2024 OR Legislative Scorecard
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 2024 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
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Senate Votes
HB4080 establishes a comprehensive framework to guide the development of offshore wind energy in the state. The bill directs the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to create an Offshore Wind Roadmap, ensuring that stakeholders—including local governments, tribes, ports, and affected communities—are actively engaged in the planning process. Additionally, HB 4080 mandates that developers and contractors involved in offshore wind projects adhere to robust labor and supply chain standards, such as participating in apprenticeship programs, promoting diversity in the workforce, and using domestically produced materials. The legislation also emphasizes that the integration of offshore wind energy should enhance the reliability and resilience of Oregon's power grid.
The Oregon State Senate passed HB4080 on March 7, 2024 by a vote of 17 to 11. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill advances the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, threatening individual state and national sovereignty, freedom, and economic liberty under the guise of combating “climate change.” By mandating government oversight and imposing labor and supply chain requirements, HB4080 interferes with the free market and forces taxpayers to subsidize a globalist environmental agenda. Additionally, it prioritizes diversity initiatives over merit and experience, diverting public funds toward ideological goals. States should reject these climate-driven mandates and instead pursue policies that uphold free-market and private-sector energy independence and economic freedom.
SNAP Committee & Expansion - SB 1585 establishes the Task Force on maximizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits. This task force, composed of members with diverse expertise and experiences, is charged with analyzing federal options to allow SNAP recipients to use their benefits for hot foods, including restaurant meals. The Department of Human Services is responsible for implementing the program statewide or as a pilot, following federal approval if necessary.
The Oregon State Senate passed SB1585 on March 4, 2024 by a vote of 22 to 8. We have assigned pluses to the nays because Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a socialist and unconstitutional, federally funded USDA program that enables government dependency and erodes personal responsibility. This bill seeks to broaden SNAP’s reach by enabling recipients to use taxpayer-funded benefits in additional ways, further entrenching reliance on government aid. Federal welfare programs always come with strings attached, increasing state dependence on federal oversight while diminishing individual freedom and accountability. Additionally, SNAP selectively benefits certain groups, allowing the government to help some, but not others. Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution does not authorize social welfare programs, and states should not be complicit in advancing federal welfare expansion.
HB4083 mandates that the State Treasurer and the Oregon Investment Council divest the state's Public Employees Retirement Fund from thermal coal companies. Investments may be retained if the companies are transitioning to clean energy. The Treasurer is also required to provide annual reports to the Legislative Assembly on the actions taken.
The Oregon State Senate passed HB4083 on March 5, 2024 by a vote of 16 to 13. We have assigned pluses to the nays because prioritizing political agendas over financial returns undermines the free market and threatens investments made by public employees. Divesting from thermal coal companies based on ideology, rather than sound economic principles, is a push to advance the green agenda, including initiatives such as the United Nations' Agenda 2030. Additionally, taxpayers and employees should not be forced to fund the state’s Public Employees Retirement Fund, which should be handled by the private sector.
HB4082 funds a Summer Learning Grant program for K-12 students, providing $30 million from the Corporate Activity Tax for summer 2024 programs focused on academic enrichment, mental health, and equitable access. The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will oversee the grants with an additional staff position. The bill also allocates $417,039 from the General Fund for three temporary ODE positions to study and recommend improvements for summer and after-school learning programs, with a final report due by September 15, 2024.
The Oregon State Senate passed HB4082 on March 5, 2024 by a vote of 26 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the nays because education is not a proper function of government, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund schooling and education programs for other people’s children—especially through taxpayer-funded grants that allow the government to pick winners and losers. Furthermore, prioritizing equity over equality fosters division rather than unity. Instead of relying on government-run schools, we encourage parents to seek sound alternatives, such as homeschooling or patriotic private institutions like FreedomProject Academy, which operate free from government influence and funding.
SB1533 would expand foreign-language support in election materials. The bill increases the number of the most commonly spoken languages in each county, other than English, that the Secretary of State must include on voters' pamphlets from five to ten. Additionally, it raises the threshold for a language to qualify for translation from 100 to 300 speakers within a county. The bill also expands the Translation Advisory Council by increasing the number of translator members.
The Oregon State Senate passed SB1533 on March 4, 2024 by a vote of 21 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the nays because promoting multilingualism at the expense of English proficiency undermines the unifying role of a common language. Our founding documents and historical texts are written in English, and effective governance relies on a shared language. This bill represents unnecessary government expansion, prioritizing language accommodations over fostering a cohesive, informed electorate. If voters cannot understand who they are voting for, it raises serious concerns about the integrity and functioning of the election process and our elected officials.
SB1568 redefines how the prevailing-wage rate for electrical workers is determined. Under this law, the "locality" for setting these wages corresponds to the geographical area where each local union exclusively represents its members. Consequently, the prevailing wage is aligned with the collective bargaining agreement specific to that local union's jurisdiction. This approach makes it so electricians receive wages consistent with union agreements in their respective regions.
The Oregon State Senate passed SB1568 on February 19, 2024 by a vote of 26 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the nays because mandating prevailing wages on government projects inflates costs for taxpayers and undermines free-market principles. By tying wages to union agreements, this bill effectively grants unions greater control over wage determination, limiting competition and disadvantaging non-union workers. Additionally, collective-bargaining mandates infringe upon individual liberties by forcing workers into predetermined wage structures rather than allowing them to negotiate freely based on merit and market demand. Wage rates should be determined by the free market, not government-imposed union agreements.
