We are proud to endorse a set of bold legislative bills for 2025 that prioritize health equity, housing security, racial justice, and immigrant rights. These policies will expand healthcare, improve housing protections, promote food security, and advance justice reforms.
By advocating for policies that prioritize public health, equity, and access to essential services, we are standing up for a healthier and more just future. This is aligned with our mission and a vision of Health Equity for All Communities. We hope you will join us in advocating for the following bills this year:
Community Health & Equity: Investing in Health for All Oregonians!
A healthier future starts with policies that uplift all Oregonians! Let’s make it happen.
SB 528 & SB 530 – Provides funding and inflation adjustments for Regional Health Equity Coalitions or RHECs (that's us, SO Health-E!) to continue addressing systemic health disparities. Please click below to read more and to support our work:
HB 2729 – Expands funding for School-Based Health Centers, ensuring students have access to behavioral health support and medical care.
HB 3019 – Studies the licensing of internationally trained healthcare providers, removing barriers for immigrant professionals to serve our communities while increasing our healthcare workforce to meet current needs.
Food Security for All: Food insecurity is a preventable issue. That’s why we are endorsing bills that expand food access
Hunger shouldn’t be a barrier to success. Let’s support food justice!
HB 3435 – Establishes free school meal programs for all students, eliminating meal debt and ensuring every child is nourished and ready to learn.
SB 611 – Creates the Food for All Oregonians program, extending nutrition assistance to immigrants excluded from federal SNAP benefits.
HB 3201 – Enhances access to healthy and culturally relevant food in childcare settings, ensuring inclusivity in early education.
Housing & Economic Justice: Safe, Affordable Housing is healthcare
This continues to be a top community need in our local community. Together, we can make sure that everyone has a safe, stable home.
SB 444 – Aligns state building codes with Fair Housing Act standards, improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
SB 599 – Prohibits discrimination against renters and home buyers based on immigration status.
SB 54 – Requires landlords to provide cooling in rental properties, protecting renters from extreme heat and smokey air during wildfires.
SB 722 – Strengthens renter protections by making new housing subject to the 10% annual rent hike cap after 7 years instead of waiting 15 years as current law says and banning AI-driven rent price inflation.
HB 2958 – Provides direct cash assistance to low-income families, a proven anti-poverty measure that will help keep families in stable housing.
Criminal Justice & Recovery: Justice Reform That Works: We are backing bills that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment and support those reentering society:
The last 50 years of rising rates of incarceration in the US have failed to improve public safety or public health, and have created lasting trauma. It's time for a new approach.
SB 477 – Allocates funds to the Justice Reinvestment Equity Program to reduce incarceration rates and support reentry programs.
HB 3001 – Funds housing and employment reentry services for formerly incarcerated Black Oregonians, addressing racial disparities due to over-policing of Black communities.
HB 3146 – Establishes emergency housing for houseless individuals awaiting substance use disorder treatment.
Immigrant Rights & Inclusion: Supporting Immigrant Communities
No one should be denied healthcare or legal stability because of their immigration status. Let’s build a more inclusive Oregon.
SB 703 – Provides grants to assist noncitizens in obtaining lawful permanent resident status, promoting economic and racial justice.
OHP Expansion Budget Ask ($11.6M) – Extends Oregon Health Plan (OHP) eligibility regardless of immigration status, ensuring healthcare access for all.
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