Subcommittee approves HB 5023 budget for Oregon State Board of Nursing, including fee increases and new investigator positions

The Joint Ways and Means Human Services Subcommittee voted to move House Bill 5023, the Oregon State Board of Nursingbudget bill, to the full Ways and Means committee with a "do pass" recommendation after adopting the LFOrecommendation and a dash-1 amendment without objection.

The measure would set the boardrecommended 2025-27 other funds budget at $30,712,190 and 64 positions (63.9 FTE), increase several licensing fees, add investigator and administrative staff, and clarify a key performance measure for licensing timeliness.

LFO told the committee the recommended 2025-27 budget is $30,712,190 in other funds and 64 positions (63.9 FTE), a 15.7% increase from the 2023-25 legislatively approved budget and a 5.1% increase from the current service level. LFO said the boardprojects a 2025-27 ending balance of $12,027,195 in other funds, equivalent to about nine months of operating expenses. The board licenses 128,548 individuals, LFO noted, and generates most revenue from licensing fees.

The recommendation includes five policy packages. One is a revenue-only package expected to generate $8,079,815 by increasing fees for registered nurses and advanced…