Legislative Report - Week of 4/14
Governance Team
Coordinator: Norman Turrill
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Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill
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Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone
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Election Systems: Barbara Klein
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Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey
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Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley
Please see Governance Overview here.
Jump to a topic:
Initiatives
By Chris Cobey
SB 1180: Requires the Secretary of State to submit to the Legislative Assembly, by November 1 of each odd-numbered year, a list of each prospective statewide initiative petition that has been filed for the next general election. Public hrg, Senate Rules Cmte April 16. League watching.
Privacy, images, data disclosure, DNA
By Becky Gladstone
Several bills followed here had work sessions scheduled then delayed as agendas accommodated the April 9 first chamber bill deadline.
HB 3766 to allow civil action against an adult who, unbidden, digitally sends intimate images (cyber-flashing) with the intent to harass, degrade or humiliate. League testimony in support; work session April 9, passed unanimously with 8 in support
Watching
SB 1121 creates a new crime of unlawful private data disclosure, punishable by a maximum of six months' imprisonment, $2,500 fine, or both. Work sessions Senate Judiciary: Do pass as amended.
HB 2299, creates a new crime of disclosing fake nude images. amendment adopted more specifically defines image sources.
HB 3093, for taking DNA samples from crime suspects, -2 adopted.
Elections
By Barbara Klein
On April 7th, the Senate Rules committee heard SB 1054, introduced by Senator Daniel Bonham with co-sponsor Senator David Brock Smith. The bill requires “each county clerk in this state to provide a live video feed to be made available to the public through the Internet of rooms in which ballots are tallied and official ballot drop sites” These feeds would have to be recorded and made available to the public through the Internet for at least two years following the election at which the live video
feed was provided.
LWVOR written testimony was a comment, neutral to the bill, describing our interest in transparency for voters but concern for costs, especially in smaller or rural counties. The hearing was cordial with productive communication.
Proposed state artificial intelligence (AI) commission (Lindsey Washburn)
Proposed testimony submitted in support of HB 3592. The bill establishes the Oregon Commission on Artificial Intelligence to serve as a central resource to monitor the use of artificial intelligence technologies and systems in this state and report on long-term policy implications; directs the commission to provide an annual report to the Legislative Assembly; allows the commission to make recommendations for legislation, regulations or policies to the Legislative Assembly; and directs the State Chief Information Officer to hire a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer to assist the commission in carrying out the commission's duties.
Rulemaking
By Peggy Lynch
The League continues to follow the bills listed on the March 17 agenda of the Senate Committee On Rules since some of the bills relate to the process of rulemaking. After legislation is passed, agencies are required to implement those laws. That action often requires rulemaking to clarify the details around that implementation. But the League is concerned when legislators “get a second bite at the apple” by relitigating the legislation when rulemaking is only meant to implement, not change policies.
Separately, the League was invited to a conversation among state agency rules staff on addressing concerns of the Governor and in an attempt to standardize the process statewide. The Governor has provided Rulemaking Guidance to state agencies: This document includes questions received from agencies since the Governor’s letter. This document includes additional resources for agencies including direction to post updates to the Transparency site, a website template that agencies can use (if they choose) to develop their pages, and links to other comprehensive agency rule making sites to review. There is a broader discussion to increase transparency and consistency in the state agencies’ rulemaking process. The League will continue to be engaged with potential meetings in May and June.
We continue to watch a series of bills related to rulemaking which we might oppose: HB 2255, HB 2303, HB 2402 and HB 2427. We are also concerned with HB 3382, since the requirements of the Secretary of State to gather ALL the state agencies’ rulemaking, including all materials would be overwhelming. Individual state agencies provide that information on their rulemaking websites. We may sign on to a letter explaining our concerns to legislative leadership.
Because the League is often engaged in rulemaking, we regularly comment on legislation that would affect changes in Oregon’s current Administrative Rules. We have provided testimony in opposition to HB 2692, a bill that would create complicated and burdensome processes for agencies to implement legislation with their rulemaking procedures.