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Heated public hearing on SB 644: sponsors call for legislative audit of Oregon Food Bank; nonprofit leaders and civil liberties groups oppose bill
Summary
Senate Bill 644 would create a joint legislative audit committee to review Oregon Food Bank financial transactions and political activity between Dec. 1, 2021 and Jan. 1, 2025. The committee heard vigorous testimony both for greater legislative oversight and opposing the bill as an abuse of power and a threat to nonprofits' speech rights.
Senate Bill 644 drew extended and contested testimony in the Senate Committee on Human Services on Feb. 4. The bill would establish an Oregon Food Bank Audit Committee, a joint legislative committee charged with auditing the Oregon Food Bank’s financial transactions between Dec. 1, 2021 and Jan. 1, 2025, reporting on transactions related to political activity, and submitting a report to the Legislature by Nov. 15, 2025. The measure would declare an emergency and include a sunset.
Supporters, including Senator Daniel Bonham and Representative Shelley B. Bossard Davis, told the committee they want legislative oversight of a large,…
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