The 2021 Legislative Session has been a good one for higher education.
- SB 712, the HECC voting rights bill, one of our top priority bills of this legislative session, passed the House by a vote of 50-10. It is now on its way to the governor’s desk.
- HB 2542, the student fee transparency bill, and HB 2919, the textbook affordability bill, both cleared in the House and the Senate. They now are moving forward to the governor’s desk to be signed into law as well.
Another top priority, SB 551/HB 3007, the part-time faculty health care bill, is having a tougher go of it. Both have been sent to the Joint Ways and Means Committee, where the concept awaits the co-chairs’ approval.
In early May, the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education heard testimony on SB 5528, the higher education funding bill. AAUP Oregon testified in support of the bill, requesting $900 million to adequately fund public universities in the 2021-23 biennium. We are cautiously optimistic that this funding level will be approved.