2023 - Page 103

By JOSEPH GALLIVAN/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Nine members of the Oregon Legislature – including two members from Lincoln County — have formed the state’s first Arts and Culture Caucus to provide research and information to other members of the Legislature. Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, who coordinated the Arts and Culture Caucus’ inaugural membership, said that large caucuses in Salem

By NIGEL JAQUISS/Willamette Week BILL OF THE WEEK: Legislative Concept 3697 SPONSOR: Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) WHAT IT WOULD DO: Require state employees who live full time in other states to pay their own travel costs when they return to Oregon on state business. Currently, state policy that went into effect in December 2021 says that “employees who work under the

 Oregon lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand child care options in the state. A young boy plays with wooden blocks in a preschool classroom. (Getty Images) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — With a shortage of child care options in Oregon, state lawmakers want to put $100 million into a new program to increase capacity. House Bill 3005 is

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — The $32.1 billion state budget Gov. Tina Kotek proposed Tuesday redirects hundreds of millions of dollars that would have gone to the state’s reserves to build houses, teach kids to read and improve access to mental health services. Education and human services, including funding behavioral health and homelessness, make up a combined 75%

 The Fender’s blue butterfly was once thought extinct, but due to habitat restoration over the last two decades, its population has made large gains. By the Oregon Capital Chronicle A butterfly native to the Willamette Valley and that was once thought to be extinct has returned in strong numbers. The Fender’s blue butterfly will move from the endangered to threatened

 Oregon lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at keeping drug prices affordable for patients. Prescription drug prices account for a share of rising health care costs in the U.S. (Getty Images) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers are considering legislation to rein in prescription drug prices for Oregonians and help rural independent pharmacies stay open. Prescriptions are an