[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6126903,"mediaKeyId","2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0","parentId",2665387,"title","Committee hears bill to bring Oregon seafood into school meals","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",65000,"endMs",239000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0&start=65&end=239","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0/thumbnail_65000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6126903/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-bring-Oregon-seafood-into-school-meals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126903-8c7617f49e89df66e19b40e3c068ac8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448179&Signature=i0VVKbCnpxltW6D3As-Lc9FTn9JOe~OCuZZSrvInGKqJdZ8xm~XXyKuSqTcbyFFSlNzkBKR60mPy1gPYLFTbZCSQj8bypxh9ONvynBbztjwXg8mN1ionn24VmrSED5mUGrFbVUzSuEy7FkUaAJvVMNi1mFDlELslxd-725LZhvEiVCH41FqHjPWacvGUyJiW3uJwg3GTT3yjwc7CJigvxZBWGH2n9uhlufsTcwDi6T2hPd0ppmgLhQd~B0AbH-H1w~tXVy9mRvc4zbjoY0LjDuBNYTB~9a6nHLmf6EXxK71F3FAO7IjOvYP3tLOq4MLeUkNATqBgJslRwtGv9k53Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon Legislature","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","House members heard testimony March 17 on House Bill 35 568, a bill that would direct $600,000 from the general fund to the Oregon Department of Education for the Oregon Coast Visitors Association to support seafood-focused education and marketing in K–12 schools, and $200,000 to the Department of Agriculture for local food incentives and seafood product development for school meals. The measure declares an emergency and would take effect July 1, 2025.

The bill’s sponsors and supporters framed the proposal as an economic and nutritional initiative. Representative David Gomberg, who represents House District 10, told the committee the measure grows from a 2023 rural economic package and partnerships with the Oregon Coast Visitors Association and the Oregon Farm to School Network aimed at keeping more local catch in Oregon markets. “This bill is good for our coastal industries. It’s good for the health of our students, and it’s certainly good for helping meet our emissions goal,” Gomberg said.

Senator Suzanne Weber, Senate District 16, which includes the North Coast, emphasized local economic benefit and student nutrition. “A minor adjustment of 10% in that figure would mean millions of more dollars injected into our coastal economy,” Weber said, adding that seafood is “rich in omega-3 fatty acids” and offers health benefits for children.

Erica Sears, deputy director of the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, described operational and program goals the association would pursue with the funds: culinary training and resources for child nutrition programs, seafood recipes for school meal programs, and efforts to help seafood harvesters and processors make products appropriate for school procurement. Sears said the funds are an “investment” in coastal communities and student health.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the seafood supply chain and where Oregon-caught seafood currently goes; Senator Weber said much of the seafood served on the Oregon coast is imported or arrives frozen from distant sources. No formal action on HB 35 568 was taken in the hearing; the committee opened and closed the public hearing and received testimony from the sponsors and association representatives.

Why it matters: proponents said the bill aims to support coastal economies, improve student nutrition, and expand market opportunities for Oregon seafood through schools. The measure would create a focused, one-time appropriation for demonstration and outreach rather than a long-term entitlement.

Where it stands: the committee received testimony and closed the public hearing; further committee action was not recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Education 03/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","House members heard testimony March 17 on House Bill 35 568, a bill that would direct $600,000 from the general fund to the Oregon Department of Education for the Oregon Coast Visitors Association and $200,000 to the Department of Agriculture to support seafood education and product development for K–12 schools.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17513,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126892,"House Education hears proposals to fund school facility upgrades, lottery bonds and kicker redirect debated",2625,1705000,4330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0&start=1705&end=4330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0/thumbnail_1705000.jpg","/articles/6126892/Oregon/House-Education-hears-proposals-to-fund-school-facility-upgrades-lottery-bonds-and-kicker-redirect-debated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126892-444a23c4d7e5a9ba23511ddedf016298/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448179&Signature=Y-YroZ2JG4CqMUiHjCLjq1G-KzE4Ft8BtCDMFPUK2~V0BnosTx6FWZYyw-gcOGS4Lm~dMPdpNlyleRsdpcBGHnBjTSF4pR3v8V5iR~5BDXvRSYIZquJDbjDVVn9rrAZGWMWDViH5VX1bNfYwZGbfq0mc3BMcSS1JQas8VYNu6QETAdjdL89rlbLQPIRmmIg6sslaxPYDwPyqakKCRjGDTLa56sbGwP4hGonjnuBYJ532yQyL7xQ6JsTIQr6yRUGVklgHHiSFWZtJmuhSNVFY4lA6CrLHx~L~kQN-AO4VMb-B-YCEVapOqaRYgibit7a-0ixm8okfQDwTgil3IoZcVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers and school officials told the House Education Committee March 17 that long‑deferred maintenance and aging buildings are impairing learning and safety in districts that cannot pass local bonds, and they urged lawmakers to consider targeted state funding.

