Legislative Briefs
Statements of economic interest
House Bill 4114
What it does: Oregon law prohibits the use of public office for financial gain and requires specified public officials to file an Annual Verified Statement of Economic Interest with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. School board members manage billions of dollars in revenue as public officials, and a 2021 audit of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission recommended that school board members also be required to submit this filing. House Bill 4114 would add school board members to the list of public officials who must file an annual statement.
What’s next: This bill passed the House and has a public hearing and possible work session scheduled in the Senate Rule Committee on Monday, Feb. 28.
Legislative Notes:
House Bill 4026 (Feb. 22 Legislative Briefs) would transfer $25 million for enrollment stabilization from the Student Success Act’s Statewide Education Initiatives Account to be used by wildfire-impacted districts for the next four years if enrollment dips below the pre-fire levels. The Oregon Department of Education would be able to use 2019-20 enrollment numbers to calculate funding from the State School Fund, the Student Investment Account and Measure 98. The bill is scheduled for vote on House floor Monday, Feb. 28.
Senate Bill 1521 (Jan. 31 Legislative Briefs) would provide some basic statutory employment protections for superintendents who are following federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. It would require both the superintendent and board to agree on the inclusion of a “no cause” termination clause and would require a minimum of a 12-month notice for a “no cause” termination. The amended bill passed the House on Friday, Feb. 25, and will return to the Senate for a concurrence vote.
Senate Bill 1546 (Jan. 31 Legislative Briefs) would deliver an additional $120 million to the Common School Fund in exchange for the Elliott State Forest, completing the transaction and bringing the total allocation to the forest's full valuation. The bill passed the Joint Ways and Means Committee and will move to the Senate floor.