Oregon Senate passes budget adjustments, expands first‑responder PERS protections and approves housing, parks and cannabis measures

The Oregon State Senate on March 24 passed a suite of measures that rebalance agency budgets for the 2023–25 biennium, change eligibility and appeals procedures for PERS disability retirement for police and firefighters, permit additional health professionals to serve as county medical examiners, and enact new rules for landlords, state parks procurement and cannabis regulation.

The session’s most consequential item was Senate Bill 5550 A, an omnibus budget reconciliation measure that the joint Ways and Means committee recommended with amendments. The bill includes rebalancing actions totaling roughly $2.3 billion in total funds and a net general‑fund increase of about $425.6 million. Among the allocations described on the floor were roughly $359 million in general fund to the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services, roughly $309.2 million general fund for pay equity and personal‑service costs across several agencies, $10 million for temporary lodging prevention services in child welfare programs, and multi‑million dollar adjustments for higher education student assistance and criminal fine account backfill. Senate Bill 5550 A passed on third reading and final passage (25 ayes).

Lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 10 A, a technical, non‑appropriation measure intended to align statutes with the 2023–25 legislatively approved budget. Sponsors said the bill clarifies transfers and program authorities including a $10.3 million transfer from the Educator Advancement Fund to the State School Fund and extended authority for certain wildfire‑impacted school stabilization expenditures. The measure passed 27–0.

On public‑safety and benefits policy, the Senate approved Senate Bill 588…