2023 Legislative Recap

It was a full agenda for this year’s long session in Salem. CWS continues to be at the seat of many tables to ensure that the nuanced and complex issues that relate to survivors of domestic and sexual violence are better understood in the context of policy and the potential implications, both intended and unintended, that occur. Here’s a recap of our engagement as well as some of the specific bills we want to highlight.

CWS Participation

Our public policy efforts are primarily done in coalition with The Oregon DVSA Legislative Alliance to End Violence Against Women, as well as others such as Our Children Oregon, Stable Homes Coalition

We started a CWS Staff Public Policy Workgroup this year and members from that group provided testimony and went to the Capital participating in meetings with elected officials. The Board is also engaged in our policy work through a Public Policy Committee. Both the workgroup and committee give input, weigh the pros and cons of legislative work, and engage in advocacy. We are grateful for this participation because public policy is best shaped with input and engagement from multiple perspectives.

Our agency has participated in policy and ballot measure campaigns (like HereTogether, Safe Kids Coalition), speakers’ events, reaching out to elected officials, and more.

  • Some of the ways that we participate:
    • Action Alerts
    • Lobbying and direct advocacy
    • Testimony
    • Campaign engagement
    • Awareness raising
    • Education
    • Defend survivor rights and the policies that protect them
    • Conduct policy analysis
    • Collect and analyze data
    • Meet with implementers and decision-makers
    • Conduct study tours—giving tours to elected officials, policy makers, and legislative staff
    • Evaluate outcomes
    • Policy monitoring and tracking

Our Executive Director also sits on various workgroups and engages with elected officials for them to learn more about the issue of domestic violence and our work, including:

Bills and Policy

We want to highlight and celebrate a few of our successes from Oregon’s 2023 legislative session:

  • This year, the focus was on continuing critical ODSVS and SHF funding (SB 5506).
    • Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (ODSVS) received $10M and helps fund 60 community-based organizations and Tribal communities across the state for basic domestic and sexual violence and trafficking services.The Survivor Housing Fund (SHF) received $6M and is highly flexible general funding for housing.CWS hosted education sessions for lawmakers and participated in lobby days. ODSVS funds help us fund Latina services, outreach and education, prevention programming, and youth services. SHF funds support survivors to meet housing needs in a variety of ways. We are glad these were approved!
    • Passing these crucial funding bills was a bipartisan effort, and there are many more who helped make this happen than we can thank here. A few we want to highlight are: Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, Sen. Kathleen Taylor, Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, Rep. Jason Kropf, Rep. Lily Morgan, Rep. Bobby Levy, and Dacia Grayber, as well as Gov. Kotek who included the funding in her budget.

  • Campus DVSA Response (HB 3456): Requires college campuses to conduct a climate survey of students to understand sexual misconduct taking place in addition to schools being required to have confidential advocates on campus or partner with a local victim advocacy organization. This was a huge win and gratitude goes to Rep. Annessa Hartman for her unwavering commitment to survivors in addition to Rep. Mark Gamba, Sen. Dembrow, the Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force and Every Voice Coalition for ensuring the passage of this bill.

  • Crime Victim’s Compensation Bill (HB 2676): Crime victims of all types can mitigate the cost of experiencing a crime (like lost wages or medical bills).
    • Some important changes were made with this bill, including:
      • Eliminates the requirement that victims and survivors cooperate with law enforcement investigations and prosecutions in order to receive compensation; they can apply directly through the DOJ
      • Provides access to S-KITS (Strangulation Kits)
      • Access to benefits were expanded
  • FAPA Expansion (SB 816A) extended restraining orders from one to two years; this will go in effect January 1st, 2024. A big thank you to Senator Thatcher and others who championed this bill.

  • Shelter Pet Assistance Bill (HB 23395 & 5511): This bill provides funds for companion pets, in addition to policies to reduce barriers to access shelter programs. It established an emergency grant program ($1M). Thank you to Senator Patterson for bringing this bill forward and Senator Jama for ensuring it passed.

  • Traumatic Brain Injury Bill (SB 420): More research/investment in human services statewide to help people with traumatic brain injuries and how it impacts Oregonians; has component of it that is specific to DVSA. Read more here

  • Trafficking Education (SB 473): Adds trafficking education to Erin’s Law. Thank you to the Sexual Assault Task Force for their work.

  • OHA Public Health Funding:
    • Community Health Equity Coalition is an ad hoc advocacy group comprised of CBOs advocating for OHA funding (CWS is a member). This funding supports our work in school-based health centers. We are pleased that current statewide funding levels were maintained and increased some. Domestic and sexual violence are public health issues, and these funds are important for the work we do.

  • Our Children Oregon
    • Several wins for children in Oregon:
      • Oregon Kids’ Credit: A tax credit for every child aged 0 to 5 to qualifying low-income families.
      • Investments in early learning and care infrastructure and facilities (SB 599, HB 2727, HB 3005, HB 2991).
      • Elevating Student Voice Act (HB 2656).
      • Racism is a Public Health Crisis Task Force (HB 2925): Funds a task force to develop strategies.
      • Child Advocacy Center Funding (HB 2732): Supports centers across the state, including our partner agency Children’s Center.
  • Stable Homes Coalition
    • Governor’s Emergency Order and Housing Package: $200M invested to build more affordable housing, rehousing, and homelessness prevention.
    • Eviction Reform and Reduction (HB 2001 & HB 5019)
    • Stable Homes Reasonable Rent (SB 611)
    • Funding in OHCS Budget (HB 511)
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