The Oregon Legislature's Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government convened on May 29, 2025, to address critical funding issues surrounding the state's risk management and insurance funds. A significant decision was made to increase the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) risk charges by $939,465,000, aimed at improving the funded status of the insurance fund.

This funding boost is intended to tackle the growing workload within the risk claims team, as highlighted by committee members. Co-chair Senator Anderson emphasized the need for a deeper examination of how the state manages risk and the overall health of its insurance funds during the interim period. The discussion revealed concerns about the solvency of the insurance fund and its ability to cover potential claims, particularly in light of increasing extraordinary claims and ongoing lawsuits against the state.

Historically, the state has supplemented the risk fund with general funds when necessary, a practice that may need to continue if the fund remains underfunded. The committee acknowledged that previous decisions to keep assessments low for state agencies have contributed to the current funding challenges. As the state moves forward, the implications of these funding decisions will be closely monitored, with further discussions planned for the interim to ensure the state's risk management strategies are robust and effective.