Committee advances four bills on veterans, emergency preparedness and local public safety funding

The House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans on April 3 adopted amendments and gave due-pass recommendations for four bills, sending them to other committees for further consideration.

House Bill 2050, as amended, would allow certain military retirement pay and pensions to be subtracted from Oregon taxable income for 100% disabled veterans and members of the National Guard and reserve enlisted corps included under the bill’s definition of veteran.

House Bill 2537 would create a Veterans Waiver Program at the Oregon Health Authority to provide health benefits to veterans who currently do not qualify for OHA coverage but whose income is at or below 400% of federal poverty guidelines.

House Bill 3788 directs the Oregon Business Development Department to develop and administer a grant program to hospitals located near tsunami inundation zones to pay for emergency fuel and water storage; a dash-1 amendment…