David Gomberg, Our State Representative

07/10/2025

It was great to have Attorney General Dan Rayfield here in Lincoln City for a packed town hall on Monday. Thanks to all the engaged constituents and our hosts at the Lincoln City Community Center and Lincoln City Parks & Recreation! Hear more about what AG Rayfield is up to, and my thoughts on the 2025 session, on the RR Podcast, just posted.

https://www.facebook.com/DoubleRShow?utm_source=All%20Ways%20Productions%20LLC&utm_campaign=509ca79274-Episode---Cvii&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-0107abfe07-273348292&mc_cid=509ca79274&mc_eid=aab8ea1e20

Roger Robertson, the Voice of Lincoln City, and host of the Double R Show.

06/29/2025

NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL: Oregon forestry officials say they’re entering this summer’s wildfire fire season fully staffed and as prepared as they can be to meet the growing challenge of protecting millions of acres of public and private land. After seeing a record 1.8 million acres burn in Oregon last year, forecasters are predicting another active fire season which is already off to a disturbing start. Read more in the Oregonian.

Each year, we spend tens of millions (sometimes hundreds of millions) trying to put those fires out. But despite our best efforts, the fires keep getting worse — more dangerous and more destructive. And the legislature continues to struggle to find the resources needed to for investments to protect our forests, our homes, and our public health.

I’m receiving regular updates from the and . Here is their report from last week:

Outlook: We’re expecting an active fire season this year. Drought conditions are re-emerging around the state. Northeast Oregon and all of western Oregon are currently abnormally dry, with counties from Clatsop to Douglas and parts of Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Baker counties in moderate drought. Compounding that are the three-month forecasts showing below average precipitation and above average temperatures for Oregon. Additionally, the significant wildfire potential is projected to be above average for the entire state in August and September. Some of our fellow western states are also prepared for very active fire seasons, which could result in national and regional resource shortages.

Current situation: Large fire activity started in Oregon earlier than anticipated. As of June 13, there have been 196 fires on ODF protection that have burned about 634 acres. We are at almost exactly the same number of fires as our 10-year average, but luckily with far fewer acres burned. Statewide across all jurisdictions, there have been 394 fires and 14,380 acres burned.

As of June 16, two conflagrations have been invoked for the Rowena Fire in Wasco County and the Alder Springs Fire in Jefferson County. According to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, 56 homes and 91 other structures, including sheds, barns, and shops, were destroyed. Current information about the fire is available on the Rowena Fire 2025 page.

Resources: ODF is entering into the 2025 fire season with a robust array of tools in our toolbox. From across our districts, we have 200 engines, 400 firefighters, 15 large dozers, lookouts and dispatchers. For aviation statewide, we have 21 tactical aircraft to drop water and retardant on fires, 8 detection and aerial supervision aircraft. And 25 unmanned aerial systems for mapping, situational awareness and detection. Private landowners across the state have 640 trained personnel and 445 pieces of equipment that we can call on. OSFM also manages the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System, the network of the 300+ local structural fire agencies around the state that mobilize when needed to protect Oregon.

Federal impacts: We’ll be faced with new challenges this summer as our federal agency partners will continue to work through numerous changes to their organizations. The full scope of operational impacts won’t likely be known until we’re well into fire season, but we do know already that there are several fewer interagency incident management teams in the national system than usual. Thankfully, Oregon is one of only four states with its own incident management teams. We’re also anticipating more asks to assist in fighting fire on federal lands than usual. As we receive those requests, we’ll be weighing them against potential impacts to our ability to keep fires small on the lands we’re obligated to protect and, most importantly, the safety and wellbeing of our employees.

Prevention: The majority of the wildfires we’ve had in Oregon so far could have been prevented. Every Oregonian has a responsibility to help prevent wildfires. You can help us by reminding people to know the fire danger level of the areas they live, work and play, and follow all local restrictions on burning equipment use, campfires and other activities that can start wildfires. Fire danger levels and restrictions throughout the state are available here. You can also help us get the word out more broadly by sharing these informative graphics via social media, newsletters or other communications.

I thank the Department for the work they do to protect Oregonians, their communities and our state’s natural resources.

06/27/2025

Many constituents call and email my Salem office each week with problems about their healthcare benefits, unemployment coverage, neighborhood disputes, or other issues.

