Prescription Drug Price Transparency Passes Oregon Senate
Senate Bill 192 will help Oregon families and seniors afford medication by implementing the Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s recommendations.
Today the Oregon State Senate passed Senate Bill 192, which implements the Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s recommendations to increase prescription drug price transparency and affordability.
The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers, companies that handle prescription medicines, to report the money they receive from drug manufacturers. The bill also changes how the Prescription Drug Affordability Board works by expanding its membership and improving the information it receives.
“Oregonians shouldn’t have to choose between paying for prescriptions or putting food on the table,” said Senator Patterson (D-Salem), the bill’s chief sponsor. “This is a crucial step towards fixing our prescription drug affordability crisis. This is a huge win for Oregonians in every corner of our state, especially seniors living on a fixed income.”
Oregon Senate Democrats’ 2023 Oregon Works agenda prioritizes making medications more affordable for Oregon families and seniors.
SB 192 is one of the hundreds of bills that Senate Democrats rescued by negotiating an end to the Senate Republican walkout. Thanks to Senate Democrats showing up, doing their jobs, and delivering results for the people of Oregon, SB 192 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Teach Oregon Students Personal Finance, Career Path Skills
Today, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 3, which will add to Oregon high school graduation requirements one half-credit of personal finance education and one half-credit of higher education and career path skills.
The bill passed 24-1 and now heads to the House for consideration.
As defined in the bill, personal finance education includes instruction on:
- Credit scores, how to build credit, long-term impacts of good or bad credit and the costs and benefits of borrowing money on credit
- Investments, assets, types of bank accounts, understanding retirement plans and the total cost of loan repayment
- Budgeting strategies
- Comparing costs associated with renting and home ownership
- Tax credits, filing state and federal tax forms and familiarity with federal, state, regional and local taxes
- Building financial well-being, including preventing fraud and identity theft
“Our students must be prepared to make major financial decisions immediately upon graduating high school, if not sooner,” said Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego), co-chief sponsor of the bill. “This bill will help ensure our young people are leaving school with the skills they need to make good financial decisions now and throughout their lives.”
Instruction on higher education and career path skills will include:
- Resume writing and filling out job applications
- Applying for post-secondary education institutions, apprenticeships and job-training programs, including finding financial aid and scholarships
- Developing and improving employable skills and taking advantage of community-based learning
- Acting as a self-advocate for mental, physical and financial health
“Our schools have always been about more than reading, writing and arithmetic. They are about helping young people find the path that is best for them,” said Senator Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), co-chief sponsor of the bill. “The better our students understand the various paths they can take after graduating, the more successful they will be on those paths.”
These courses will be required for students graduating in January 2027 and beyond.
Despite having bipartisan support, Senate Bill 3 is one of hundreds of bills that were threatened by the Senate Republican walkout.
Wildfire Response Modernization Passes Oregon Senate
Senate Bill 80 simplifies and increases citizen input for the statewide wildfire risk map and funds resilience.
Today, Oregon takes a significant step forward in addressing wildfire risks and promoting community resilience with the passage of Senate Bill 80. Building upon the foundation laid by the 2019 legislature’s comprehensive wildfire preparedness bill, SB 762, this new legislation will strengthen the state’s wildfire preparedness efforts.
“We can protect Oregon in wildfire seasons to come only through partnership with the people on the frontlines preventing and fighting wildfires,” said Senator Jeff Golden (D – Ashland), who championed the legislation. “Strong collaboration needs to guide investments that will protect our communities and the immensely dedicated firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect us.”
SB 80 focuses on developing an advanced Wildfire Hazard Map to identify areas at risk of wildfires based on climate, weather, topography, and vegetation. This map will help guide targeted investments to protect communities and improve their resilience. To ensure successful implementation, the bill establishes a robust community engagement process that emphasizes the involvement of county leaders.
To provide the necessary financial support for these initiatives, SB 80 also establishes the Landscape Resiliency Fund.
Protecting against wildfires is a key component of Senate Democrats’ 2023 Oregon Works agenda.
SB 80 is one of the hundreds of bills that Senate Democrats rescued by negotiating an end to the Senate Republican walkout. Thanks to Senate Democrats showing up, doing their jobs, and delivering results for the people of Oregon, SB 80 now moves to the House for consideration.
