Since the start of the legislative session in late January, the AAUP Oregon Legislative Committee has tracked 253 higher education-related bills. Committees must schedule a work session for bills before the March 19 deadline otherwise they will likely die in the chamber of origin. This rule does not apply to bills recommended to Ways and Means. The Higher Education Coalition has high hopes that both the part-time faculty healthcare bill and the HECC voting rights bill will be approved in this legislative session.
The House Committee on Education
The committee heard testimony on HB 2590, which establishes a task force on student success for underrepresented students. The committee also heard testimony on HB 3012, the student incidental fee bill, which gives student organizations autonomy to collect this fee to pay for student-related activities. By a vote of 10-0, the committee passed HB 2472, which designates the Oregon Institute of Technology as Oregon Polytechnic University. HB 2835, the student benefits navigator bill, was referred to Ways and Means after it was passed by a vote of 10-0.
The Senate Committee on Education
The committee heard testimony on SB 76, the Transfer Student Bill of Rights. In addition, the committee held a work session for SB 230, which authorizes WOU, SOU, and EOU to offer professional doctoral degrees. The bill was passed by a vote of 3-2. A March 8 hearing is scheduled for SB 756, which requires HECC to conduct a study and develop recommendations on how to establish a coordinated, statewide approach to best serve currently incarcerated individuals eligible for Federal student loans. On March 15, the committee will hear SB 712, the HECC voting rights bill. AAUP Oregon plans to submit testimony along with a number of other Higher Education Coalition members. The latest update on SB 111 is that the dash three amendment will not be added to the bill. The amendment might be folded into SB 112.
The Senate Committee on Health Care
On March 8, the committee is scheduled to hear SB 748, which requires PEBB, OEBB, and private insurers to provide insurance coverage to adult disabled children and adult disabled siblings of insured under certain circumstances.
The Senate Committee on Labor and Business
On March 2, the committee took up SB 716, which requires employers to reasonably accommodate employee's work schedule availability related to child care. A dash one amendment to the bill has been offered.
You can check out these and other legislative bills we have supported or opposed HERE.