DPO celebrates a better, safer stronger state,
thanks to the 2021 legislative session
Following the end of Oregon’s 2021 legislative session on June 27, Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Carla "KC" Hanson released the following statement:
"Congratulations to our Oregon Democratic legislators for their tireless efforts to deliver real solutions for the people of Oregon in spite of Republicans’ early efforts to gum up the works and despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Thanks to this historic legislative session, we will emerge from the pandemic as a better, safer, and stronger state. The Legislature supported Oregonians and small businesses impacted by COVID, addressed housing/economic instability, and began to unwind generations of institutional racism.
"Democratic leaders set the state on the path to 100% clean energy by 2040, negotiated a bipartisan deal on long-range wildfire planning, and expanded affordable housing and mental health services.
"It was a team effort. Oregon Democratic legislators’ investments in every corner of our state were supported in partnership with Oregon’s Democratic congressional delegation, who passed the American Rescue Plan without a single Republican vote. The work of our Democrats has jump-started our recovery and opened the door for infrastructure investments into critical water systems, transportation, health care, and so much more."
"Congratulations to our Oregon Democratic legislators for their tireless efforts to deliver real solutions for the people of Oregon in spite of Republicans’ early efforts to gum up the works and despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Thanks to this historic legislative session, we will emerge from the pandemic as a better, safer, and stronger state. The Legislature supported Oregonians and small businesses impacted by COVID, addressed housing/economic instability, and began to unwind generations of institutional racism.
"Democratic leaders set the state on the path to 100% clean energy by 2040, negotiated a bipartisan deal on long-range wildfire planning, and expanded affordable housing and mental health services.
"It was a team effort. Oregon Democratic legislators’ investments in every corner of our state were supported in partnership with Oregon’s Democratic congressional delegation, who passed the American Rescue Plan without a single Republican vote. The work of our Democrats has jump-started our recovery and opened the door for infrastructure investments into critical water systems, transportation, health care, and so much more."
Rep. Marty Wilde notes highlights of 2021 Legislative Session
June 28
By State Rep. Marty Wilde
Democrat, District 11
My highest priority this session was to get everyone through the pandemic. As we look at a full reopening this week, it’s easy to forget how dire the situation was at the beginning of the session, with spiking COVID-19 rates, a vaccine shortage, and record numbers of unsheltered people forced to live on the streets. We’re in a better place now, but we still have an eviction crisis looming, too many people still unsheltered and hungry, a lack of health insurance options for hard-working people, and a need to get kids and schools ready for full, in-person instruction in the fall. When I faced challenges like these in my childhood, people like you supported me, both personally and because you supported programs like food stamps and Medicaid. With the help of a quickly recovering economy and federal funds, we’re making critical investments in food, basic shelter, affordable housing, healthcare for all Oregonians, and education for all those in need.
• Food, Housing, and Shelter. So many in our community are hungry and unsheltered. I used most of my personal allocation to support Food for Lane County, Sharing Hands (the Linn County Food Bank), and city and county shelter programs. These contributions substantially increased capacity at the food banks, allow the acquisition of sites for and deployment of pallet houses, and provided for a special health needs shelter in Glenwood. We also passed HBs 2004 and 2006, which permit and fund navigation centers and permanent shelters. We invested over $650 million in low-income and affordable housing for the future. For people in the existing housing, we allocated over $600 million in rental assistance and provided an additional 60 days of eviction protection for those waiting to receive it. We also ensured that their landlords are fully compensated when they apply for rental assistance for those in need. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, we still need to address our serious deficit of permanent housing, but I’m proud we were able to deliver for Oregonians.
• Healthcare. With a record number of people on the Oregon Health Plan, we took two critical steps to continue the progress toward universal coverage. First, we passed a referral to the Oregon voters to make healthcare a human right. The legacy of the late Rep. Mitch Greenlick, this initiative will appear on your November 2022 ballot. Second, we funded the Cover All People program, which will expand OHP to an additional 100,000 Oregonians who were among the most hard hit by the virus. The pandemic has made it clear that people without healthcare are not just at risk personally, but their lack of coverage makes it more difficult to respond to an outbreak, which increases risk for all of us. Ensuring everyone has healthcare isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s a practical one as well.
