[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6251729,"mediaKeyId","3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c","parentId",3193502,"title","Committee adopts amendment to allow local officials with conflicts to vote on budgets after public disclosure","audioSeconds",68,"startMs",1433039,"endMs",1501390,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c&start=1433&end=1501","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c/thumbnail_1433039.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6251729/Oregon/Committee-adopts-amendment-to-allow-local-officials-with-conflicts-to-vote-on-budgets-after-public-disclosure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251729-6618e9fd5c34b05bb6f7db5ff8229163/orig.mp4?Expires=1770865386&Signature=TN16NJsL6mnfUEON9rzWP2~4eEA85C8csMc2ozp~BjAnKkEGycCFjClZFg2~ErvnXskuKEyjbW4Va2r41wqbCTIfxN8m7b4EYHQFPY8q1i1m2C7OSLJh2nZ-uDBuwmRsZxYwKraBoCSOW6l91-YlsEkd-6kNkV~Eu~k37NeleatuzTo38xO60oFgeztUQtQ75cY7QSuSDwqWtCHPoD7~zlJojX8uI5u3fXEisBi9D7ga34eSoEI8Aq42GvNjdCuypSzX1OrHN-jTDLk~sg2-DIWT20i9ddSg9snFdJVso9WEb3iAGoY80F8-0G6N-7sdyDy1oeNnoOk0~UvtCnS1eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Rules adopted the dash-1 amendment to Senate Bill 983, a measure that would allow a public official to vote on the adoption of a local budget that includes compensation or benefits to the public official or a relative provided the official publicly announces the nature of the conflict of interest.

Committee staff summarized the measure and the dash-1 amendment, which adds an emergency clause. The staff statement noted the amendment has no fiscal impact and no revenue impact. Vice Chair Bonham moved adoption of the dash-1 amendment and the committee adopted it by roll call. Committee members described the bill as a narrowly tailored change to allow boards and commissions to proceed with budget votes when the conflict is publicly disclosed and recorded.

Senator comments during the work session emphasized the bill’s utility for local boards and commissions that must sometimes adopt budgets that affect board compensation while meeting tight timelines in local budget cycles. The committee moved the amended bill to the floor with a positive recommendation. No further implementation details were set in committee.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Rules 05/05/2025 1:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Rules Committee adopted the dash-1 amendment to Senate Bill 983, allowing public officials to vote on local budgets that include compensation or benefits affecting themselves or relatives after publicly announcing the conflict.","taxTitle","Rules, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17994,"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},6251744,"Senate Rules Committee advances bill to require digital platforms to pay or arbitrate payments to news providers despite constitutional concerns",536,27600,563720,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c&start=27&end=563","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c/thumbnail_27600.jpg","/articles/6251744/Oregon/Senate-Rules-Committee-advances-bill-to-require-digital-platforms-to-pay-or-arbitrate-payments-to-news-providers-despite-constitutional-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251744-bca6a3004c954b944df0dcba5a4dd432/orig.mp4?Expires=1770865386&Signature=ZMKs8T4YrLpd7mPLm3qNsS5oSDib7c9nba~rPx8Byw9A-kATHRSDW-6cjNu9mf3M0UIz2HavrxIDm6SOYomqts~nQRy7qY69Ml-6CXsaGDnPvQA0NsTlP1ErlUWdt5Z~qaBiGbY~tTCTVzKUAr~ZIex2NKfCe1MSieN2Z1GgYSztt~h7ytxeOd5pAaL-oL1gGUWCQpvkjfCoIzoem0rnOLhS6lR4xod9IhqBqaWGlsRx3cMEP8fzFOAj1CKHx2x4c5MurFGZvnR2LQIihPM-LJXbrLN5j2S1-JlPU6nQmy0nXJSBDxlhpNgnuOZ4U~~8~HKagpeRtmf3rbmCU3E0bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Committee on Rules on Monday adopted a key amendment to Senate Bill 686, a measure that would require certain large online platforms to either pay digital journalism providers, enter arbitration to set advertising-revenue shares, or donate to a newly created Oregon Civic Information Consortium.

The bill’s legal counsel told the committee that if challenged, courts would likely find the measure violates both federal and state constitutional provisions, including takings protections. \"If challenged, the court would likely find that Senate Bill 686 and the dash-3 violates certain provisions of the federal and state constitutions,\" Christopher Allnat, Deputy Legislative Counsel, told the committee.

