Commissioners discussed county burdens for wildlife services, rising wolf‑livestock conflicts and options including special districts and NRCS partnerships; the Wolf Advisory Committee reported low application numbers and elected Michael Dellman chair.

The Newberg City Council voted Dec. 1 to tell Yamhill County commissioners it is not in favor of any county transient lodging tax (TLT) overlay on properties within Newberg, citing lack of survey data and potential burden on local hoteliers and short-term-rental operators.

Dozens of residents told the Newberg City Council on Dec. 1 that recent ICE activity — including unmarked vehicles, drones and a helicopter near Edwards Elementary — has traumatized local immigrant families and parents asked the council and police to verify federal agents' identities and investigate phone outages reported the same day.

The council voted to exempt the Willow Lake South Secondary Clarifiers rehabilitation from the standard low-bid process and to use a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery to reduce schedule and operational risk; project cost estimated $16'$20 million with CIP budget shortfalls noted.

Key council actions: adoption of an emergency declaration on federal immigration enforcement (after amendments); approval of a CMAR exemption for Willow Lake clarifiers (resolution 2025-29); two annexations advanced to first reading; engrossment of tourism-related ordinance bill 4-25; consent agreements with ODOT. Vote counts and links to staff reports follow.

After hours of public testimony and debate, Salem City Council adopted an amended emergency declaration addressing federal immigration enforcement, directing staff to pursue grants and require quarterly reporting; council did not set aside the $300,000 emergency fund demanded by community speakers.

DHM focus groups and a city survey of 555 residents found strong support for local restaurants, shops and parks as Town Center priorities; about 43–44% of survey respondents supported using urban renewal financing for Town Center, with 30% opposed and 25% unsure. Many residents requested clear timelines, project lists and transparency on tax impacts.

Mayor O'Neil said Wilsonville’s circumstances differ from other cities and that an emergency resolution would not create new legal protections from federal immigration enforcement; he announced local resources and an allied training on Dec. 9 and public open houses on sewer and stormwater rates ahead of a Dec. 15 hearing.

Councilors reviewed an Economic Opportunities Analysis projecting about 6,100 new jobs by 2046 and discussed actions to unlock 320 acres of industrial land, including a Coffee Creek land-aggregation program using Business Oregon RSIS reimbursements and a targeted urban-renewal feasibility study for Basalt Creek.

Superintendent and staff warned that state revenue forecasts and a delayed federal compliance supplement leave the district exposed to midyear cuts; auditors may withhold state payments if an audit opinion is not filed. The board adopted a stipends and reimbursements policy selecting no compensation (bracket option 3) with an annual review in July.

Staff updated the Parks Advisory Committee on the Sharon Nesbitt Park ribbon cutting, a temporary trail closure required by Union Pacific Railroad while trellis screens are delayed, an invasive weed management plan being developed with Mosaic Ecology to enable grant applications, and holiday programs including a Dec. 7 tree lighting.

Senators approved a lengthy list of governor-appointed members to boards and commissions en bloc; the motion passed on a roll call after brief remarks and several recorded dissenting votes.

The City Council adopted Ordinance 2025‑06 amending Chapter 102 to define an "established campsite" (5+ days), require 72‑hour notice for authorized removals, clarify vehicle camping and ADA considerations, and update enforcement and prohibited locations. Vote was 5–1.

Lane Transit District officials told the committee LTD provides evacuation transport, ADA‑accessible mobile sheltering, staging and real‑time situational awareness during disasters; LTD recounted volunteer‑staffed evac operations during the Holiday Farm Fire.

Council agreed to keep the city contribution at its current approved level while staff and the fireworks committee develop an education and enforcement campaign to reduce illegal fireworks, including proposals for beach‑entrance outreach and business‑facing messaging.

The committee's co-chairs outlined a bill concept to repeal the separate JPEA committee, assign the constitutionally required report to the Ways and Means Education Subcommittee, and direct contracting for a full cost model every eight years with documentation for school districts.

District presenters described required drills, the difference between 'secure' and 'lockdown,' the district's Level‑1 threat‑assessment teams and its CSAT level‑2 referral team, and urged families to rely on ParentSquare and Safe Oregon for emergency communication.

A multi‑stakeholder TAB (tackling administrative burden) work group told the committee that duplicative audits, a nonfunctional COA databank and misapplied audit requirements created extra work for providers; members recommended a restored COA databank, annual listening sessions, clearer audit attribution and statutory cleanup via HB 4,092.

On the floor, lawmakers voiced concerns about enforcement practices and immigration-related profiling, criticized proposals to socialize retail food distribution, and praised the ODHS and governor for recent SNAP distribution work ahead of the DHS director confirmation vote.

The North Wasco County SD 21 board adopted a supplemental budget to recognize unexpected local revenue and appropriate it for responsive-classroom training. CFO Dan Peters briefed the board on a modestly improved state revenue forecast and caution about continued fiscal uncertainty.

The Oregon Military Department briefed the committee on a recent Title‑10 Portland mission that mobilized 200 soldiers, training at Camp Rilea, and reported that a $5,000 state retention bonus (effective July 1, 2025) boosted multi‑year reenlistment rates and produced a notable uptick in retention.

The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs told legislators there are about 260,000 veterans in Oregon (FY24 federal data), many 65 or older, and that ODVA is pursuing state data capacity to better identify veterans not receiving federal benefits and to improve outreach and services.

LRO reported preliminary tax‑year data showing the Oregon child tax credit cost ~ $36.3–36.4M per year with about 33,000 claimants. Legislative Revenue Office also presented certification data for the semiconductor R&D credit (HB 2009): certifications rose from ~$32.9M in 2024 to ~$40.3M in 2025, triggering a biannual cap reduction; tax‑return data that would show final fiscal cost will lag until returns are filed.

Relief nursery leaders and a parent testified that relief nursery services (therapeutic classrooms, home visiting, parenting education and respite) keep 90–95% of enrolled children safely with parents; presenters urged support for a Representative McIntyre bill to add $4.9 million to the program.

The Natural Resources Subcommittee approved a Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation backing ODF’s request to increase other‑funds capital construction expenditure limitations to spend excess insurance settlement proceeds on two wildfire‑destroyed facilities in Klamath and Santiam; the motion passed by voice with no objections.