Tag Archives: State Law

Oregon’s slow progress on addressing plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women – OPB’s Think Out Loud

Five years ago, the Oregon state legislature passed a bill intending to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The bill also authorized an investigation into the problem and the release of a report in 2020 containing recommendations to more effectively respond to it. But as reporting from InvestigateWest reveals, Indigenous activists are […]
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Meetings in ‘high hazard’ communities prepare Oregonians for revised wildfire map

A new and improved Oregon wildfire hazard map is coming. On Monday night, dozens of property owners crowded into a room at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point, Oregon, to learn about the revised map, which will be available for public comment in July. The open house was one of six planned for “high […]
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Why Vermont is requiring fossil fuel firms to pay for climate damages

State Library Ed. Note: If you cannot access this story via the link below, state employees can access this Washington Post story HERE via the State Library’s subscription to the US Newstream database. Alternatively, state employees can contact us for access: LibraryHelp.SLO@slo.oregon.gov or 503-378-8800. Vermont has enacted the first state law requiring fossil fuel firms to pay for damage caused by […]
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No longer considered predators, Oregon beavers get new protections from state

Oregon regulators voted to strip the state animal of their “predator” classification so they cannot be killed without a permit. Oregon’s state animal has for years been classified as a “predator” by the state fish and wildlife agency, and that’s meant that the North American Beaver has lived largely unprotected from private landowners who can […]
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State Agrees to Pay $340,000 to Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for Six Years

Earl Bain was the face of an ultimately successful campaign to force the state to pay compensation for those wrongfully convicted. A yearslong court fight between the state of Oregon and Earl Bain, a man who received a gubernatorial pardon after serving six years in prison for a crime prosecutors later said he didn’t commit, […]
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Oregon makes bold statement recognizing International Baccalaureate

Oregon’s Legislature made a bold move, and one to benefit students. Members of the House and Senate voted unanimously this session that students who complete the International Baccalaureate or its Career-related Programme satisfy Oregon’s high school graduation requirements. While several states already recognize completion of the IB as equivalent to a high school diploma, with […]
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4-year-old Oregon report identifies missing Native American women as an ‘emergency’ — but progress has been limited

Main recommendations remain unfinished, governor has not read the report, and critics say Indigenous voices have been left out. Carolyn DeFord was hoping for change. She was hoping for answers. She’s been hoping for 24 years. It was Feb. 18, 2019, and DeFord was making the long trip from her home in central Washington to […]
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Oregon’s Linn County to revisit large-scale livestock rules following pushback from farm groups

Just six months after Linn County commissioners thought they’d voted to limit large-scale poultry farms, the commission is now revisiting its decision, after learning other livestock operations could also be restricted. In December 2023, Linn County was the first county in Oregon to make use of a rule through state Senate Bill 85. That bill, […]
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Oregon interpreter rules hurt health care access, group says

The group of medical directors representing organizations that oversee care to 1.3 million Oregonians say state rules are hurting access to crucial medical interpreter services and fueling health care inequities. Earlier this year Oregon lawmaker passed a controversial bill characterized by supporters as a major step in improving medical interpreter access around the state. But […]
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Lexington family farm feels threat from Senate Bill 85

Lexington family farm feels threat from Senate Bill 85. For one family wanting to expand their ranching operations in Lexington, Senate Bill 85 has reared its less-than-attractive head. “When you think of SB 85, you should automatically think of wastewater,” said Lara Neiffer, who with her husband, Jake, and two boys, Josh, 11, and Luke, […]
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