The dash-3 amendment replaces the introduced bill with several changes: it sets a mechanism for covered platforms to demonstrate worldwide monthly active users or to enter a final arbitration process; allocates 10% of payments to the Oregon Civic Information Consortium and 90% to digital journalism providers; revises the membership and mission of the consortium board; allows providers to request either a grant from the consortium or compensation from the annual payment but not both; removes a clause that would have barred platforms from retaliating against providers; and adjusts definitions and arbitration procedures. Allnat described the measure and the amendatory changes and told senators the amendment has a minimal fiscal impact.

Committee debate centered on constitutional risk and policy goals. Vice Chair Bonham repeatedly raised the Legislature’s oath to uphold constitutional limits and said the Office of Legislative Counsel (LC) had flagged constitutionality issues, including an argument that the bill could run afoul of the Takings Clause. \"We have our own attorneys that have very affirmatively said, this is a challenge,\" Bonham said during debate.

Several senators questioned how the program would operate in practice. Senator Golden said he heard counsel describe constitutional questions but not a definitive ruling that the bill was unconstitutional; he framed the bill as addressing a broader economic problem in which large Internet platforms capture more value than content creators. \"This bill addresses a huge foundational problem in our economy that goes way beyond media,\" Golden said. Senator Manning urged the committee not to be swayed by industry threats, saying he would \"stand up and fight for the underdog.\"

The committee adopted the dash-3 amendment on a motion from Senator Manning and later moved SB 686, as amended, to the Senate floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation. The committee recorded notice that a minority report would be filed.

The measure would create the Oregon Civic Information Consortium to distribute funds and set up an arbitration process to determine advertising-revenue sharing; it also contemplates an annual payment pool that testimony referenced at times as \"$122,000,000,\" and members asked whether a single provider could receive the full pool if it were the only applicant. Christopher Allnat said that, under the program design, if only one provider applied, that provider could receive the pool.

Discussion vs. decision: the committee’s debate was substantive and repeatedly raised constitutional uncertainty. Committee counsel provided an advisory opinion, not a court determination; several senators said they were prepared to move the bill forward and allow the courts to adjudicate any legal challenges, while others said the LC opinion counseled against forwarding the bill.

The committee’s formal actions on Monday were limited to adopting the dash-3 amendment and advancing the bill to the floor with a recommendation; no implementation steps or funding distributions were finalized in committee.

What’s next: SB 686 as amended will be scheduled for floor consideration. If enacted and challenged in court, the LC warned the bill could face likely constitutional challenges, including takings claims.

","Senate Committee on Rules on Monday adopted the dash-3 amendment to Senate Bill 686, which would require certain large online platforms to pay digital journalism providers, enter arbitration to set revenue shares, or donate to a new Oregon Civic Information Consortium.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6251723,"Senate panel endorses resolution reaffirming Oregon’s ties with China, citing trade and cultural links",689,4669880,5359409,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c&start=4669&end=5359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c/thumbnail_4669880.jpg","/articles/6251723/Oregon/Senate-panel-endorses-resolution-reaffirming-Oregons-ties-with-China-citing-trade-and-cultural-links","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251723-55cfe1ec1b4bcf5bc977657ec350715a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770865386&Signature=lGwqfMolMmyOA2g2KgeSGcMDFwpN~ziJVd2Blyi5KxAyAgvP8fQ1rlB9tl6euMlI7aJd4WmT0UNDgzm7qcZXUkrH52aYtZkBru-aDy5HGvhPdCJnB9d8OG~Fxj3yxYKrimsnjMz87vH~RicEdVwziL9t69yM-pBXwOGiZZiB8g6BFBxmicCPEmVphbt-DpbhdD7Cj7CU81xS0E~Faz-LJAfpg0VEeZKkx1k30RvORYr-wVCTlVJahwb37SPIEebO7sS1OutNzJNjeNkTIb3nEhza8lOYc-a0QwofwHZHF4LP1DFhVuquCdL5VlHeVoptbu9F09t3Ys5KNKjyL8YUvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Rules on Monday moved Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 to the Senate floor with an adopted recommendation after sponsors and witnesses described the state’s longstanding subnational engagement with the People’s Republic of China.

Senate President Rob Wagner, one of the sponsors, said Oregon’s sister-state relationship with Fujian Province spans 41 years and with Tianjin Municipality 11 years. \"Oregon's relationship with China helps diversify our economy, secures high value jobs and reinforces our leadership in sectors vital to U.S. competitiveness, including semiconductors and clean technology and agriculture,\" Wagner said, noting Oregon exported nearly $6 billion to China in 2024 and that the trade relationship supports thousands of jobs.

