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Dear Friends and Neighbors:
The February Legislative Session was historic for Oregon. During the session, we responded quickly to emerging issues like property crime, the revised revenue forecast, the foster care crisis, and emergency relief needs. Traditionally, the legislature meets only every other year. However, through a test run of annual sessions this February, we had the opportunity to address issues promptly, allowing us to respond to the needs of our community and plan for a stable economy.
The legislature delivered on a diverse agenda last month. We passed legislation that supports affordable housing, cracks down on “rescue” mortgage scams that target families facing foreclosure, increases oversight of agency operations, and strengthens many senior programs.
I would like to highlight a few key pieces of legislation that many constituents contacted my office about and that I was proud to strongly support this session.
Revenue Issues:
This was my first session as Chair of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee. This committee gave unanimous, bipartisan support to three promising issues that passed the legislature this session.
- The Business Energy Tax Credit, HB 3619, expands a highly popular program that provides a credit for businesses with renewable energy projects. This bill gives the Department of Energy greater responsibility in assessing and determining qualifying projects and increases the amount of credit offered from $20 million to $40 million.
- Oregon Affordable Housing Lenders Credit was expanded from $13 million per fiscal year to $17 million under HB 3619. The Housing and Community Services Department uses the credit to reduce finance costs for preserving and constructing housing for low income residents. The program is combined with other grants and federal subsidies to reduce housing costs. Increasing the cap is expected to retain federal subsidies that would otherwise be in danger of ending and stimulating construction activity primarily in the form of preserving existing structures.
- Estate Tax Credit on Natural Resource Properties, HB 3618 clarifies many of the technical issues discovered during the implementation of HB 3201 from 2007, while maintaining the initial intent of the legislation. This bill allows natural resource and commercial fishing properties to claim tax credits when filing estate taxes, if the estate’s natural resource property comprises at least 50% of the total estate value and if the entire estate is valued under $15 million. Preserving these family-owned natural resource lands is essential for the long term viability of farming, forestry and commercial fishing in Oregon.
Property Crimes:
- SB 1087 would enhance the penalties or sentences of those convicted of various property and drug related crimes. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections to provide evidence-based treatment programs for those property and drug offenders who are addicts. SB 1087 is intended as an alternative to Initiative Petition 40. This bill was referred upon passage to be placed on voter’s ballots in November 2008.
Schools:
- HB 3601 establishes a farm-to-school and school garden program in school districts. The Department of Education will work with schools, local farmers and the Oregon Agriculture Department to establish the Oregon Farm-To-School Garden Program to aid in getting local produce into local schools for student meals.
Annual Sessions:
- This was a very promising trial run of annual sessions in Oregon. The legislature was able to deliver on a diverse agenda with broad bipartisan support. The importance of annual sessions to address prevailing issues in a timely fashion was highlighted for me by the Federal Reconnect Bill (SB1081). This bill updated Oregon’s date of connection to federal income tax laws from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2007. This timely reconnect to recent federal tax code changes will save Oregon taxpayers affected by the changes from having to file amended returns.
Looking forward:
I will continue my work on the Task Force on Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring throughout the interim. Along with my legislative colleagues and citizen members of the task force, we will be working on proposals to stabilize Oregon’s tax system. The task force will make recommendations to the 2009 Legislature that may include large scale, comprehensive reforms as well as smaller adjustments to improve our tax system.
Throughout the interim, I will be considering a variety of legislative proposals to share with my colleagues. I encourage you to contact me with any ideas you may have for our next regular legislative session.
To those of you who have contacted me during the past few months, thank you for taking your time to share your valuable opinions. I look forward to hearing from you during the 2008 interim as we consider pressing legislative issues. Please do not hesitate to contact me, or my legislative assistant, Kendra Rosenberg, about any issue that is important to you. I hope to hear from you soon!
Yours truly,
Senator Burdick
Senate District 18
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900 Court St. NE, S-317 Salem Oregon 97301