Committee hears support for HB 3129 to create higher education behavioral health workforce fund

SALEM, Ore. — Lawmakers and higher education leaders told the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on Feb. 25 that House Bill 3129 would create a statewide fund to expand training and recruitment of behavioral health providers.

Sen. Deb Patterson (D–District 10) told the committee, “Oregon is in the midst of a behavioral health crisis,” and said a “major driver of this crisis is our severe provider shortage.” Representative Rob Nosse (D–House District 42), a bill sponsor, said many public institutions are at capacity and lack the faculty, classroom space and training sites to graduate more master’s‑level clinicians.

The bill, as described by sponsors and university representatives, would establish the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund, to be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). Testimony said the fund would be available to public and private colleges and universities and community colleges for faculty and program capacity, scholarships and paid placements, and other supports to grow the behavioral health workforce.

Why it matters: Witnesses said Oregon’s shortage of trained behavioral health…