Senator Lou Frederick, who chairs the Oregon China sister-state relationship on the Oregon China Council, described cultural and educational exchanges during a 2019 visit and said citizen-to-citizen ties — including academic, cultural and port-to-port relationships — underpin the resolution. Former Senator Michael Dembrow, a long-time Oregon China Council participant, testified in support by phone and urged sustaining exchanges even as federal-level tensions fluctuate.

Sponsors said the resolution would formalize the Legislature’s support for continued trade, cultural and educational engagement and would accompany plans to convene an Oregon China sister-state committee and potential delegations. The committee adopted the resolution and moved it to the floor with a recommendation that it be adopted.

","Senate Concurrent Resolution 32, which reaffirms Oregon’s commitment to relationships with the People’s Republic of China and its sister-province ties, was moved to the floor after senators said trade, cultural and educational exchanges support jobs and state exports; sponsors signaled plans for delegations and sister-state engagement.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6251734,"Rules committee advances three gubernatorial appointments to the Senate floor: directors for DAS, Employment Dept., and Revenue",1247,1642495,2889734,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c&start=1642&end=2889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c/thumbnail_1642495.jpg","/articles/6251734/Oregon/Rules-committee-advances-three-gubernatorial-appointments-to-the-Senate-floor-directors-for-DAS-Employment-Dept-and-Revenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251734-c411b796d50d25dd5b17f2f288d37d37/orig.mp4?Expires=1770865386&Signature=FhFcMGnOy4NjYDAVyivypL0-9eXPRhXTebbRvNeBF-VT8rNnygR6~k6Q0R1n2k6kvRs9sigPxT9JrqZCpT1RAkywWvmSncaJ15jtpI3fAUKxsN0brSUwajcbiWsONOzo7KjoqmDH4Kadrz7VbehLqr~LxralcZTyiiv-NoqRM1QYp-refnFdPhtF4miSXsYnPfqTKtFvGnJne3TV-8LnWanDLbnoHoQtyFbN168uRK7znLH6gy~tJeOw3WsvYnTE5SNQ2AKe7uBOIZMyJ99OxJp4yMVLedz~WZLs6tQPlJrFigBsQQxzQVG5H08aZSGALK2e3BzhODsH5gxCpwrZ5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Rules voted to move three gubernatorial appointments en bloc to the Senate floor with recommendations that they be confirmed: Betsy Eimholt for Director of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Andrew Stolfi for Director of the Oregon Employment Department, and David Gerstenfeld for Director of the Department of Revenue.

Each nominee gave brief remarks and fielded committee questions. Betsy Eimolt (introduced as Betsy Eimholt in committee) described 33 years of executive and legislative branch service and said she would focus DAS on improving the efficient and effective use of state resources and stewardship. \"If confirmed, I'll bring that same approach to DAS,\" Eimholt told senators, describing improvements she led at the Department of Revenue.

David Gerstenfeld said he has spent 28 years in public service and highlighted his work leading the Employment Department through the pandemic-era surge in unemployment claims and launching the new paid leave program. \"My time at the employment department has taught me how to be a wise and conscientious steward of public funds,\" Gerstenfeld said.

Andrew Stolfi described a lengthy regulatory and public-service background, said his top priorities would be improving customer service and operational excellence at the Employment Department, and emphasized the need for timely benefit delivery and dispute resolution. \"When an Oregonian qualifies for unemployment or paid leave benefits, they deserve to receive those benefits in a timely manner,\" Stolfi said.

Senators expressed broad support in remarks that followed. Vice Chair Bonham moved the appointments en bloc to the Senate floor with a recommendation for confirmation; the motion passed on a roll call. Committee members thanked the nominees for their public service and encouraged continuing engagement with members of the minority caucus.

A single public commenter raised allegations of misconduct at DAS and requested that the nominee review and address those allegations; the commenter did not produce documentation during the hearing.

The committee’s action forwards the three nominees for consideration by the full Senate; final confirmation will be decided by the full Senate on a later calendar.