Two related proposals received testimony. House Bill 30 14 (HB 3014) would establish a School District Facility Equity Fund, authorize the state to issue lottery bonds and direct the Department of Education’s Office of School Facilities to award grants to districts for emergencies and capital improvements without requiring a local bond match. Supporters proposed splitting a $100 million bond into an emergency pot (proposed $50,000,000, with emergency grants up to $500,000) and a second pot (proposed $50,000,000 with grants up to $2.5 million) for districts lacking local taxing capacity.

House Bill 33 60 (HB 3360) would redirect corporate kicker windfalls to a School Facility Improvement Fund to be used for one‑time infrastructure grants and maintenance in districts that have not been able to secure voter approval for general obligation bonds; Representative Zach Hudson said the companion constitutional amendment (House Joint Resolution 13) would be necessary to send the kicker change to voters.

The committee heard multiple on‑the‑record accounts from rural and urban districts about aging buildings and the practical consequences for students. Mark Witte, superintendent of Grant County School District 3, described buildings constructed in the 1930s through 1960s and the decline of the local tax base after mill closures; he said the district’s student population fell from 1,148 in 1998 to 472 and estimated a new facility could cost about $54 million, an amount the district could not raise locally. Will Blood, board chair for Grant County School District 3, and Joel Smallwood, director of facilities for Salem‑Keizer Public Schools, provided additional examples of deferred maintenance and the need for stable funding.

Morgan Allen, speaking for the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA), framed the bills as tools to address statewide inequities. Allen noted existing “awesome” bond matching and seismic rehabilitation grants that require local matches and said lottery bonds or other mechanisms could provide options for districts without local tax capacity. Stacy Michaelson of the Oregon School Boards Association and Louis Desitter of the Oregon Education Association also spoke in support.

Corbett School District superintendent Derek Fielkevich recounted recent emergency events: a leaking diesel boiler and mold testing that kept students out of a building for months, winter storm damage that closed school for two weeks and large unplanned costs that drained reserves. He said Corbett used an awesome match bond in 2020 but rising construction prices forced the district to cover cost increases from general funds.

Several witnesses urged the committee to move the bills to Ways and Means so funding and design details can be debated; supporters emphasized the need for statewide assessments (currently under way at the Department of Education) to guide prioritization. No committee vote on either HB 30 14 or HB 33 60 is recorded in the transcript; both bills received public testimony and were closed for hearing.

Why it matters: multiple districts — especially rural districts with constrained tax bases — reported aging HVAC, roofing, plumbing and electrical systems, occasional unsafe conditions and ongoing operational strain. Testimony linked facilities to learning conditions, attendance and equity.

Where it stands: both bills were heard and supported by a coalition of education groups and district officials; committee action (amendments or referral) was not recorded in the available transcript.","Lawmakers and school officials told the House Education Committee on March 17 that aging school buildings and deferred maintenance in districts with limited tax bases require state action; two bills proposing state funding mechanisms received testimony.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126884,"Votes at a glance: education committee moves several bills to the floor or other committees",152,1118000,1270000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0&start=1118&end=1270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0/thumbnail_1118000.jpg","/articles/6126884/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-education-committee-moves-several-bills-to-the-floor-or-other-committees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126884-960ebcf032cb8c20f002c1313619a645/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448179&Signature=YcKUCk20vy~-WblVxNb69W8HiRX6dHVVXXj9BhctKvG4j~ZgZdmSnWpU06EzQ3ROB~BwB2kkh08GLoGBWzpjqGM5F69TuksEEI4YWBeKiHJ6QeB5m6sccXD0zHsIYKvrGAa8WwxatRNsiOYY55G2Bh4Wb9dtf2xFbPHUOi0nLvhQGZUfv0APc5fgjeWZQPoedPwSNPVdhQfAIJq2F-0cSsxkFBSBNcKnpdooZnwfrc0UqDmAMc4~CG0XEQFHoVR3WWnfW8twXvkCRsPd5oO7o6uiFfcZSwZqDhjeWnaHfN~WuNIDMbd5QapeI8FHX-iBknxrtNYysrnVlFnx8Kh9nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee recorded votes on several bills and amendments March 17. Many motions were procedural and moved bills to the next step in the process. This summary lists the formal actions recorded in the transcript excerpt; where the transcript did not provide a numeric roll‑call tally the committee chair announced the motion passed.

