[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6258203,"mediaKeyId","3148703-88f557754df95d101e9513bb8d4b25ce","parentId",3148703,"title","House panel hears bill to standardize dual-credit pathways for agriculture, forestry and natural resources","audioSeconds",1173,"startMs",26035,"endMs",1199940,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148703-88f557754df95d101e9513bb8d4b25ce&start=26&end=1199","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148703-88f557754df95d101e9513bb8d4b25ce/thumbnail_26035.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6258203/Oregon/House-panel-hears-bill-to-standardize-dual-credit-pathways-for-agriculture-forestry-and-natural-resources","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258203-819b633c060683ac000a2eea31f4b98c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093724&Signature=KUj-36MtRn1yQe0rQEED3nYasEOyR75VgOaRykWdo4ljs~WJckFCDqqReIZpAHFd8k~I5JQBJ8z-9qH0VehHeHyGCXBauBE-gn~KaNexOjIxv0dQyOjbVErI1DvxEdmeT6n0l~CXo2QqwpOnF-KCOgnMKv27VKycj-lKR878uk7xUvE9PXrAOYkenoVpDWKwzy-aQMI1TxR9hJMdUoMiWWcthyVKBwTnaU5u-I6-Yfzqfdc8-sgs4aSA~~H4hKDckzs6wlYQeVJNDNlDNI0Sk8utn6DqlLXw1oGdZmuvT3sgNxqD4FzgHvfGmYUa0s4vXDCFYW1Zb4BI8vYgXncL5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon Legislature","date","2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 784, which would direct the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to develop statewide standards for dual‑credit programs in agriculture, forestry and natural resources, drew support and questions during a public hearing before the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on April 29.

Proponents told members the bill aims to make college credit earned in high‑school agricultural and natural‑resource programs more uniformly accepted across Oregon. Jake Pelroy, chief of staff to Sen. Todd Nash, said SB 784 “specifies a statewide standard that that allows students participating in agricultural forest forestry and natural resource programs to follow an aligned educational pathway to college degree and credential.” Representative Bobby Levy added the bill would expand access to “practical, career oriented education that keeps Oregon’s economy strong.”

The bill’s supporters included Chloe Holler of the Associated Oregon Loggers, who said the organization and a natural‑resource coalition back the effort and pointed committee members to written testimony. Kyle Thomas, director of legislative and policy affairs at the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), told the committee that HECC already maintains general dual‑credit standards that govern how courses are developed and administered and that faculty must meet the qualifications required by the college offering credit.

Committee members pressed on how the bill would change current practice and whether it would create new obligations. Representative Fingerh McDonald and Representative Ragland noted dual credit arrangements already exist where high schools and community colleges partner, and asked whether SB 784 creates a “should” or “must” requirement. Thomas said HECC does not view the bill as giving career‑technical organizations an automatic “inside track” for credit and that the bill would not change HECC’s current standards. He also said HECC does not expect a staffing impact from the bill.

Several lawmakers raised access issues. Committee members and witnesses identified two primary impediments to wider availability of dual‑credit technical programs: local funding to support courses and a shortage of qualified instructors at the high‑school level. Representative Fragula and others cited examples where community colleges and universities already partner successfully with some districts—Eastern Oregon University and Blue Mountain Community College were named as partners in District 58—but said access is uneven across the state.

The hearing record shows no committee vote on SB 784; the committee opened and closed the public hearing and did not take formal action on the bill during the session.

The bill passed the Senate nearly unanimously, according to testimony, and backers asked the House committee for its support.

If approved and implemented by HECC, supporters say, the measure is intended to give students—particularly in rural and natural‑resource dependent communities—clearer pathways to postsecondary credentials that feed regional workforce needs.

