Oregon lawmakers plan three days of hearings; Democratic leaders to focus on impacts of federal budget cuts
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon legislators will gather in Salem next Monday through Wednesday for three days of committee and oversight hearings to prepare for the 2026 legislative session.
"Much of the focus will be on the ripple effects of recent federal budget cuts that threaten programs Oregonians rely on — from health care and food assistance to schools and clean energy," the Offices of the Senate President and House Speaker said Friday in jointly releasing a list of hearings and speakers.
Here's the rest of the legislative leaders' news release and hearings list:
“The Trump Administration's actions mean that tens of thousands of Oregonians will lose access to health care or pay more for coverage; hospitals, especially in rural areas, will be at risk of closing; and more families will struggle to put food on the table,” said House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene & Veneta). “It's critical that legislators, the public, and the press understand the onslaught of cuts and rollbacks that are coming, how they will impact our lives, and what we in the legislature can do about it.”
"Legislators are going to have to make hard decisions in the upcoming short session as we rebalance the budget while preserving critical services for Oregonians," said Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego). “These hearings will help us understand the scope of the challenges we face to keep Oregon moving forward in 2026 and into the future.”
Complete committee agendas and links to live streaming and playback can be found on the Oregon Legislative Information System. Below are some key agenda items scheduled for next week. Please be aware that posted agendas are subject to change.
Monday, September 29
House Interim Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services
8:30 a.m., HR B
Impacts of Federal-Level Changes
- Dana Hittle, Policy Advisor, Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
- Meorah Solar, SNAP Manager, Oregon Eligibility Partnership, ODHS
- Carey McCann, Interim Early Learning System Director, Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC)
- Dorothy Spence, Early Learning Programs Director, DELC
House Interim Committee On Emergency Management and Veterans
11:30 A.M., HR D
Tsunami Warning Briefing
- Representative David Gomberg
- Representative Paul Evans
Federal Directives and Emergency Management
- Scott Winkles, League of Oregon Cities
- Tim Dooley, MPA, Legislative Affairs Manager, Association of Oregon Counties
- Bryan Lee, Emergency Manager, Benton County Sheriff’s Office
House Interim Committe on Climate, Energy, and Environment
11:30 a.m., HR F
Impact of Recent Federal Action on State Agencies
- Greg Dotson, Associate Professor of Law, University of Oregon School of Law; Member, Federal Oversight and Accountability Cabinet
- Janine Benner, Director, Oregon Department of Energy
- Leah Feldon, Director, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
The Status of Renewable Energy Development in Oregon
- Nicole Hughes, Executive Director, Renewable Northwest
- Angela Crowley-Koch, Executive Director, Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association
- Tristan Kuenzi, Director of Sales and Operations, Earthlight Technologies
- Bryson Robertson, Director, Pacific Marine Energy Center; Professor, Civil and
Construction Engineering, Oregon State University
Senate Interim Committee on Education
3:00 p.m., HR D
Impacts of HR 1 on Education in Oregon
Overview of Federal Policy Changes
- Austin Reid, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Higher Education and Student Loans
- Lane Thompson, Student Loan Ombuds, Division of Financial Regulation, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS)
- Jesse O'Brien, Policy Manager, Division of Financial Regulation, DCBS
- Chuck Knepfle, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Portland State University
K-12 Education
- Oregon Department of Education, speakers to be determined
- Oregon Health Authority, speakers to be determined
- Oregon Department of Human Services, speakers to be determined
School Safety in Oregon
- Chris Bechtel, Legislative Policy and Research Office (LPRO)
- Kati Moseley, Administrator, Health in Education, Oregon Department of Education (ODE)
- Alex Haislip, Program Manager, School Safety and Emergency Management (SSEM), ODE
