Public hearing on HB 5,005 spotlights funding needs for Criminal Justice Commission programs

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety held a public hearing April 3, 2025, on House Bill 5,005, the Criminal Justice Commission's primary budget bill. Law enforcement leaders, county officials, community-based organizations and service providers testified in support of full funding and several policy amendments for programs that cover behavioral health deflection, restorative justice grants, jail-based medication for opioid use disorder and illegal marijuana market enforcement.

The hearing matter matters because HB 5,005 directs appropriation levels that counties and service providers say sustain newly created deflection programs and other grants that divert people from incarceration into treatment, support crisis services and fund enforcement and victim services related to illegal cannabis operations. Witnesses said program operations are at risk without continued or increased funding and urged inclusion of several “dash-1” amendments and additions to the governor's recommended budget.

Amanda Dalton, president of the Northwest Grocery Retail Association, asked the committee to prioritize a supportive grant the association received in 2023, noting the 2023 appropriation of $5,000,000 funded cross-county enforcement “blitzes” and shared resources to counter organized retail theft. Dalton said, “I uploaded [the report] twice, it's that important,” and urged the committee to include related language from Senate Bill 96C in the budget.

Holly Harris, behavioral health director for Deschutes County…