Here's an example: Recently, two Lincoln County residents reached out to our office last month after they had received an unexpected bill from a medical transport company for over $50,000. The constituents had thought the bill would be covered by their insurance and their attempts to connect their insurance to the company had been unsuccessful. As most people would be when facing an unexpected $50,000 bill, the thought of repayment caused them to lose sleep and threatened to delay their retirement plans. Fortunately, our staff was able to connect them with the company through its lobbyist, and the company’s CFO called them just last week, apologizing and rescinding their collections.

While not all stories like this have happy endings, it makes me grateful when we can have a real impact on the lives of our constituents. Can my office help you? Write us an email: [email protected] or call 503-986-1410.

06/25/2025

SESSION UPDATE: We have a week to go before adjournment, and it promises to be an interesting week. Major questions and budgets remain to be resolved.

Rather than wait for a final wrap-up and review, I thought I would use this time to highlight a few bills of particular interest that have passed and been signed by the Governor but may not have generated headlines elsewhere.

Ending Workplace Discrimination: HB 3187A addresses discrimination that older workers face when applying for a job. I was proud to join my friend and colleague Representative Nathan Sosa as a chief sponsor of this bill, which he introduced on behalf of AARP. The bill prohibits employers from asking for an applicant’s age, date of birth, or date of graduation until after the initial interview, unless the disclosure of age is a bona fide occupational qualification or otherwise required by law. Currently, many job applications require workers to disclose their age, or when they obtained their degree or certification. This opens the door for discrimination against older workers and prevents them from having the opportunity to interview for the position. HB 3187 A is an important step forward in the fight to end age discrimination and the bill now heads to Governor Kotek's desk.

Fairness for Renters Forced to Move: When renters lose their homes through no fault of their own, current law allows a landlord to require the outgoing tenants to stay a full 90 days after getting a vacate notice or face lease-break penalties if they leave before the 90 days are up. HB 2134, introduced by Rep. Tawna Sanchez would allow tenants in good standing to give a 30-day notice to vacate instead of having to wait and pay for the full 90 days. Giving renters flexibility is critical in today’s housing market. Rental forecasts in Oregon show that due to a lack of inventory, rents are expected to increase with fewer housing options available in the market. Most renters face stiff competition and have to move quickly to secure a new rental option. Too often this means paying the full 90-days on the rental being vacated and paying on a new lease simultaneously.

Expanding the Role of CASA Volunteers: I strongly support the use of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), who are appointed by courts to advocate for children’s interests during court proceedings. CASA volunteers serve a critically important role in protecting children, which is why I voted for SB 135 to include their expertise and perspectives on certain multidisciplinary and review teams. Multidisciplinary teams are collaborative groups of professionals from various disciplines working together to address a specific issue or problem, often involving multiple agencies or systems. These teams are commonly found in child abuse investigation, mental health care, and other areas where comprehensive solutions are needed. SB 135 specifically requires the inclusion of a representative of a local CASA Volunteer Program, if available, to serve on the following teams:

• Multidisciplinary domestic violence fatality review teams established by local domestic violence coordinating councils
• County child abuse multidisciplinary teams developed by each county’s district attorney
• Critical Incident Review Teams assigned by the Department of Human Services.

Clarifying Insurance for National Guard: SB 803 is a technical fix bill to allow the Oregon National Guard (ONG) Adjutant General to take steps to make the state-sponsored life insurance program offered through the Oregon National Guard Association available to all ONG members. It also provides opportunities for ONG members to purchase state-sponsored life insurance products and allows representatives from the state-sponsored life insurance program to provide information to ONG members. This technical fix aligns state and federal policies and clarifies benefits and options for Oregon National Guard members. It removes ambiguity and provides greater understanding and communication materials to service members about the benefits available to them.

Improving Healthcare Access for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: SB 729 prohibits mental health providers from denying services to folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). For too long, people with I/DD have faced systemic barriers when it comes to accessing health care. This bill will close this gap, enforce accountability, and exemplify Oregon’s commitment to providing equitable, accessible health care to every population.

