, 2017Although the session is trudging along slowly, the second chamber deadline is fast approaching.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, May 19, 2017Overview of House Bill 3318 relating to functional behavior analysis for students
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Clean diesel bill keeps on chugging
Friday, May 19, 2017For school districts, the diesel emissions issue affects buses with older diesel engines.
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Superintendents praise bonding programs
Friday, May 19, 2017Senate Bill 5505 is the legislative mechanism for authorizing billions of dollars in bonds for projects in the next biennium.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, May 19, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Oregon revenue forecast offers hard numbers for budget wrangling
Friday, May 19, 2017The Office of Economic Analysis released its next-to-last Oregon revenue forecast for 2015-17 on May 16, predicting income will exceed projections made in 2015 by 2.4 percent and the state will have to return $407.8 million to taxpayers .
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Bill Briefs
Friday, May 5, 2017Overview of bills relating to pay equity, priority admissions for charter schools and Advanced Placement college credit
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Chief Education Office presents governor’s education policy initiatives
Friday, May 12, 2017The Chief Education Office appeared before the House Education Committee to make its case for Senate Bills 182 and 183, Gov. Kate Brown’s education policy initiatives for this legislative session.
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Legislature develops environmental hazards plan for schools
Friday, May 12, 2017Senate Bill 1062 would highlight possible environmental hazards and create the necessary transparency, education and process to ensure the community, students, staff and schools are informed about hazards and how schools will address them.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, May 5, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, May 5, 2017Overview of House Bill 2147 relating to graduation data
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Senate bill amending physical education requirements faces House scrutiny
Friday, May 5, 2017An amended Senate Bill 4 would give schools more time and flexibility to reach the standards passed by the 2007 Legislature.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, May 5, 2017The State Land Board takes on the Elliott State Forest question.
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Joint Tax Reform Committee works on plan to raise revenue
Friday, May 5, 2017The committee, one of five groups meeting to work on addressing the $1.6 billion state budget shortfall, is tasked with reforming Oregon’s corporate tax structure.
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Bill would fine-tune requirements for dyslexia screenings
Friday, May 5, 2017Senate Bill 1003 was drafted to ensure a smooth implementation of dyslexia screening in Oregon school districts.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, April 28, 2017Overview of bills relating to graduation data and activity access for charter schools.
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‘Structural imbalances’ have state budget near tipping point
Friday, April 28, 2017When you don’t have enough money to pay the bills, you need to either make more money, cut your costs or find some mixture of the two.
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Action Alert: Urge a school funding number of $8.4 billion
Friday, April 28, 2017Oregon’s students need you to once again raise your voices on their behalf.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, April 28, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, April 21, 2017Overview of bills relating to diesel emissions for school buses, citizenship test for diploma and teacher license grace period
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Co-chairs present devastating look at $7.8 billion school funding
Friday, April 21, 2017Legislators gave a preview on April 17 of what is to come for schools if there is no deal on revenue and cost containment this session.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, April 21, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Bill would alter Measure 98 to give schools more flexibility
Friday, April 21, 2017The changes contained in House Bill 2246-A were crafted with the approval of the Measure 98 campaign, the Confederation of School Administrators and OSBA.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, April 14, 2017Overview of bills relating to public records requests, release to play after head injury, Charter admissions and delayed enrollment
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Education advocates find compromise on physical education standards
Friday, April 14, 2017Ten years ago, the Oregon Legislature set standards for physical education time and gave schools until the 2017-18 school year to comply. The 2007 bill, House Bill 3141, required 150 minutes of physical education per week for elementary school students and 225 minutes per week for middle school students.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, April 14, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, April 7, 2017Overview of bills relating to Quality Education Model funding, public contracting (update), district facilities open to tutors, Occupational therapist cap and ELL advisory group
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Bill raises issues with schools’ child protection responsibilities
Friday, April 7, 2017Senate Bill 101 would prohibit a school administrator or staff member from notifying anyone about a child abuse investigation in progress on school grounds. Current law already states this for public schools, but the bill would add authorization for students in private schools to be interviewed.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, April 7, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Legislative deadline winnows one-quarter of bills
Friday, April 7, 2017Today marks a major hurdle for bills in the Legislature.For a bill to remain “alive,” it must be scheduled for a work session in the policy committee by today, April 7.
