Rep. Mari Watanabe

Maddy summaryHB 4081 regulates photo radar use in Oregon highway work zones on state highways. It requires photo radar units to operate only within 100 yards of highway workers or temporary roadway changes (like lane shifts), with clear signage placed 100-400 yards before the zone. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State Police must ensure radar units meet strict accuracy standards, produce clear images, undergo regular inspections, and provide annual calibration. The law also mandates biennial safety evaluations and annual reports to the Legislative Assembly about photo radar usage and public acceptance. This directly affects drivers in work zones, the DOT, and law enforcement agencies operating the radar systems.

Digest: The Act would change the tax credit for semiconductor research. The Act would set up and change some tax breaks for advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. The Act would direct certain state agencies to set up deadlines to process applications for permits and to make the deadlines public. The Act would make those agencies, no later than 60 days after the date on which the Act becomes law, publish a list of the permits that they issue. Modifies the tax credit allowed for semiconductor research. Creates and amends certain programs offering tax breaks related to advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. Directs certain state agencies to establish deadlines within which the agency intends to process applications for permits and make the deadlines available to the public. Directs certain state agencies to publish a catalog of permits issued by the agency within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. Adds rural reserves in Washington County to Metro to be used for high-technology and advanced manufacturing purposes. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for purposes of deposit in the Universal Representation Fund. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Maddy summarySCR 206 is a concurrent resolution honoring the late Oregon State Senator Aaron Lionel Woods, who died in office on April 19, 2025. The resolution commemorates his life, career, and service - including his work on technology access, STEM education, and community leadership in Oregon - and expresses the legislature's gratitude for his dedication. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes his legacy as a public servant. The resolution was introduced in the Oregon Legislature on February 2, 2026.

Maddy summaryOregon's legislature is requesting Congress permanently extend federal tax relief for wildfire victims, which expired at the end of 2025. This follows Oregon's 2024 state law (SB 1520) that provided tax relief for wildfire recovery, but required federal companion relief to prevent liability settlements from being taxed. The memorial specifically urges Congress to make permanent the temporary federal tax cuts established by H.R. 5863 (Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023). This applies to wildfire victims in Oregon who faced federal taxation on recovery funds after recent catastrophic fires.

Increases the salaries of state court judges. Provides that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has authority to take actions and establish rules that promote judicial accountability and fair and accessible justice services. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

] Requires the Legislative Policy and Research Director to conduct a study on statewide attendance initiatives. Directs the Department of Education to convene an advisory committee to review the study and to recommend for adoption by the State Board of Education a policy regarding the improvement of school attendance. [ Requires the department to make available to the public data provided to the department by school districts and public charter schools related to students who are regular attenders and students who are chronically absent. ] [ Directs the department to develop best practices related to student absences and to develop a common coding system for school districts to record and report student absences. ] [ Modifies requirements and allowed uses of grants awarded to school districts to implement a parent notification and early warning system. ] Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Requires certain health insurers, the Oregon Educators Benefit Board and the Public Employees' Benefit Board to cover treatment for perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

Requires health benefit plans and medical assistance managed plans to provide coverage with no cost-sharing for additional treatment for human immunodeficiency virus and prohibits requiring prior authorization.

Creates workplace violence prevention requirements for certain health care entities. Excludes the Oregon State Hospital from such requirements. Requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services to prepare and submit a consolidated report of workplace violence incidents. Requires certain health care employers and home care settings to take certain actions to protect workers against risks of violence and other safety-related risks.