House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness
3:00 p.m., HR A
Housing Accountability and Production Office Overview
- Joel Madsen, Housing Accountability and Production Office Manager
Urban Growth Boundaries: Trades and Expansions
- Alexis Hammer, Legislative and Policy Manager, Department of Land Conservation & Development
- Additional presenters TBD
Housing Preservation Overview
- Natasha Detweiler, Affordable Rental Housing Division Director, Oregon Housing & Community Services Department
- Erica Mills, Neighborworks Umpqua
- Sarah Stevenson, Innovative Housing
- Peter Hainley, CASA of Oregon
- Bill Van Vliet, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing
State Housing Strategies Policy Scan
- Iva Sokolovksa, LPRO Analyst
- Kaia Maclaren, LPRO Analyst
Tuesday, September 30
Senate Interim Committee on Labor and Business
8:30 a.m., HR E
Launch of Department of Justice’s Working Families United: Values, Mission, and the Work Ahead
- Dan Rayfield, Attorney General, Oregon Department of Justice
- Leslie Wu, Policy Advisor to Attorney General Rayfield, Oregon Department of Justice
- Samuel Levine, Senior Fellow at the UC Berkley Center for Consumer Law and Economic Justice
State of Oregon's Economy and Workforce
- Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist, Oregon Employment Department
House Interim Committee on Health Care
8:30 a.m., HR D
H.R. 1 Implementation and Impacts on Oregon’s Health System
- Emma Sandoe, Medicaid Director, Oregon Health Authority
- Clare Pierce-Wrobel, Health Policy and Analytics Director, Oregon Health Authority
- Additional Presenters TBD
West Coast Health Alliance Overview
- Presenters TBD
Senate Interim Committee on Health Care
11:30 a.m., HR B
Cross-Agency Collaboration to Meet the Needs of Oregonians
- Emma Sandoe, Director, Medicaid, Oregon Health Authority
- Clare Pierce-Wrobel, Director, Health Policy & Analytics, Oregon Health Authority
- Dana Hittle, Senior Advisor, Medicaid Policy Systems Integration, Oregon
Department of Human Services
Food Assistance and Health Outcomes
- Chris Baker, Administrator, Oregon Hunger Task Force
- Sarah Roth, Research Scientist, Center for Outcomes Research and Education,
Providence Health & Services
- Mark Edwards, Professor, Oregon State University
- Additional Speakers to be Announced
House Interim Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
11:30 a.m., HR E
Update from the Oregon Employment Department (OED)
- Andrew Stolfi, Director, OED
Summary of Current United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Rulemakings
- Legislative Policy and Research Office
House Interim Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection
11:30 a.m., HR F
AG Rayfield’s Working Families Unit—Values, Mission, and the Work Ahead
- Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Oregon Department of Justice
- Leslie Wu, Policy Advisor to AG Rayfield, Oregon Department of Justice
The Impact of Federal Actions on Consumer Protection in Oregon
- Samuel Levine, Senior Fellow, the UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law and Economic Justice, Former Director, Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection
- Jesse O’Brien, Policy Manager, Department of Financial Regulation, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
- Nicole Ferroux, Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Financial Regulation, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
Wednesday, October 1
House Interim Committee on Education
8:30 a.m., HR C
Impacts of HR 1 on Education in Oregon
HR 1 Overview
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), speakers to be determined
Higher Education and Student Loans
- Lane Thompson, Student Loan Ombuds, Division of Financial Regulation, Oregon
- Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS)
- Jesse O'Brien, Policy Manager, Division of Financial Regulation, DCBS
- Jennifer Bell, Director of Financial Aid, Portland State University
K-12 Education
- Oregon Department of Education, speakers to be determined
- Oregon Health Authority, speakers to be determined
- Emily McLain, Director of Public Affairs, Oregon Education Association
House Interim Committee on Revenue
11:30 a.m., HR A
Review of Federal Tax Legislation (H.R. 1)
- Legislative Revenue Office
Senate Interim Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health
2:30 p.m., HR D
West Coast Health Alliance and Vaccine Access
- Dean Sidelinger, State Health Officer, Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority
