The House Committee on Rules adopted House Concurrent Resolution 13 on Feb. 17 to recognize the life and public contributions of Ralph Groener.

Representative Anessa Hartman, sponsor of the resolution, told the committee Groener “was a dedicated public servant, fierce advocate for justice, and a lifelong resident of Oregon City.” Hartman noted that Groener was an original cosponsor of early gay‑rights legislation in 1973 that “prohibited employment discrimination against gay and lesbian Oregonians,” and that he helped pass Senate Bill 100, the 1973 land‑use law that established urban growth boundaries and the Department of Land Conservation and Development, according to her testimony.

Family members and longtime colleagues described Groener as a statesman and a persistent advocate for older Oregonians and public employees. Chris Groener, his son, said his father “taught me how to disagree without being disagreeable” and recounted Groener’s decades of public service including Clackamas County and the Clackamas Community College Board. Joe Basler of Oregon ASK ME and other witnesses noted Groener’s work on Project Independence and advocacy for seniors and public‑employee issues.

In the work session Vice Chair Pham moved HCR 13 “to the floor with a B adopted recommendation.” The committee conducted a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript; members named in the record voting in the affirmative include Representative Bossard Davis, Representative Elmer, Representative Kraft, Representative Valderrama, Vice Chair Drazen, Vice Chair Pham and Chair Bowman. The chair announced the motion adopted and assigned Representative Hartman as the carrier.

Testimony and the resolution emphasize Groener's role in early civil‑rights legislation, land‑use policymaking and long service to the state and county. Committee staff reported no fiscal or revenue impact for the resolution before adoption.