Right to Repair Bill Expands to Wheelchairs and Mobility Devices: In 2024, Oregon became the fourth state to enact a “Right to Repair” law, making it easier for consumers and repair shops to fix electronics. This year we expanded our state's right-to-repair framework to include electric wheelchairs and complex rehabilitation technology. Manufacturers are now required to provide owners and independent repair providers with the tools, parts, and information necessary to diagnose, maintain, and repair these essential devices. By empowering individuals with greater control over their mobility equipment, SB 550 enhances accessibility and reduces downtime for users who rely on these devices for daily activities. This is a significant step forward in ensuring that all Oregonians have the right to repair the equipment they depend on.

Oregon Eliminates Medical Debt on Credit Reports: SB 605B stops medical debt from showing up on credit reports and prohibits anyone from providing that information to a credit reporting agency. In January 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule that would’ve removed an estimated $49 billion in medical bills for 15 million Americans. However, NPR reported that new leadership under President Trump is actively trying to block the rule from going into effect. Far too many Oregonians have their credit scores ruined by an illness, an unexpected medical emergency, or even an error on their bill. The long-term effects of this can cost them a job and make it harder for them to find a place to live. This legislation empowers individuals to pursue housing, employment, and credit opportunities without the burden of medical debt on their records. By passing this bill, we affirm our commitment to protecting consumers and promoting financial equity across our state.

06/23/2025

Mark your calendars!

Join Attorney General Dan Rayfield and me for a town hall to share your experience of how you may have been impacted by federal actions – whether around healthcare, support for veterans, schools, libraries, federal workers, or anything else.

AG Rayfield and I are hosting this town hall to better understand how federal decisions are playing out in Oregon communities and to shape legal strategies aimed at protecting the state’s interests. The event is part of a statewide “Safeguarding Oregon: Federal Oversight Series” focused on hearing directly from Oregonians.

The town hall will be at 6pm on Monday, July 7, at the Lincoln City Community Center. ASL and Spanish interpretation will be available. We hope you can join us!

RSVP: https://bit.ly/July7LC

Questions? Email [email protected]

06/17/2025

Join Attorney General Dan Rayfield and me for a town hall to share your experience of how you may have been impacted by federal actions – whether around healthcare, support for veterans, schools, libraries, federal workers, or anything else.

AG Rayfield and I are hosting this town hall to better understand how federal decisions are playing out in Oregon communities and to shape legal strategies aimed at protecting the state’s interests. The event is part of a statewide “Safeguarding Oregon: Federal Oversight Series” focused on hearing directly from Oregonians.

The town hall will be at 6pm on Monday, July 7, at the Lincoln City Community Center. ASL and Spanish interpretation will be available. We hope you can join us!

RSVP: https://bit.ly/July7LC

Questions? Email [email protected]

06/16/2025

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Capitol Phone: 503-986-1410Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-480, Salem, Oregon 97301Email:                                        Website:

06/15/2025

HOUSING NEWS: The Governor has proposed continuing investments in homeless shelters, transitional housing, eviction support, and water and sewer infrastructure. The total is around $800 million, but the most recent revenue forecast makes clear that much is not available. Oregon lawmakers learned last month they could expect around $500 million less in revenue in the next budget than formerly predicted. State economists partly attributed that change to fallout from President Donald Trump’s recent spate of tariffs. Cuts in federal Medicaid and food assistance funding could further complicate the picture.

From funding shelters to boosting senior housing to regulatory reform to capping rent increases on manufactured homes, lawmakers have put forward a number of bills this session aimed at speeding up housing production and making the state a more affordable place to live. Many housing bills sit before lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, who write the state’s budget.

Among the Governor’s proposals is House Bill 3644, which asks for more than $217 million in general fund money and lays out the policy framework to run a statewide shelter program. It would specify what kinds of facilities should be eligible for state funding, how that money would be disbursed to communities, and what data organizations would be required to report back to the state in order to receive money. The Governor is also asking for $173.2 million in her 2025-27 budget for homelessness prevention, funding eviction prevention programs, including through legal services and rental assistance.

At the same time, the budget-writing leadership is weighing several competing — and expensive — proposals in addition to housing, including requests to fund the state’s education and behavioral health systems, wildfire response, higher education, the arts, and dozens of bills from individual legislators. The housing measures are on hold as other funding questions are resolved which could make it harder to pass many housing bills that tap into the state’s general fund.

As details evolve, I expect housing, along with transportation, to be among the last budgets we pass.