No formal committee direction to staff or a vote was recorded during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Higher Education and Workforce Development 04/29/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 784, which would direct the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to develop statewide standards for dual‑credit programs in agriculture, forestry and natural resources, drew support and questions during a public hearing before the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on April 29.","taxTitle","Higher Education, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",18022,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6258195,"Committee hears bill to extend in‑state university tuition to out‑of‑state Oregon National Guard members and dependents",1167,1228200,2395905,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148703-88f557754df95d101e9513bb8d4b25ce&start=1228&end=2395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148703-88f557754df95d101e9513bb8d4b25ce/thumbnail_1228200.jpg","/articles/6258195/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-extend-instate-university-tuition-to-outofstate-Oregon-National-Guard-members-and-dependents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258195-0dc7db2415f2ddaab9e3a27080222c10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093724&Signature=Ppn8nnRmXQSwtZmoKg9g9C-4EjQ~oUWizmfw6-YdQcv9zUh8zTxwpKxBlBUl1ebCp~MXcJlYBdug4HCBgte45WLB1l-8nxojEDEn90VSp8YxwOmz2wkr5DdqAeOUoIO1tAv484gX1MFuyTavACsLBgVqLOOs4mPR9vtvRCbITlmMWpl5lUAtG9YVCINQof8MtgQQiH-ins-csI1Wcys~rPlYxO5a57iCwCtrTqfOpDR8wYNkwzEm3S0o29QogAlyg39i8xm4GS9zb3BwJWBymuyLTmt1vC4NLXiYjohhJhGtEBibOSjig2BJAjrpdKkROZ6YV5qdH4L78GyHERK98A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 798, which would extend in‑state tuition rates at Oregon universities to members of the Oregon National Guard who live outside the state (and to their dependents), was the subject of a public hearing before the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on April 29.

Russell Gibson, government legislative affairs director for the Oregon Military Department, said the measure is intended to improve recruiting and retention by offering an additional incentive to keep service members affiliated with the Oregon National Guard. “Senate bill 7 98, provides out of state members of the Oregon National Guard with in state tuition rates at state universities in Oregon,” Gibson testified, adding that the change would mirror benefits already available to active‑duty personnel stationed in Oregon.

Gibson gave committee members several data points during his testimony: the Oregon National Guard is authorized for approximately 8,100 service members; the Army National Guard has roughly 1,200 vacancies and is at about 80% strength; roughly 1,200 Guard members currently live outside Oregon (about 800 in Washington, about 67 in Idaho and about 100 in California, with the remainder in other states). He and others said not all eligible members would use the benefit and that predicting take‑up for members and dependents is difficult.

Committee members asked practical questions about common scenarios and program mechanics. Chair Sherry Hudson cited a commuter example to Portland State University; Gibson confirmed the proposal would make a Guard member and their dependents eligible for in‑state tuition and would apply to remote enrollment as well. Representative Fingerh McDonald asked whether online programs (for example, Oregon State University’s Ecampus) would be affected; Gibson said beneficiaries would be treated as other Oregon residents for tuition and fees.

Gibson and lawmakers discussed existing state tuition assistance: the HECC‑administered Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program covers eligible courses up to a bachelor’s degree and does not assist members who already hold a bachelor’s degree seeking additional study. Gibson said in‑state tuition at the community college level is already available to Oregon National Guard members; SB 798 would primarily affect university tuition rates.

Supporters described the Guard’s state and federal missions and the practical reasons members who live out of state may remain in Oregon units. Lawmakers with military experience noted the measure could help members who travel for drills and deployments and could be one element among several intended to improve retention.

There was no committee vote recorded during the hearing; the committee opened and closed the public hearing and did not take formal action during the session.","Senate Bill 798 would let Oregon National Guard service members who live outside Oregon—and their dependents—pay in‑state tuition rates at state universities; the Oregon Military Department told the House committee the change is intended to aid recruiting and retention and has limited fiscal impact at the university level.","actionData","errors"]

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House panel hears bill to standardize dual-credit pathways for agriculture, forestry and natural resources

Committee hears bill to extend in‑state university tuition to out‑of‑state Oregon National Guard members and dependents