Votes recorded in the transcript excerpt:

- House Bill 3,504 — Motion moved to send HB 3,504 (appropriating money to the Teacher Standards and Practice Commission to fund nine additional full‑time staff positions) to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means with a due‑pass recommendation. The chair announced the motion passes and the bill will head to Ways and Means.

- House Bill 2,307 — Motion to move HB 2,307 (temporary exemption until 01/02/2030 for lamps purchased by school districts from the prohibition on sale of certain fluorescent lamps) to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The chair announced the motion passes and HB 2,307 will head to the floor; a carrier was assigned in the transcript (Representative Mannix).

- House Bill 3,083 — The committee adopted a dash‑2 amendment modifying the security system standard to require consideration of a panic alarm system (wireless or wearable) capable of connecting to emergency services and integrating with 911, then moved HB 3,083 as amended to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; the chair announced the motion passes and assigned a carrier (Representative Emerson Levy).

- House Bill 3,534 — The committee moved HB 3,534 without recommendation and added a subsequent referral to the Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development; the chair announced the motion passes and the bill was referred accordingly.

- House Bill 3,435 — (Covered in a separate article) The committee adopted a dash‑1 amendment and moved HB 3,435 as amended to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means; the chair announced the motion passes.

Notes on vote records: the transcript record included roll‑call prompts and many “Aye” responses, but it did not include a consolidated numerical tally for each motion in the excerpt provided here. The chair’s announcements in the transcript indicate each motion passed.

Why it matters: advancing bills out of committee is a necessary procedural step to fund or change policy; several of these measures carry budgetary or statutory implications that will be further vetted in Ways and Means, the floor or referral committees.","The House Education Committee moved several bills forward March 17, adopting amendments where noted and sending measures to Ways and Means or the floor.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126889,"Committee hears bill to standardize electronic transfer of student records",352,4482000,4834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0&start=4482&end=4834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0/thumbnail_4482000.jpg","/articles/6126889/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-standardize-electronic-transfer-of-student-records","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126889-9487bb29f3c278405b2e54476b07f92b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448179&Signature=OXNERCiFmHLNN4E-1jAjSTVaKx~5tsH1p38C95aJopVZ6U4-NfcYUGwE00rHopOcpeW9WPRvCGHCR1oGvXUm6ieNiJRFhn8VytAjesyHEMO-jGQbXkPgb84k~OT~cUgrbflRa9JefLezluXOTBECPXUm047O5Au23FOYoRiC81Ueeahz8CnRsXYVhoATOtuRBgH4EVkUZBpB~8R90RitNRGkPAKDi41bTFcoylFDsvxLCtviHAr8mZQBcKbWIPj7HwDcoFP8uSM1fm3C-xcWYQ1bBZmDFwX3kaFfVVW8PZA2aDuXzpf3ZAsc7mM2SY5mlZOo2DoQiK2BTr7gYa22hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 2,508, which would direct the Oregon Department of Education to develop and implement a standardized electronic system for transferring student information between school districts and education service districts, received public testimony March 17 emphasizing student continuity, data security and operational efficiency.

Representative Courtney Neuron, chair of the House Education Committee and the bill’s sponsor, said the bill grew from interim workgroups and pilot systems in districts such as North Bend and Coos Bay. She said about 14% of Oregon students — roughly 75,000 children — are mobile each year, and delays in record transfers can slow access to services such as individualized education programs (IEPs) and medical alerts. “A well functioning student data system is more than just an administrative tool. It is essential for ensuring that every student receives the support that they need to succeed,” Neuron said.

Parsa Chanrami of the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators praised the bill’s emphasis on standards and data security, noting that registrars report many transfers still arrive by postal mail or fax. Chanrami cited an estimate from registrars that each incoming student requires roughly one hour of manual demographic and enrollment data entry, with secondary students requiring additional time to transfer course history.

Committee discussion touched on data privacy, operational burden and Medicaid billing opportunities that could be improved with standardized electronic transfers. Committee staff summarized the bill as directing ODE to implement a secure system and establishing a technical advisory committee of educators, administrators, IT and cybersecurity experts to guide implementation.

Wes Butler, representing Ocean Network (a statewide homeschool network), requested an amendment to exclude private homeschoolers from the bill’s mandatory data transfers and referenced Oregon homeschool statute (ORS 339.035) as the statutory boundary he wished to preserve.

