Senate committee advances three bills on childcare, certification waivers and non-opioid directives to the floor

The Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health on May 6 approved three separate measures and sent them to the Senate floor with —due pass— recommendations.

Chair Reynolds presided as the committee considered House Bill 2814, House Bill 3211 A and House Bill 3560 A. For each measure senators moved a —do pass— recommendation and the clerk called roll; the committee recorded ayes and excused members on each vote and announced each measure would be sent to the Senate floor.

House Bill 2814: The bill would allow the Department of Early Learning and Care to waive certain certification requirements for child care facilities when the department determines conditions or safeguards exist that protect children—s welfare and the consumer interest of parents. The committee—s fiscal staff said the measure has a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact. Vice Chair Anderson moved HB 2814 with a due-pass recommendation; the clerk recorded the roll call with Senators Lythagam, Patterson, Vice Chair Anderson and Chair Reynolds voting aye and Senator Korsig excused. Chair Reynolds announced, "The motion passes and the measure is sent to the floor."

House Bill 3211 A: The measure requires the Oregon Health Authority to develop a non-opioid directive form and make it available electronically to the public; fiscal staff reported minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact. Chair Reynolds moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the clerk called roll and recorded ayes with an excused member, and the chair said the measure will be sent to the floor.

House Bill 3560 A: The bill would change land-use rules to allow childcare centers on land zoned for multiunit residential use, school use, place-of-worship use or commercial use. It requires local governments to update local plans and land-use regulations within one year of the measure—s effective date and moves statutory provisions for siting childcare to the comprehensive land use planning chapter of the Oregon Revised Statutes. The committee discussed co-locating childcare in affordable housing and senior housing projects; supporters described that model as beneficial to families and older adults. The committee approved HB 3560 A on a voice/roll call and the measure was sent to the floor; Chair Reynolds said he would carry the bill on the floor.

Why it matters: The measures use different tools—agency waiver authority, a standardized non-opioid directive form, and zoning changes—to address child care, public health directives and siting of childcare centers. Sponsors and committee members described potential positive outcomes such as reducing red tape for siting childcare and supporting co-location with affordable housing and senior housing.

Votes and next steps: The committee recorded votes and advanced each bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation; senators who will carry the measures to the floor were named by the chair where indicated. Further action will occur on the Senate floor and in subsequent legislative steps.