This week I had the opportunity to visit both Camp Solomon Schechter and B'nai B'rith Camp. Very simply -- wonderful to watch each camp in action...meet the excellent and well trained staff and counselors...and most of all, see the very happy campers (and the lunch was great at both). One thing that stinks about growing up -- you no longer get to go to camp. 

The 2025 Oregon legislative session adjourned on Friday, June 27, two days before the 160-day constitutional deadline. After years of steady economic growth in Oregon and a positive early March forecast, lawmakers learned in May that they would have approximately $500 million less in revenue than previously expected. The drop in revenue did not seriously change Governor Kotek’s recommendations to continuing service levels for state agencies, but it did put a serious damper on new funding opportunities late in the session. 

The Jewish Community Relations Council’s (JCRC) legislative agenda had successes and missed opportunities. A major disappointment was not receiving money for non-profit security funding and a much-needed transportation package (some portions of which the JCRC supported). However, the news was better on other priorities: provider taxes (that fund Medicaid), wage theft, gun violence, and climate change all made it to the Governor’s desk. The JCRC also defeated efforts to allow teachers in public schools to use Gaza as an example of “genocide.”

Additionally, we held a "Jewish Lobby Day" in February with members of the Portland and Eugene Jewish communities. They met with legislative leadership, Ways and Means members, and their own legislators to discuss a variety of issues on the JCRC’s legislative agenda. These meetings were well received, and we look forward to arranging similar lobby days in future sessions.

Security Funding for Nonprofit Organizations

Last year, in the wake of rising antisemitism in Oregon as well as nationally, the JCRC submitted a request for $530,000 in security funding for multiple Jewish organizations. This money would have been allocated for increased security cameras, bullet-proof glass, upgraded access control systems, and other safety measures. Unfortunately, this effort was unsuccessful. 

In 2025, the JCRC took a different approach. As I shared last week, we joined the Oregon Coalition for Nonprofit Safety to introduce Senate Bill 939, which would have allocated $5 million to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management for grants to nonprofits facing potential risk of targeted violence. With no opposition, the bill passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

At the end of the session, however, we learned this funding package would not be included in the final budget. We anticipate this will come back in the 2026 session.

Protection of Social Safety Net Programs

The JCRC supports the safeguarding of funds for Oregon’s most vulnerable populations. This includes advocating for the protection of Medicaid, programs for people with disabilities, and resources for behavioral and substance abuse services. Oregon’s Medicaid program provides low-income families, adults, children, and some seniors with no-cost comprehensive health care coverage. Approximately one in three Oregonians and one in two children rely on Medicaid. 

House Bill 2010 keeps provider taxes in place and extends the assessment on hospitals, earnings from health plan premiums, and payments by the Oregon Health Authority to managed care organizations. When allowed by the federal government (as they are currently), these programs provide substantial matching funds and contribute to the state’s share of the Medicaid program. This is a significant investment for communities across the state and provides access to health care coverage for vulnerable Oregonians. 

This was one of the first bills of the 2025 session signed into law by Governor Kotek. 

Housing and Homelessness

On January 10, 2023, Governor Kotek issued Executive Order 23-02, which declared a state of emergency due to homelessness. This was extended with Executive Order 24-01 on January 9, 2024, which cited continued increases in homelessness (over 11,000 in Multnomah County alone) and laid out a timeline of funding and actions to be taken. 

The JCRC strongly shares the governor’s belief that housing and homelessness need to be addressed in an urgent manner and is committed to supporting the Governor’s housing agenda. In the 2025 session, the governor successfully worked with the legislature to make sure the statewide shelter system did not lose support and would continue to serve Oregon communities. House Bill 3644 invested $204.9 million to keep all housing shelters open.

Shelters, while necessary, are not sufficient in addressing homelessness. Governor Kotek and legislators made significant investments in rehousing and long-term rental assistance, with $137.7 million dedicated to these programs, attempting to prevent people from returning to the streets. Finally, this session lawmakers worked to secure $100 million for affordable housing and $545 million for permanent supportive housing units. 

There is more work to be done, including more investment in behavioral health and substance abuse services that must go hand-in-hand with shelter options.

Preventing Gun Violence and Measure 114

The JCRC advocates for common sense gun violence prevention legislation. Only Senate Bill 243, known as the Community Safety Firearms Act, passed the legislature in the waning days on a party-line vote. SB 243 includes: definition of rapid fire activators (commonly referred to as “bump stock” accessories that turn semiautomatic rifles into machine guns) and creates a crime for the unlawful possession of them; authorizes governing bodies of specified public entities to adopt policy, ordinances, or regulations restricting the carrying of firearms within their building; and updates provisions related to Ballot Measure 114 (approved by voters in 2022). The bill now goes to Governor Kotek who is expected to sign it.

Climate Change Action and Transportation

The JCRC believes that climate change is an urgent threat. As part of this coalition, the JCRC supported House Bill 2081, the Climate Resilience Investment Act, directing the Oregon State Treasury to pursue clean energy investment opportunities and build a more climate resilient fund. Special thanks goes to State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner for her assistance. This bill will be signed by Governor Kotek.

One of the session’s biggest challenges, and probably its biggest failure, was the Oregon transportation package. The Oregon Department of Transportation projected a revenue shortfall of more than $354 million in 2025-2027. This has already led to hundreds of layoffs, not to mention ODOT not having the ability to repair crumbling roads and unsafe bridges or improving emergency response times.

With two days left before their constitutionally required time to adjourn, legislators decided to walk away without a transportation package, rather than commit to getting something through.

Advocating on behalf of our community is not easy work. A special thank you to members of the Legislative Advocacy Committee, the Climate Change Action Committee, and members of the Portland and Lane County JCRCs who met with legislators, wrote letters, and provided testimony. I also want to express my appreciation to Bill Kwitman, Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee, Doug Blauer, Chair of the JCRC, Bob Horenstein, Chief Community Relations and Public Affairs Officer, and all members of the JCRC for their leadership and determination.

Finally, the Jewish Federation once again is sponsoring a team for Hood to Coast. We need three volunteers (each has the same time, location, and job) on August 22 at 9:00 p.m. You will help call out race numbers, assist parking race vans, and keep the area clean at Exchange 18 - Columbia County Fairgrounds - 58892 Saulser Rd in St Helens. The shift ends at 1:00 a.m. on August 23 (four hours in total). If interested, please click here.

Shabbat shalom.