• Education. Getting kids back to school in the fall full-time and in-person is critical to both kids and parents. Earlier in the session, we allocated $250 million for summer education programs to allow them to catch up and help parents as we transition back to more in-person work. For the future, we allocated $9.3 billion for the base K-12 budget, along with $1.5 billion in federal funds, and $1.7 billion in Student Success Act funds, all record numbers. Further, we made increased investment in higher education, including funding for 11,000 students to receive need-based financial aid from the state. I spent the balance of my American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allotment on equipment to help our community colleges provide career and technical education, particularly for EMS and other healthcare students, to meet the growing local need for healthcare workers.
The pandemic pushed so many of our neighbors close to and even over the edge. In collaboration with our local and federal governments, we were able to invest in the services to bring them back. Beyond that, we’ve made essential investments to provide for food, housing, healthcare, and education into the future. Next week, I’ll write more about how we’ve positioned Oregon to succeed into the future.
Other News
• Rental Assistance for Tenants. The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) helps eligible low-income households with their past due rent and utilities. If you have been struggling to keep up with rent payments due to the pandemic, you may be eligible for help through the OERAP. The legislature recently passed Senate Bill 278, which will provide a safe harbor from eviction for tenants who have applied for and are waiting on rental assistance after the eviction moratorium expires on Wednesday. Apply online today.
• Eviction Moratorium Ending. The statewide freeze on evictions for nonpayment of rent ends June 30, 2021. Tenants who cannot pay their rent must fill out a sworn Declaration of Financial Hardship Form for Eviction Protection and give it to their landlord in order to be protected. Once tenants give this Declaration to their landlord, they still owe rent but will have more time to pay it.
• Oregon State Bar Landlord Tenant Law. Throughout the pandemic, the Oregon State Bar has maintained a centralized online space with updated legal information for both landlords and tenants, as the state continues to face a housing crisis related to the pandemic. The website, including a video presentation from Thursday, may be viewed here.
• Grace Period. Beginning July 1, 2021 all tenants will have until February 28, 2022 to pay the unpaid rent they owe from April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Tenants cannot be evicted for back rent from this time period until March 1, 2022. Landlords cannot charge fees for unpaid rent during this time and cannot report past due rent from April 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 to a consumer credit reporting agency. A tenant's unpaid rent during this period cannot count against them in future rental applications.
• 60 More Days. Starting July 1, tenants must pay rent for July and going forward. Tenants who are unable to pay their rent should apply for help from the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) at www.oregonrentalassistance.orgor any other rental assistance program. You can call 2-1-1 or go to www.211info.org to learn more about rental assistance and other resources. The legislature passed a law that would give extra time to tenants who apply for rent assistance and show proof of application. Once tenants show proof that they applied for OERAP, a landlord must hold off on the eviction process for another 60 days. The law is waiting for the Governor's signature. Applications for help with back rent and future rent are available now.
By State Rep. Marty Wilde
Democrat, District 11
My highest priority this session was to get everyone through the pandemic. As we look at a full reopening this week, it’s easy to forget how dire the situation was at the beginning of the session, with spiking COVID-19 rates, a vaccine shortage, and record numbers of unsheltered people forced to live on the streets. We’re in a better place now, but we still have an eviction crisis looming, too many people still unsheltered and hungry, a lack of health insurance options for hard-working people, and a need to get kids and schools ready for full, in-person instruction in the fall. When I faced challenges like these in my childhood, people like you supported me, both personally and because you supported programs like food stamps and Medicaid. With the help of a quickly recovering economy and federal funds, we’re making critical investments in food, basic shelter, affordable housing, healthcare for all Oregonians, and education for all those in need.
