Committee forwards funding bill for local addiction‑prevention to Ways and Means

The Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response held a public work session May 14 on House Bill 2,954, a funding bill that would appropriate an unspecified amount of general fund to the Oregon Health Authority for distribution to local health departments and federally recognized Indian tribes to establish or expand primary‑prevention programs for addiction. The measure includes a reference to ORS 451.144 and would declare an emergency effective July 1, 2025; it is also subject to a subsequent referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Committee members asked about the missing fiscal estimate. One senator said the bill had “no fiscal, so we have no clue as to what this is going to cost” and asked why the committee was moving the bill to Ways and Means without a cost estimate. Sponsors and staff responded that bills of this nature sometimes leave appropriation amounts unspecified at introduction and that Ways and Means would determine final funding. A committee member noted the bill dovetails with the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission’s planning and acknowledged budget uncertainty.

After discussion, Co‑Chair Prozanski moved a due‑pass recommendation with referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference. The clerk called the roll; members recorded in the transcript as voting yes included Senator Gerard, Representative Edwards, Representative Isidore, Representative Aldarama, Co‑Vice Chair Mannix, Co‑Chair Prozanski and Co‑Chair Kraft. The motion passed and HB 2,954 was referred to Ways and Means.

The committee chair closed the work session and said several other work sessions were carried over to next week. The bill’s text and the ORS reference will be considered further in Ways and Means, where the appropriation amount and allocation methodology will be defined.