The House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business on March 26 advanced four separate bills and referred them to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

House Bill 3,246, as amended, directs the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) to develop an industrial symbiosis roadmap, declare an emergency, and establish a pilot program. The adopted dash-3 amendment updates the definition of “industrial symbiosis,” sets program goals, and appropriates $1,300,000 to provide technical assistance to pilot communities. The committee adopted the amendment with no recorded objection and later moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the recorded roll call in committee shows Representatives Dobson (Aye), Lively (Aye), Osborne (No), Scarlato (Aye), Watanabe (Aye), Juncker (Aye), Vice Chair Diehl (Yes), Vice Chair Isnor (Yes) and Chair Winn (Yes). The motion passed and the bill was referred by prior reference to Ways and Means.

House Bill 2,969, as replaced by the dash-2 amendment, directs Business Oregon to conduct a study on economic development and appropriates $840,000 to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association for a project using fish for non-food manufacturing. The committee adopted the amendment and moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion passed and the bill was referred to Ways and Means by prior reference (recorded committee discussion and a roll call were noted; the Clerk completed the roll and the motion passed).

House Bill 3,099 would appropriate $70,000 to each of the state’s 12 economic development districts, for a total of $1,680,000, and requires districts to receive federal matching grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The committee moved HB 3,099 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and referred it to Ways and Means; the motion passed on roll call.

House Bill 3,148 would change the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s Low Income Telecommunications Assistance Plan, add a one-time personal computing benefit, set a maximum limit the PUC may receive, and repeal the statute that previously sunset the program. The committee adopted the dash-1 amendment and voted to move the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means. The roll call recorded: Representative Dobson (Aye); Representative Blanket (Aye); Representative Wadsworth (No); Representative Scarlados (No); Representative Watanabe (Aye); Representative Juncker (No); Vice Chair Deal (No); Vice Chair Isidore (Yes); Chair Winn (Yes). The motion passed.

No measures were finally enacted in committee; each advanced with a due-pass recommendation and will receive fiscal and budget review in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Votes at a glance

- HB 3,246 (dash-3 amendment adopted): directs Business Oregon to develop an industrial symbiosis roadmap; appropriates $1,300,000 for a pilot program; outcome — advanced to Ways and Means (motion passed on roll call).
- HB 2,969 (dash-2 amendment adopted): study of economic development with $840,000 appropriation to Oregon Coast Visitors Association for fish non-food manufacturing; outcome — advanced to Ways and Means.
- HB 3,099: appropriates $70,000 to each of 12 economic development districts (total $1,680,000); outcome — advanced to Ways and Means.
- HB 3,148 (dash-1 amendment adopted): changes to PUC Low Income Telecommunications Assistance Plan, adds a one-time personal computing benefit; outcome — advanced to Ways and Means (recorded roll call with several no votes; motion passed).

The committee chair closed work sessions and opened public hearings on other measures during the remainder of the meeting.