• Food, Housing, and Shelter. So many in our community are hungry and unsheltered. I used most of my personal allocation to support Food for Lane County, Sharing Hands (the Linn County Food Bank), and city and county shelter programs. These contributions substantially increased capacity at the food banks, allow the acquisition of sites for and deployment of pallet houses, and provided for a special health needs shelter in Glenwood. We also passed HBs 2004 and 2006, which permit and fund navigation centers and permanent shelters. We invested over $650 million in low-income and affordable housing for the future. For people in the existing housing, we allocated over $600 million in rental assistance and provided an additional 60 days of eviction protection for those waiting to receive it. We also ensured that their landlords are fully compensated when they apply for rental assistance for those in need. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, we still need to address our serious deficit of permanent housing, but I’m proud we were able to deliver for Oregonians.
• Healthcare. With a record number of people on the Oregon Health Plan, we took two critical steps to continue the progress toward universal coverage. First, we passed a referral to the Oregon voters to make healthcare a human right. The legacy of the late Rep. Mitch Greenlick, this initiative will appear on your November 2022 ballot. Second, we funded the Cover All People program, which will expand OHP to an additional 100,000 Oregonians who were among the most hard hit by the virus. The pandemic has made it clear that people without healthcare are not just at risk personally, but their lack of coverage makes it more difficult to respond to an outbreak, which increases risk for all of us. Ensuring everyone has healthcare isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s a practical one as well.
• Education. Getting kids back to school in the fall full-time and in-person is critical to both kids and parents. Earlier in the session, we allocated $250 million for summer education programs to allow them to catch up and help parents as we transition back to more in-person work. For the future, we allocated $9.3 billion for the base K-12 budget, along with $1.5 billion in federal funds, and $1.7 billion in Student Success Act funds, all record numbers. Further, we made increased investment in higher education, including funding for 11,000 students to receive need-based financial aid from the state. I spent the balance of my American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allotment on equipment to help our community colleges provide career and technical education, particularly for EMS and other healthcare students, to meet the growing local need for healthcare workers.
The pandemic pushed so many of our neighbors close to and even over the edge. In collaboration with our local and federal governments, we were able to invest in the services to bring them back. Beyond that, we’ve made essential investments to provide for food, housing, healthcare, and education into the future. Next week, I’ll write more about how we’ve positioned Oregon to succeed into the future.
Other News
• Rental Assistance for Tenants. The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) helps eligible low-income households with their past due rent and utilities. If you have been struggling to keep up with rent payments due to the pandemic, you may be eligible for help through the OERAP. The legislature recently passed Senate Bill 278, which will provide a safe harbor from eviction for tenants who have applied for and are waiting on rental assistance after the eviction moratorium expires on Wednesday. Apply online today.
• Eviction Moratorium Ending. The statewide freeze on evictions for nonpayment of rent ends June 30, 2021. Tenants who cannot pay their rent must fill out a sworn Declaration of Financial Hardship Form for Eviction Protection and give it to their landlord in order to be protected. Once tenants give this Declaration to their landlord, they still owe rent but will have more time to pay it.
• Oregon State Bar Landlord Tenant Law. Throughout the pandemic, the Oregon State Bar has maintained a centralized online space with updated legal information for both landlords and tenants, as the state continues to face a housing crisis related to the pandemic. The website, including a video presentation from Thursday, may be viewed here.
• Grace Period. Beginning July 1, 2021 all tenants will have until February 28, 2022 to pay the unpaid rent they owe from April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Tenants cannot be evicted for back rent from this time period until March 1, 2022. Landlords cannot charge fees for unpaid rent during this time and cannot report past due rent from April 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 to a consumer credit reporting agency. A tenant's unpaid rent during this period cannot count against them in future rental applications.
• 60 More Days. Starting July 1, tenants must pay rent for July and going forward. Tenants who are unable to pay their rent should apply for help from the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) at www.oregonrentalassistance.orgor any other rental assistance program. You can call 2-1-1 or go to www.211info.org to learn more about rental assistance and other resources. The legislature passed a law that would give extra time to tenants who apply for rent assistance and show proof of application. Once tenants show proof that they applied for OERAP, a landlord must hold off on the eviction process for another 60 days. The law is waiting for the Governor's signature. Applications for help with back rent and future rent are available now.