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Panel hears bill to allow ODVA to collect email addresses for veteran outreach
Summary
Witnesses and committee members discussed House Bill 2341, which would add email addresses to contact information Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs may collect to communicate about benefits and services; supporters said email would augment existing outreach but cautioned against relying on it as the sole method.
House Bill 2341 would add email addresses to the types of contact information the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) may collect when service members or veterans apply for specified benefits and services. Committee staff introduced the measure at the March 12 hearing and said it was submitted by the governor on behalf of ODVA.
The nut graf: Supporters said adding email would allow ODVA to reach veterans who lack stable mailing addresses or who prefer electronic communication; some senators cautioned that many veterans do not use or monitor email and that email should augment, not replace, traditional mailing.
No members of the public signed up to testify, but senators offered observations. One senator noted veterans living in transitional or homeless settings sometimes have no postal address, and email may be their only reliable channel. Another senator cautioned that some people do not check email regularly and urged that electronic contact not be the only method of notification.
Staff closed the public hearing on HB 2341 without further questions. The committee did not vote on the bill during the session.