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Bills would protect schools from lawsuits by users of their lands
Friday, April 7, 2017The legal and technical wrangling around “recreational immunity” boils down to making public lands and facilities open to residents without sending insurance costs into the stratosphere.
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Hearings on higher education funding bill also look at state’s future
Friday, March 31, 2017Senate Bill 5524 would allocate $2.79 billion for higher education in Oregon.
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Senate Education Committee hears controversial CTE-STEM oversight bill
Friday, March 31, 2017Senate Bill 297 would make major changes to the system of oversight for career and technical education and science, technology, engineering and math programs.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, March 31, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Pilot program would aim to simplify putting more nurses in schools
Friday, March 31, 2017A year-long task force charged with figuring out how to get more nurses in schools led to Senate Bill 111. Given the significant budget situation facing the legislature, the bill was amended to be moved forward as a pilot project, which would limit participation to nine school districts.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, March 24, 2017Overview of bills relating to the school improvement investment fund, the incentives for higher level mathematics courses and department of State Lands budget
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Paid family leave bill presents financial, logistical problems
Friday, March 24, 2017A packed hearing room heard testimony Thursday by a variety of workers who faced situations that paid time off could have made more bearable.
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School board experience prompts transit money bill
Friday, March 24, 2017The House Education Committee took testimony on HB 2693-A, which would allow for additional transportation reimbursements.
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Bill would change transfer process for assets like Elliott State Forest
Friday, March 24, 2017Senate Bill 847 would set up a land transfer account that would allow selling underperforming state trust lands to a tribe, federal agency or another state agency.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, March 17, 2017Overview of bills relating to urban renewal and superintendent of public instruction as statewide elected office
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OSBA presses for bill to force Quality Education Model funding
Friday, March 17, 2017House Joint Resolution 4 is one proposal to fully fund Oregon’s Quality Education Model.
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OSBA and COSA hold successful Legislative Day at the Capitol
Friday, March 17, 2017OSBA Board President Betty Reynolds told attendees, "Our top priority is adequate and stable funding for education."
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The Week Ahead
Friday, March 17, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Unnecessary workplace bullying bill increases costs, opponents say
Friday, March 17, 2017OSBA testified in opposition to Senate Bill 292.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, March 10, 2017Overview of bills relating to virtual charter schools, high school graduate reporting, OEBB opt-out, PERS agency budget.
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School districts fight addition of hurdles to contracting rules
Friday, March 10, 2017Senate Bill 294 would make significant changes to the public contracting code, and proponents are seeking an amendment that would carve out cities and counties, leaving school districts as the target of the law change.
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Committee considers charter students’ access to activities
Friday, March 10, 2017Proposed amendments being drafted for Senate Bills 536 and 208 would allow district schools to charge charter school students participating in extracurricular activities.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, March 10, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, March 3, 2017Overview of bills relating to revenue on workers’ rights awareness, dedicated TAG funding, predictive scheduling in the workplace and statewide FFA support and funding.
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Budget puts many missions of Oregon education on display
Friday, March 3, 2017The Joint Ways and Means Education Subcommittee began its work on the education budget with an overview of the Oregon Department of Education this week.
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Legislature ponders use for excess in PERS contingency fund
Friday, March 3, 2017OSBA is interested in possibly retaining excess funding in the contingency reserve to help offset the difference when the PERS system does not meet the assumed rate. This would bring down the employer rate.
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Teacher Standards and Practices Commission wants to add staff
Friday, March 3, 2017The TSPC budget contains two new hiring requests since the last biennium: an additional customer service employee to respond to phone calls and an additional employee to implement database upgrades.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, March 3, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, February 24, 2017Overview of bills relating to revenue on marijuana sales, student safety and public records.
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Mandatory class size bargaining divides House Education Committee
Friday, February 24, 2017House Bill 2651 would make class size a mandatory subject of bargaining in contract negotiations between school districts and teachers.
