Senate committee forwards bill prioritizing housing for pregnant people and infants to Rules

Chair Tara Reynolds, chair of the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health, opened a work session April 8 on Senate Bill 690 and said the committee was moving the measure to the Senate Committee on Rules so drafters could finish language and fiscal analysis.

The bill is a placeholder in the committee’s maternal-and-child policy package and is described by Reynolds as focused on prioritizing housing resources for pregnant people and people with infants. "The time to have the time to turn a blind eye to homeless babies needs to be over," Chair Tara Reynolds said during the work session, citing high rates of unsheltered children in Oregon.

The committee record shows Reynolds noting Oregon’s unsheltered-child rate at about 20 per 100,000 compared with a national average of about 1.4 per 100,000. She framed the bill as an attempt to make legislative intent "operational" and said staff were still drafting amendment language and fiscal analysis.

Vice Chair Anderson moved to send the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules without recommendation as to passage. The motion passed on a roll call: Senator Gorsek — Yes; Senator Lissingham — No; Senator Patterson — Aye; Vice Chair Anderson — Aye; Chair Reynolds — Aye. The clerk recorded the motion as passed and the measure was referred to Rules.

Committee members discussed the urgency of the problem and differing views on the appropriate policy response. One member said existing housing programs and avenues for low-income households might make an additional program unnecessary; another emphasized addressing root causes in addition to near-term housing supports. Chair Reynolds told the panel the measure will return to Rules for further drafting and fiscal work.

The committee closed the work session on SB 690 and moved on to other bills on the agenda.