06/14/2025

GOOD NEWS UPDATE: Longtime readers will recall my advocacy in recent legislative sessions for Oregon’s Marine Reserves program. Established in 2012, our five designated Marine Reserves serve an important role in both protecting critical habitat and promoting cutting-edge scientific research opportunities off our coast.

Last year, I passed legislation to bolster this program and ensure key communities, such as our fishing industry and tribal nations, were provided more opportunities to engage with decision-makers and have their feedback incorporated into environmental monitoring and research efforts. But late last year, I received word that funding for the program was slated to be cut in the Governor’s Recommended Budget.

Despite that news, coastal advocates refused to give up, got to work, and finally received assurance this month that no cuts to the Marine Reserves program will be happening this session. That’s big news!

The good news for our oceans doesn’t stop there though. Funding for the Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia – another program that was slated to face cuts – will also be included in the 2025-2027 budget. The critical work happening at the OAH Council was spurred by the collapse of the Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery in 2007 due to changing ocean conditions that have increasingly threatened our aquaculture and fishing industries.

The important scientific work being conducted at both our Marine Reserves and OAH Council programs continues to inform decision-making here in Salem and will help our coastal industries and ecosystems be more resilient in the face of acidifying and warming ocean waters.

06/14/2025

NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL: With the education budget complete, attention now turns to funding our highways, roads and bridges. Negotiations over the bill have been ongoing for months.

The “Transportation Package” has been the subject of a statewide listening tour, early session announcement of a “framework” by Democrats, counter proposals from Republicans, public meetings, less-than-public meetings, committee changes, revised frameworks, and revised counter proposals. Good and sincere people are involved on all sides of this debate and in the end, any progress will require a “super majority” vote. I also hope it will produce some bi-partisan support.

From the Oregonian: "Key Democrats have nearly finalized the list of tax hikes they say are necessary to boost the state’s transportation network and better maintain Oregon’s roads and bridges. In a two-page informational document circulating the Capitol, they propose raising the state’s gas tax from 40 cents to 55 cents, increasing title and registration fees, bumping up fees on truckers and requiring electric vehicles to pay a fee per mile driven, along with other increases. This plan has dropped two of the tax hikes proposed in April and would not raise the gas tax as high as previously proposed."

The details include:

• Raising the existing 40-cent gas tax to 55 cents per gallon — with a 10-cent increase in January 2026 and another 5-cent increase in 2028. That’s less than the 20-cent-per-gallon increase proposed earlier this session. California drivers now pay about 70 cents.
• Indexing the gas tax to rise with inflation.
• A new “transfer tax” equal to 2% of the price of new cars sold in the state and 1% on used cars worth more than $10,000. The earlier proposal suggested 1% on all car sales. Funding from the new tax would go toward two highway megaprojects — on Interstate 5 in Portland’s Rose Quarter and the Abernethy Bridge on Interstate 205 — and fund multimodal safety programs.
• A “road usage charge” designed to charge drivers of electric vehicles and highly fuel efficient vehicles a fee based on miles driven. The new framework would set the per-mile rate at 5% of the state gas tax for passenger vehicles and 10% for commercial delivery vehicles.
• Increasing a tax dedicated to transit service that Oregon workers pay from their paychecks from 0.1% to 0.3%. That’s well under the 0.4% increase that transit agencies have pushed for recently.
• Streamlining and simplifying the state’s weight-mile system for taxing heavy trucks and changing the state’s method of taxing diesel fuel.

Half of the money collected will go to cities and counties for local roads.

The majority of Republicans have signaled they favor a far less tax-heavy approach. A formal proposal released by House and Senate Republicans on Thursday would redirect hundreds of millions of dollars that currently goes toward climate investments, passenger rail service and transit operations in the state.

I, along with other members of the moderate caucus, submitted a letter to the Speaker of the House requesting the removal of the tire tax and of Vehicle-Miles Traveled fees for gas-powered vehicles. I’m also not a fan of the vehicle sales tax, although all neighboring states charge more. I do not serve on the Committee developing this bill. But as a budget writer, I have been heavily involved in reviewing and reducing the base ODOT budget. If we are asking the voters to tighten their belts, so should the State of Oregon.

