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Subcommittee advances Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission changes amid concerns about gubernatorial appointment authority
Summary
House Bill 2929 would expand fiscal and contractual powers and alter membership for the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission; Senator Hayden registered opposition to new language that would let the governor select the commission chair and give that chair contracting authority.
On June 12, 2025, the Ways and Means Human Services Subcommittee moved House Bill 2929 to the full committee after LFO recommended the measure be advanced.
LFO summarized HB 2929 as making several changes to the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (ADPC), including expanding fiscal and contractual powers, altering membership composition and representation, and renaming and modifying statutory plans. LFO noted that although earlier fiscal materials listed costs for three additional positions, those positions were duplicative of positions authorized in the Oregon Health Authority primary budget bill (HB 2025), so LFO recommended moving HB 2929 to the Ways and Means Full Committee.
During discussion, Senator Hayden expressed concern about language that would change selection of the ADPC chair from the commission to the governor and would grant contracting authority to the chair. Senator Hayden said, “I have some concern with this bill particularly with the authority that the governor is basically giving herself… so she'll lehi the member to the commission to serve as the chair… and then that one person has all this contracting authority.” He said he would register a “no” on the vote for that reason, citing concerns about appointment authority and potential conflicts of interest.
The subcommittee moved HB 2929 forward; the transcript records Senator Hayden’s objection for the record. LFO and committee members noted that staffing needs described in the fiscal note were duplicative of positions already authorized in the OHA budget.
HB 2929, as described in the subcommittee, would change ADPC's powers and membership and make related statutory changes; the bill will next be considered by the full Ways and Means Committee.
