On May 5, the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education held an informational work‑session orientation to review the budget process for education‑area agencies, when materials will be posted, and how the subcommittee will consider LFO recommendations, budget notes and key performance measures.

The orientation explained why the subcommittee’s upcoming work sessions will begin with licensing boards and smaller agencies, then move to larger agencies such as the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) after the state revenue forecast is released next Wednesday. Committee staff said the revenue forecast will have “a giant impact” on what the subcommittee does after it is published.

Wendy, a Legislative Fiscal Office analyst and committee staff member, walked members through how appropriation measures are structured and where members will find detail. She said primary budget measures are grouped in the 5,000 series (House measures beginning with 50 and Senate with 55), that most budget bills include an emergency clause and are effective on passage but generally are not operative until July 1, and that budget bills in this session expire at the end of the biennium (June 30, 2027). She summarized the common funding treatments: general fund amounts are appropriated, lottery funds are allocated, and other or federal funds are given expenditure limitation (the authority to spend up to a stated limit).

The subcommittee was instructed to use the LFO recommendation memos and the detailed ORBITS reports (the Oregon budget information tracking system) posted on OLIS when preparing motions. Wendy said the LFO recommendation memo will be followed by a detailed report that shows changes from the current service level (CSL), position authority adjustments, and any changes to key performance measures (KPMs). She noted amendments typically align back to the original measure and most frequently change numerical amounts rather than create new appropriations.

Committee members were briefed on budget notes and budget reports. Wendy explained that budget notes are formal directives tied to an agency’s budget that express legislative intent and usually carry reporting requirements; she emphasized that “budget notes are very limited in their scope. They do not have the force of law.” Chair Solman, the subcommittee co‑chair, reiterated that the subcommittee is expected to review LFO work and that members are not a “rubber stamp” for the governor’s budget recommendation.

Staff described the decision process: the subcommittee takes a motion on modifications from CSL, a separate motion on changes to KPMs, and then a final motion on the overall recommendation; a majority affirmative vote from members in each chamber is required to advance a measure to the full committee. Work session materials (LFO memos, detailed ORBITS reports, introduced appropriation measures and any amendments) will be posted to OLIS under each meeting’s materials tab. Wendy said staff will generally try to post documentation the day before a work session and will email members as materials become available, though timelines can compress late in session.

Members asked about transparency when the committee alters an agency package. Staff said changes appear in the budget sheets with the label “modified,” and the packages will show the original proposed amount and the subcommittee’s modification. The group also discussed “fiscal light” entries: staff explained this label is used when a full fiscal note is not yet complete because of timing; any measure that moves forward must have a full fiscal before it can pass.

The orientation included logistics and scheduling for the week: the subcommittee will hear the Board of Pharmacy and an informational presentation from the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) on the Every Child Belongs policy package on Wednesday; other agency work sessions scheduled this week include the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and mental health regulatory agencies. The permanent list of appropriation measures assigned to the subcommittee includes DELC, the Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (with a related fee bill), the Oregon Department of Education and the State School Fund, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, and six licensing boards (Board of Pharmacy; health‑related licensing boards; mental health regulatory agencies; Board of Chiropractic Examiners with a fee bill; Board of Dentistry; and the Board of Licensed Social Workers). Analysts and contact names for each area were listed for members to use.

Committee staff encouraged members who want to propose budget notes or express concerns to speak with their respective co‑chairs before the work session so those items can be considered in time. Members were reminded that budget reports and the final legislatively adopted budget (the appropriation bills plus related policy bills and the final omnibus reconciliation) preserve legislative intent and are the records used later to determine whether funding was ongoing or one‑time.

No formal votes or motions were taken during the May 5 orientation; the session was informational and closed with scheduling reminders for the week’s hearings.