Advocates warn of huge deficits in funding for maintenance, paving, and bridge improvement projects if some plan isn’t passed. That means longer response times to incidents and unplowed roads, longer wait times at the DMV, decreased public transit, and unmaintained roads. These investments are safety-focused, and the package is built on the principle that all users pay their fair share. The Oregon Department of Transportation has said it will need to eliminate nearly 1,000 positions if it doesn’t get roughly $350 million more in the next two-year budget. But the department has also said it will need a far larger amount to ensure the state’s highways are in good condition.

The Joint Committee on Transportation and Reinvestment (JCTR) will schedule three hearings for next week, starting on Tuesday (June 10) and concluding Thursday evening. Each hearing will run from 5-7 p.m. and will have a specific focus or theme. Tuesday’s focus will be on the business community, or the users of the transportation system. Wednesday will cover rail and transit, while Thursday's focus will be on local government interests.

A commonly cited figure suggests the average Oregonian pays less than $300 per year for the transportation infrastructure. That includes fuel taxes, heavy truck taxes, and license, vehicle title, and registration fees. Because we usually drive further to get to work or school and drive less fuel-efficient vehicles, the average driver in rural Oregon pays $386 per year in state gas taxes, while in Portland, the average driver pays $229.

06/12/2025

NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL: There’s one thing about wildfires that Oregon lawmakers seem to agree on: The state needs to find new ways to cover its increasingly expensive wildfire costs. Yet with the conclusion of this year’s legislative session rapidly approaching, momentum toward a funding solution seems to be stalled.

House Bill 3940, which includes adding a surcharge to bottles and cans purchased in the state, sits in a revenue committee. So does Senate Bill 1177, which would pull some money from Oregonians’ tax rebate known as “the kicker” and invest it into a trust. Then there’s a joint resolution that would redirect some lottery revenues.

The problem is exacerbated by uncertainty in support from the federal government. Oregon relies on the federal government for about 32% of its budget. The state could lose up to 30% of that as Congress considers drastic cuts.

There’s a chance these funding proposals will move forward through the remaining weeks of this long legislative session. But there’s also a strong possibility that the session ends without new funding for wildfire prevention and firefighting costs, leaving Oregon’s fire agencies once again vulnerable to falling into financial deficit and unable to pay their bills. Where things stand now feels very, very uncertain.

Another aspect of the wildfire debate is Senate Bill 83, which would repeal the state's controversial wildfire risk assessment map. The map, created by the Oregon Department of Forestry at the legislature's behest, is now so universally despised that SB 83 sailed through the Senate last month with unanimous support.

From the beginning, Republicans have led the charge to do away with the wildfire risk map, but they've had allies in Democratic lawmakers from wildfire-prone areas. I have repeatedly voted to bring the measure to the floor for a vote.

The measure is currently on hold in the House Rules Committee as wildfire funding continues to be negotiated.

06/12/2025

NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL: This week, legislators demonstrated their continued support for Oregon's students by advancing the largest K-12 budget in state history, paired with expanded accountability guidelines to better support students, educators, and administrators.

Senate Bill 5516, the K-12 education budget, has passed in the Senate and is headed for the House floor. The measure provides $11.36 billion to the state school fund, the primary source of money for schools in the next two academic years.

Combined with local school revenues (primarily property taxes), Oregon's K-12 schools will receive $16.7 billion for the upcoming biennium, a 10.5% increase over the previous biennium.

This funding comes in addition to the $82 million the Legislature passed in April to support summer literacy programs.

That is a 10.5% boost from the current level and in line with the budget originally proposed by Gov. Tina Kotek back in December, though school districts may see slight reductions due to a projected drop in local property tax revenue.

Even at that increased level, many districts say they will cut staffing or programs next year, due to a combination of declining enrollment and rising costs. About 85% of a typical school district’s budget goes to staff salaries and benefits, which many districts have boosted in recent years.

Meanwhile, hopes have dimmed that some other educational gains that schools advocates had hoped to see in the final budget this year will pass, including a push I supported to increase special education funding.

Also on the move is Senate Bill 141, an accountability-focused measure that aims to ultimately give the state education agency more oversight and ability to intervene in struggling schools.

Under Senate Bill 141, the Oregon Board of Education would be tasked with developing statewide growth targets and metrics for a series of academic outcomes, including third-grade reading proficiency, eighth-grade math achievement, and chronic absenteeism among the state’s youngest elementary schoolers.

All of Oregon’s 197 school districts would be required to develop their own achievement targets, track student progress via regular check-in tests and report the results at school board meetings or other public forums.