That’s a wrap on Oregon’s 2022 short legislative session.

A little over 40 bills passed out of the short session this year, out of 300+ introduced. You can learn about the bill that we prioritized at the foundation in a separate blog post. We want to share two other successful bills that our grantees championed here. 

SB 1543 Universal Representation

Many people involved in deportation proceedings have valid legal claims to remain in the country and continue to contribute to Oregon’s communities, but they have no way to make these claims without the assistance of legal counsel. Representation by an attorney improves someone’s chances of winning relief from deportation significantly. 

The universal representation program builds off a successful pilot program run in Multnomah County.

Under universal representation:

• Community-embedded navigators will guide Oregonians at risk of deportation into the program, supported by a statewide call center and centralized clearinghouse.

• The Oregon State Bar will administer funding to substantially expand the capacity of existing legal service providers. Additional attorneys will be placed at community-based organizations (CBOs) all across the state, providing legal services to community members at culturally and geographically accessible locations.

• A client service fund will ensure that related costs, like filing fees and interpretation, will not be a barrier to accessing representation.

• A governance structure made up of community-based organizations from across the state will guide the program and ensure the community continues to design, drive and implement the program.

Grantees that championed this work include Latino Network and Causa Oregon. 

HB 4002 Farmworker Overtime

Over 80,000 farmworkers work tirelessly across the state, including in extreme temperatures, and they’ve been ineligible for overtime pay—until now. Oregon will join neighbors in Washington and California in requiring overtime pay for farmworkers starting in 2023. 

The Fair Shot Coalition explains, “The 1938 Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) failed to guarantee overtime pay for farmworkers despite working in one of the most dangerous job industries. The exclusion of farmworkers from the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is part of a shameful legacy of institutional racism that initially targeted the 85% of southern African Americans who were farmworkers in the 1930s.

“Today, most farmworkers are Latinos and Indigenous. Excluding farm workers from overtime was wrong in 1938 and it’s still wrong today. Oregon lawmakers have the opportunity to end this racist exclusion and extend overtime pay for our essential farmworkers.”

HB 4002 establishes overtime pay requirements for agricultural workers in Oregon after 40 hours per week, with the requirements phased in over a five-year period, starting with 55-hours per week for 2023-24, 48 hours per week in 2025-26, and 40 hours per week beginning in 2027.

The bill also creates a refundable tax credit to provide economic support to employers when they provide overtime pay for agricultural workers.

Grantees that championed this work include Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon and Causa Oregon.