","The committee moved en bloc the confirmations of Betsy Eimholt (DAS), Andrew Stolfi (Employment Department), and David Gerstenfeld (Department of Revenue) to the Senate floor with recommendations for confirmation after nominee statements and brief questioning.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6251739,"Committee hears wide support for bill to keep utilities' lobbying, marketing and trade-association costs out of customer rates",300,2935974,3236630,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c&start=2935&end=3236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3193502-9f72a335c367066e198b2a36b453a02c/thumbnail_2935974.jpg","/articles/6251739/Oregon/Committee-hears-wide-support-for-bill-to-keep-utilities-lobbying-marketing-and-trade-association-costs-out-of-customer-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251739-d4c6da726c77c7fa89369a00f8967d61/orig.mp4?Expires=1770865386&Signature=ocE16buDMg06pItiNtn9wSGd-cCgdC2HdKzYtRu~7zrUYVjrYFT~NTwrGZjKrAdbqzKKZafvi~P9PbXp2NjQjLyivB2INA0Bnae2Val9NDcPl7XA22ttGCplqC593jx2t~VbiiAJ6i4rFy61tHo1y0K-xc1TQHgz7JkfAl8WhwmXsjcuMgEUPL1Kdf4a-cvMAmGf0HC7oj255Tf0mCypJmGJRGuPTmOSXC9ql9lIDtjihEz7SyKqEKK54fno9Ee0Jtvit9nqtor8S~YIT6vQPLX8QnXi54bxLSdoxvwy4JZWSonucFR4zshZkVt9QKQEGD7Y0e8rlkFc2f1PydmmWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Rules on Monday held a public hearing on Senate Bill 88 and its dash-3 amendment, a measure that would create a presumption that certain costs and expenses incurred by electric and natural gas utilities — including lobbying, certain marketing and trade-association dues — are unjust and unreasonable and therefore not recoverable from ratepayers.

Jennifer Hillhart, Policy and Program Director at the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, told the committee the current rate-making process gives utilities the advantage in deciding what to include in a general rate case and that incremental costs can accumulate and be approved without easy public scrutiny. \"Senate Bill 88 acknowledges that the customer is not centered in the rate making process to the detriment of fairness for customers,\" Hillhart said.

Energy justice and environmental advocates supported the bill. Anaise Segovia Rodriguez, Energy Justice Coordinator at Verde, said high energy bills are a public-health issue for families and urged the committee to \"get the junk out of rates.\" Earthjustice attorney Jaimini Parikh and the Energy and Policy Institute also testified for the bill, citing examples from other states where similar laws increased transparency and produced recoveries. David Pomerantz of the Energy and Policy Institute said Connecticut’s law has helped identify nearly $10 million in disallowed costs and that Colorado disallowed more than $775,000 in annual costs after adopting similar accountability legislation.

Utilities and labor raised objections. Zach Kravitz, vice president of regulatory affairs and resource planning at Northwest Natural, said the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) already evaluates recoverability and that the bill creates a presumption of unreasonableness rather than preserving the PUC’s fact-specific review. \"This is a very fact specific analysis and this is the reason why we do have rate cases,\" Kravitz said, adding that detailed reporting requirements would be costly to prepare and then presumed unrecoverable under the dash-3 wording.

Howard Bell, representing utility workers with OPUC Local 11, opposed the bill and said utilities need to communicate with customers about costs and policy choices; he also said Northwest Natural has been an industry leader on carbon-reduction efforts in his view. Other public commenters underscored the burden of high bills on working- and middle-class households.

Proponents asked the committee to preserve or strengthen transparency and penalty provisions; opponents urged caution and said the PUC has established procedures for disallowances. The dash-3 amendment in committee removes some language from earlier drafts and includes a reporting requirement that utilities identify the listed costs when they file a general rate case and authorizes the PUC to limit recoveries related to contested proceedings.

No committee vote on the bill was taken during the hearing. If advanced, the bill would direct the PUC to draw clearer lines between recoverable and nonrecoverable costs and could require new reporting by utilities. Supporters pointed to recent examples they said show utilities charged ratepayers for lobbying and trade association dues; Earthjustice cited Northwest Natural charging ratepayers more than $350,000 for lobbying in 2022 and $720,000 in legal fees associated with litigation challenging climate policies.

","Senate Bill 88 would create a presumption that certain utility costs are unjust and unreasonable and bar recovery from ratepayers for those costs; proponents urged transparency and stronger penalties, utilities warned the Public Utility Commission already has authority and raised reporting cost concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts amendment to allow local officials with conflicts to vote on budgets after public disclosure

Senate Rules Committee advances bill to require digital platforms to pay or arbitrate payments to news providers despite constitutional concerns

Senate panel endorses resolution reaffirming Oregon’s ties with China, citing trade and cultural links

Rules committee advances three gubernatorial appointments to the Senate floor: directors for DAS, Employment Dept., and Revenue

Committee hears wide support for bill to keep utilities' lobbying, marketing and trade-association costs out of customer rates