Staff updated the Parks Advisory Committee on the Sharon Nesbitt Park ribbon cutting, a temporary trail closure required by Union Pacific Railroad while trellis screens are delayed, an invasive weed management plan being developed with Mosaic Ecology to enable grant applications, and holiday programs including a Dec. 7 tree lighting.

Senators approved a lengthy list of governor-appointed members to boards and commissions en bloc; the motion passed on a roll call after brief remarks and several recorded dissenting votes.

The City Council adopted Ordinance 2025‑06 amending Chapter 102 to define an "established campsite" (5+ days), require 72‑hour notice for authorized removals, clarify vehicle camping and ADA considerations, and update enforcement and prohibited locations. Vote was 5–1.

Lane Transit District officials told the committee LTD provides evacuation transport, ADA‑accessible mobile sheltering, staging and real‑time situational awareness during disasters; LTD recounted volunteer‑staffed evac operations during the Holiday Farm Fire.

Council agreed to keep the city contribution at its current approved level while staff and the fireworks committee develop an education and enforcement campaign to reduce illegal fireworks, including proposals for beach‑entrance outreach and business‑facing messaging.

The committee's co-chairs outlined a bill concept to repeal the separate JPEA committee, assign the constitutionally required report to the Ways and Means Education Subcommittee, and direct contracting for a full cost model every eight years with documentation for school districts.

District presenters described required drills, the difference between 'secure' and 'lockdown,' the district's Level‑1 threat‑assessment teams and its CSAT level‑2 referral team, and urged families to rely on ParentSquare and Safe Oregon for emergency communication.

A multi‑stakeholder TAB (tackling administrative burden) work group told the committee that duplicative audits, a nonfunctional COA databank and misapplied audit requirements created extra work for providers; members recommended a restored COA databank, annual listening sessions, clearer audit attribution and statutory cleanup via HB 4,092.

On the floor, lawmakers voiced concerns about enforcement practices and immigration-related profiling, criticized proposals to socialize retail food distribution, and praised the ODHS and governor for recent SNAP distribution work ahead of the DHS director confirmation vote.

The North Wasco County SD 21 board adopted a supplemental budget to recognize unexpected local revenue and appropriate it for responsive-classroom training. CFO Dan Peters briefed the board on a modestly improved state revenue forecast and caution about continued fiscal uncertainty.

The Oregon Military Department briefed the committee on a recent Title‑10 Portland mission that mobilized 200 soldiers, training at Camp Rilea, and reported that a $5,000 state retention bonus (effective July 1, 2025) boosted multi‑year reenlistment rates and produced a notable uptick in retention.

The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs told legislators there are about 260,000 veterans in Oregon (FY24 federal data), many 65 or older, and that ODVA is pursuing state data capacity to better identify veterans not receiving federal benefits and to improve outreach and services.

LRO reported preliminary tax‑year data showing the Oregon child tax credit cost ~ $36.3–36.4M per year with about 33,000 claimants. Legislative Revenue Office also presented certification data for the semiconductor R&D credit (HB 2009): certifications rose from ~$32.9M in 2024 to ~$40.3M in 2025, triggering a biannual cap reduction; tax‑return data that would show final fiscal cost will lag until returns are filed.

Relief nursery leaders and a parent testified that relief nursery services (therapeutic classrooms, home visiting, parenting education and respite) keep 90–95% of enrolled children safely with parents; presenters urged support for a Representative McIntyre bill to add $4.9 million to the program.

The Natural Resources Subcommittee approved a Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation backing ODF’s request to increase other‑funds capital construction expenditure limitations to spend excess insurance settlement proceeds on two wildfire‑destroyed facilities in Klamath and Santiam; the motion passed by voice with no objections.

Legislative analysts told the joint education appropriations committee that the 2024 Quality Education Model (QEM) omits some Student Success Act (CAT) revenue from its state-funding line, inflating the reported funding gap; the committee adopted a draft report and moved to consider a committee bill in January.

City staff moved resources on ICE encounters to a prominent police‑page link, added a Spanish FAQ, and will post social media directing residents to state resources; councilors debated, but did not reach agreement on a separate council statement acknowledging impacts.

DEQ told legislators it is deploying new templates, an online permitting portal and a dedicated permits team to improve timeliness and predictability, but officials said Title 5 renewal backlogs remain and staffing and complex renewals will take time to address.

The Legislative Revenue Office told the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee that Oregon's revenue system is highly dependent on income taxes, outlined past reform efforts and analytical tools (OTIM), and previewed three 2026 committee bills: a technical clean-up, a small policy estate-tax bill, and a placeholder for broader reform.

The Legislative Revenue Office presented estimates showing a full exclusion of military pension income could cost about $30 million in the first year (starting 2026); LRO highlighted Oregon’s 1991 federal‑service exemption proration and age/cohort effects on who benefits from proposals.

The Oregon Department of Revenue briefed the House revenue committee on Jan. 1 start‑up for the oral‑nicotine product tax, explained the rates and reporting schedules, said first returns are due in April and first distributions expected in May, and noted DOR will use inspections and rulemaking to enforce compliance.

Oregon Department of Education officials told the Senate committee their complaints and appeals caseload has surged since 2019; ODE described process changes, appropriations of 14 permanent positions in 2024, a backlog of 35 cases over the 210‑day order deadline, and steps to fill investigator posts and improve intake and training.

OHCS staff briefed senators on the Moderate Income Revolving Loan Fund created in 2024: $75.37M was authorized, with $50M available this biennium and a $10M rural set‑aside. The fund issues 0% loans to sponsoring jurisdictions, repaid via program fees in lieu of property taxes to replenish a revolving pool.

At a Nov. 18 informational hearing, Leslie Wu of the Oregon Department of Justice summarized how the Unlawful Trade Practices Act is used and described a recent MV Realty enforcement that the office says refunded nearly $8 million to 669 Oregonians affected by deceptive real-estate contracts.

Gilliam County and partners said a rapid virtual‑fencing pilot launched after the 2024 Lone Rock Fire enabled emergency grazing, protected riparian areas, and reduced forage use in burned areas; OSU research reported substantial reductions in burned‑area grazing when collars were used.