1 of 7 ‘Safe Schools Package’ bills advances after Oregon Republicans force House vote

Dianne Lugo, Salem Statesman Journal
·3 min read

Republicans on Wednesday forced Oregon House members to reconsider a package of seven bills they refer to as the "Safe Schools Package," with six of the seven motions failing.

Republicans called for the bills to be reconsidered following this week's mass shooting at a Nashville Christian school, where three 9-year-old children and three adult staff members were killed. Five of the seven bills had failed to receive hearings in their respective committees early in the session.

“Yesterday’s tragedy is a parent’s worst nightmare. We agree with our Democratic colleagues – student safety is critical," House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, said in a statement on Tuesday. "The legislation proposed in the Safe Schools Package, sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, must be prioritized for the safety of our students."

The seven bills included:

  • House Bill 2223 would require the state's Department of Education to transfer funds to school districts to pay for school resource officers.

  • House Bill 2704 would require school districts that adopt policies prohibiting concealed handguns on school grounds to install metal detectors at the entrances of their buildings.

  • House Bill 3354 would direct the Department of Education to conduct a study related to the feasibility of hiring retired police officers as public school security.

  • House Bill 3261 would direct the department to study and identify sources of funding to pay for the costs of establishing a secure, single point of entry for each public school.

  • House Bill 3350 would direct the department to study and identify costs and possible funding sources to improve school safety.

  • House Bill 3584, one of two bills in the package with Democratic support, would direct school districts to adopt policies to provide electronic communication to staff, parents and guardians of students attending the school when there is a safety threat.

  • House Bill 3101, sponsored by Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, and Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, would require schools to have at least one panic alarm in every school building. The bill passed out of the House Committee on Education and was referred to Ways and Means.

Republicans needed 31 votes to withdraw the bills from committees.

House Bills 2223, 3354, 3261 and 3350 received 27, 28 and 30 votes, respectively, in support. HB 2704 failed to be withdrawn from the Judiciary Committee with only 28 votes in support. HB 3101 received 30 votes to be withdrawn from the Ways and Means Committee.

HB 3584, sponsored by Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, and Rep. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, received unanimous support in the House and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Eight House Republicans spoke on the floor after the vote about their disappointment in the failed motions.

"I am weary today. I am disheartened and discouraged. We had the chance today as a collective body to make children's lives safer in schools and we simply let politics and shenanigans get in the way," said Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville. "It's ludicrous. It's asinine and I am weary."

Other representatives spoke about the metal detectors and Oregon State Police presence at the Capitol building, saying they were "privileges" that should be extended to Oregon students.

Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, referred to the failed motions as an example of politics coming before the safety of children.

"Instead of rising to the occasion and meeting the moment, this body fell short. Today they let the students down across our state. There should be no other priority," added Breese-Iverson.

House Democrats are aligned with Republicans on the mission to make sure every person feels safe, said Hannah Kurowski, spokesperson for Oregon House Democrats.

Since 2020, the leading cause of death among children aged 1 through 18 involved a firearm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is why House Democrats have proposed a package of firearm bills this session aimed at the prevention of further gun violence, Kurowski said.

"We hope (House Republicans) can join us in supporting this critical package that will save lives and prevent needless deaths," she said.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon Republicans force House to reconsider school safety bills