The committee closed the public hearing without recorded committee action in the available transcript. Proponents asked the committee to advance the bill so technical work and rule development can proceed; supporters said the measure would reduce data entry burdens, speed access to services and improve accuracy of statewide reporting.

Why it matters: standardized, secure record transfers can reduce learning disruptions for mobile students, speed access to special education and health supports, improve Medicaid reimbursement processes and reduce registrars’ operational load.

Where it stands: the committee held the public hearing and accepted testimony; proponents urged further work with ODE and district registrars to design technical standards and privacy safeguards.","House Bill 2,508 would require the Oregon Department of Education to develop and implement a standardized electronic method for transferring student information between districts; sponsors and education associations said faster, secure transfers would help mobile students, those with IEPs and Medicaid‑billable services; homeschool representatives",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126897,"House panel adopts amendment, sends universal school meals bill to Ways and Means",315,683000,998000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0&start=683&end=998","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665387-252afd126e8731ad3e6e187642b57aa0/thumbnail_683000.jpg","/articles/6126897/Oregon/House-panel-adopts-amendment-sends-universal-school-meals-bill-to-Ways-and-Means","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126897-4e6653c6845dcb468f561c194cfecbe8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448179&Signature=jc7bnQrEocQEUX6slTLLsQQMUTfXfgQTswrwEALFzPFKuDgeRrpskUP2TBs~pPRwQFbSI25zB2mpWzKeAj6YAIZ8hReMfgBCoDlKkRAV9KA-Wokb4oZkj92fBtQtRXNhAoons-BdpjtnNl-pe6u390mSq7~6Cm~rLKlKIZ3JpCzduglYeIt0KV8NxDEyIsvU6wCbN2xyQdzlhqNr442vKc0WVcPAKL6~Nqi7un3mDI1CHJBKkChhFS991orVXY0iEHhWQhR-FUlEelpxZMCGCca0wnI~kHzusMUkAdLGQmBkTSCAA~BvpB20zakEaiABZUSToFLaDTmNotsRCxD7TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee on March 17 adopted an amendment and voted to send House Bill 3,435 — a statute requiring school districts to provide breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students — to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means with a due-pass recommendation.

The committee voted to adopt the bill’s dash‑1 amendment, which clarifies that districts are not required to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) if federal funding is not available and allows the State Board of Education to exempt schools that do not serve meals at traditional service times. The amendment also modifies the hardship exemption to require that, where financial hardship is claimed, schools must offer no-cost meals to students from households with income up to 300% of federal poverty guidelines.

Representative Vice Chair Joe Dobson moved to adopt the dash‑1 amendment and later moved HB 3,435 as amended to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means. Committee staff summarized the measure: it requires no-cost breakfast and lunch to all students beginning in the 2026–27 school year, provides a transition period for 2025–26, and appropriates $4 million from the general fund to the Oregon Department of Education to help cover costs incurred by parents or guardians prior to the effective date for equipment purchases. The measure declares an emergency and would take effect July 1, 2025.

David Wieland of Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon answered a committee question during debate, explaining that the dash‑1 amendment was intended to ensure districts that cannot access federal funding for CEP would not be forced to participate and that existing fallback provisions would remain in place for households below 300% of federal poverty guidelines.

Committee discussion included concerns about food waste. Representative dental members noted a separate composting bill and emphasized that while the meals policy would not directly address waste, it would ensure access to nutritious meals for students who need them.

The transcript records the committee chair asking the clerk to call the roll on both the amendment and the amended bill; the chair announced, “The motion passes,” and reported that HB 3,435 will be referred to Ways and Means. The transcript does not provide a consolidated roll-call tally in numeric form in the record available here.

Why it matters: the measure would expand universal free meals statewide, changing school meal finance and operations and requiring implementation planning, equipment upgrades and a fiscal transition. The amendment clarifies how the state policy interacts with federal programs and the state board’s rulemaking authority.

Where it stands: amendment adopted; HB 3,435 as amended moved to Ways and Means with a due-pass recommendation.","The House Education Committee adopted a dash-1 amendment clarifying federal funding and exemption rules and passed House Bill 3,435 as amended with a due-pass recommendation to Ways and Means; testimony and discussion focused on food waste concerns and federal program interaction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to bring Oregon seafood into school meals

House Education hears proposals to fund school facility upgrades, lottery bonds and kicker redirect debated

Votes at a glance: education committee moves several bills to the floor or other committees

Committee hears bill to standardize electronic transfer of student records

House panel adopts amendment, sends universal school meals bill to Ways and Means