Ways and Means: summary of measures advanced March 3 — hospital loan guarantee, fuel-terminal rules, emergency-management and budget bills

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means on March 3 heard and reported several measures out of committee. Major outcomes and key details follow.

HB 4018 (elections/campaign finance): Representative Bowman presented changes to campaign-finance provisions and disclosure timing, with the -A12 amendment appropriating $1,552,520 GF to the Secretary of State for implementation (establishes 5 positions, 3.04 FTE, including 3 IT positions and 2 compliance specialists; additional legal and IT contract costs noted). The Capital Construction Subcommittee recommended the -A12 amendment and reported the bill out do pass.

HB 4075 (hospital stabilization): The committee advanced a bill directing the State Treasury to guarantee up to $44,000,000 from the Unclaimed Property and Estates Fund to guarantee an eligible rural hospital stabilization loan; the subcommittee recommended reporting the bill do pass. The measure drew significant debate over precedent for use of unclaimed-property funds and impacts on the Common School Fund.

HB 4100 (bulk fuel terminals): The committee reported HB 4100 do pass as amended by -A5. The bill directs terminal owners/operators to hold a certificate of financial responsibility with DEQ, authorizes rulemaking and an advisory committee, and deposits fees into the Seismic Risk Mitigation Fund; supporters cited the strategic importance of terminals on the Willamette River.

HB 4121 (emergency management): The committee reported HB 4121 do pass as amended by -A3. The bill would create statewide emergency-preparedness authorities and funds, clarify duties of the state resilience officer, create an Oregon disaster recovery authority advisory group and authorize certain grant-activated assistance programs.

HB 5203 (fee ratification): HB 5203, the omnibus fee-ratification bill under ORS 291.055, was reported out do pass; it ratifies fees adopted by state agencies during the interim across multiple programs (examples: OHA psilocybin services, OLCC hemp product registration, Oregon Medical Board technician registry fees).

HB 5204 (budget reconciliation): The committee reported HB 5204 do pass as amended (-A2). The reconciliation bill includes net adjustments across agency budgets, a $272.8M GF increase for DHS/OHA implementation provisions, transfers among IT and infrastructure funds, funding for the 2025 fire season and a $15M special appropriation for Southern Oregon University.

SB 1601, SB 5701, SB 5702, SB 5703 (budget and capital measures): The committee reported these bills do pass as amended; items include technical GRAMA and budget clarifications, bond authorization for public-university and local projects, capital construction expenditure limitations, and adjustments to lottery and criminal-fine allocations.

Votes and formal actions: The transcript records recorded roll-call responses on several measures; where the transcript did not consolidate a single numeric tally line, the committee chair called for roll and the motion carried to report bills out do pass. Specific amendments recommended by the Capital Construction Subcommittee are noted above.

Next steps: Bills reported out from Ways and Means will move to the floor with the committee recommendation. Committee leadership closed the session with thanks to subcommittee members and Legislative Fiscal Office staff.