Sen. Chuck Thomsen

Creates income tax credit for operation costs of housing for agricultural workers. Provides for refundability of credit and for transferability of credit earned by tax-exempt entity. Imposes limitation on total credits allowed to all owners of housing per tax year. Extends sunset for tax credits for owner or operator of agriculture workforce housing. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2026. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Provides that, for purposes of determining eligibility of municipalities in counties with population of 50,000 or less for financial or other assistance for public works projects, Oregon Business Development Department may waive or modify application of any rule of department relating to job creation and retention, hiring or employment. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Requires Department of Revenue to conduct study of communication methods department has in place to answer questions from taxpayers or resolve issues that taxpayers have with Oregon tax laws. Requires department to report results of study to committee of Legislative Assembly. Sunsets January 1, 2020. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Requires Department of Human Services to adopt by rule program that provides financial assistance to recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance for purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables from participating farmers' markets, farm share sites and retail outlets. Requires program match amounts that recipient spends on certain eligible foods. Appropriates moneys from General Fund to department to implement program. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Provides that fixed percentage of certain forecasted video lottery revenues , adjusted for certain allocations to Regional Solutions Program, ] be transferred to counties for economic development. Provides that disbursals to counties from video lottery revenues be adjusted to compensate for differentials between previous ] biennium's forecasted revenues and actual revenues. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires Department of Human Services to adopt by rule ] contract with nonprofit organization to implement and administer program that provides financial assistance ] to assist recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance for ] in purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables from participating ] farmers' markets, farm share sites and retail outlets that participate in program . Requires program match amounts that recipient spends on certain eligible foods. ] Appropriates moneys from General Fund to department to be distributed to nonprofit organization that has contracted with department to implement and administer program and match amounts that recipient spends on certain eligible foods . Sunsets January 2, 2022. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Directs Office of Emergency Management to study and make recommendations regarding funding of search and rescue operations. Requires office to submit report on findings by January 1, 2021.

Requires party to nominate between three and five qualified persons to fill vacancy when vacancy occurs in partisan elective statewide office and individual last elected to office was affiliated with major political party. Requires Governor to select one of nominated persons for appointment. Establishes timelines for nomination and appointment.

Allows county with no population growth, and city within county with no population growth, to adopt exception to any statewide land use planning goal for certain purposes, with exceptions. Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission to review and approve proposed exception within 60 days of receiving notice from county or city. Permits person adversely affected by adoption of exception to obtain judicial review of exception. Directs Oregon Business Development Department to monitor adoption of exceptions by counties with no population growth and cities within counties with no population growth. Appropriates moneys from General Fund to department for monitoring costs. Requires department to submit report to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2022. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Provides that Water Resources Commission has certain amount of time to enforce general or special standards related to well construction activities. Establishes Task Force on Oregon Well Construction Enforcement Activities. Sunsets task force on December 31, 2020. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.