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State revenue forecast delivers good news but not too good
Friday, February 24, 2017The Oregon revenue forecast is up almost $200 million from the December forecast.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, February 24, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, February 17, 2017Overview of bills relating to the Oregon Promise Program, student safety, Educator Advancement Council, and Early Indicator and Intervention System.
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Equity in education includes culturally relevant content, advocates for SB 204 say
Friday, February 17, 2017Senate Bill 204 aims to tackle Oregon’s persistent student achievement gap.
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Week of hearings spotlight depth of PERS problems
Friday, February 17, 2017The Public Employees Retirement System has a growing liability that is affecting the ability of cities, counties and school districts to provide services. PERS payments are dollars that schools will not get to spend in the classrooms.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, February 17, 2017Be informed about what's happening the week of Feb. 17-25 that may affect education issues.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, February 10, 2017Overview of Senate Bills 182 and 183
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Public records bill tries to ease some burden on school districts
Friday, February 10, 2017The attorney general’s task force looking at Oregon’s public records laws was charged with examining four issues: timelines, fees, exemptions and a review process.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, February 10, 2017List of scheduled legislative hearings and work sessions for the week of Feb. 13.
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Last chance (well, not really) to introduce bills
Friday, February 10, 2017Until Feb. 28 legislators can introduce an unlimited number of bills. After the 28th legislators are limited to five “priority” bills.
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School board members deliver Oregon message to Congress
Friday, February 3, 2017Members of the Oregon School Boards Association board of directors and legislative policy committee visited Washington, D.C.,to meet with Oregon’s congressional delegation as part of the National School Boards Association's 2017 Advocacy Institute.
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Budget town halls need to hear voices for education spending
Friday, February 3, 2017The Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee has announced dates and locations for town hall meetings, creating an opportunity for school board members statewide to tell legislators that they need to fully fund K-12 education in Oregon.
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The Week Ahead
Monday, February 6, 2017List of scheduled legislative hearings and work sessions for the week of Feb. 6.
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Advocacy Institute brings Oregon perspective to D.C.
Friday, January 27, 2017School board members are heading to Washington, D.C., this weekend to tell the Oregon story.
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OSBA team hits the road to attend legislative receptions statewide
Friday, January 27, 2017Legislative receptions give parents, educators and other members of the community a chance to discuss issues with local legislators in a relaxed and informal setting.
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Find out what your legislators are doing
Friday, January 27, 2017Did you know that you can use the Legislature’s e-subscribe notifications to receive email notifications from your local legislators?
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K-12 education faces cuts in legislative budget framework
Friday, January 20, 2017Jan. 19 the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means delivered a preview of the anticipated budget for the upcoming session.
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Oregon Senate and House of Representatives rosters
Friday, January 20, 2017Find your legislator's contact information.
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Add your voice to call for better education; we’ll help you
Friday, January 20, 2017This session OSBA legislative services will need your help advocating for state funding of education that avoids budget cuts and puts students and districts first.
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A quick look ahead
Friday, January 13, 2017Important legislative dates to remember
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OSBA Legislative Services enters new session with new team
Friday, January 13, 2017The retirement of Betsy Miller-Jones, OSBA's former executive director, has also brought changes to the Legislative Services Team.
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Three more school board members add education voices to Legislature
Friday, January 13, 2017This election cycle brought three more current school board members to the legislative ranks: Janeen Sollman, Diego Hernandez and David Brock Smith.
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Bill Briefs
Friday, June 2, 2017Updates on bills relating to the Healthy and Safe Schools Plan and “lunch shaming”
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Bills affecting bus drivers and drones beat legislative deadline
Friday, June 2, 2017HB 2597 would expand the 2007 distracted driving law; HB 3047 would provide some flexibility for drone users such as schools and law enforcement.
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Subcommittee reshuffled to move bill calling for $8.2 billion State School Fund
Friday, June 2, 2017The amended Senate Bill 5517 will now move to the full Ways and Means Committee.
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The Week Ahead
Friday, June 2, 2017Be informed about what's happening next week that may affect education issues.