Legislative CommitteeOLA's Legislative Committee is a standing committee that exists to:
Use the following links to navigate this page: Current Legislative Issue Briefs, Testimonies, and StatementsNews to UseLibrary Legislative Day
Past Legislative Issues & BriefsOther ResourcesCommittee MembersMeeting Dates 2022-2023Current Legislative Issue Briefs, Testimonies, and StatementsDrum roll please...We have a new name! OLA membership voted to change the name of the Library Development and Legislation Committee or LDLC and we are now the Legislative Committee. 2023 Issues Stronger Media Standards and More Teacher Librarians in K-12 Schools Research explicitly links a strong school library program with increased student achievement and graduation rates, which is why OLA is requesting the Legislature implement recommendations from the Budget Note for Media Program Standards Study Report Update: SB 1075 was introduced to require ODE to do specific work that will require they hire a new dedicated full-time staff position. The bill passed out of Senate Education to the Ways and Means Committee. Unfortunately, the bill was not funded. Topic handout by OLA Lobbyist Tess Milio E-Rate Consultant and the Connecting Oregon Libraries Fund Currently, 10% of Oregon’s public libraries have internet speeds lower than the FCC’s current (and outdated) definition for broadband: 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. With the FCC considering updating the definition of broadband to speeds of 100 Mbps download and 100 upload, we risk up to 40% of Oregon public libraries not meeting this baseline for service. To tackle this, OLA is asking for:
Update: SB 885, which funds the E-Rate consultant, was introduced in the 2023 Regular Session. The bill passed out of Senate Education to the Ways and Means Committee. Unfortunately, the bill was not funded. Topic handout by OLA Lobbyist Tess Milio Ready to Read Grants and the State Library Budget Oregon’s public libraries use the Ready to Read grants to help children learn to read and to maintain their literacy skills as they grow. OLA strongly supports the State Library’s budget, including Ready to Read grants at their current level of $1,653,457, or $1.10 per child. Update: The State Library budget bill was funded! SB 5518 includes funding for the Ready to Read grant program and State Library operations. See the Ways and Means General Government Subcommittee hearing on this bill, held on February 15, 2023. Also see the Education Committee's meeting (OLA testimony begins at 1:41) held on March 30, 2023. Topic handout by OLA Lobbyist Tess Milio Ongoing IssuesNews to UseNews to Use is a series of messages from the Legislative Committee about policy and advocacy topics of interest to the Oregon library community.
OLA hosts legislative activities for library staff in odd years, coinciding with the long sessions of the Oregon Legislature. This year's Legislative Day was on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at the State Library of Oregon. Library Legislative Day included lots of fun activities:
See the full schedule of events
Past Activities2021 activities included:
Past Legislative Issues & BriefsPast legislative issues & briefs are archived here. Other ResourcesContacting Congress? Find your legislators here. 2022-2023 Committee MembersCo-Chairs:
OLA Board:
Voting Members:
Ex Officio Members:
Emeritus Members:
Meeting Dates 2022 - 2023All virtual (Zoom), 3:30 - 5:00 pm
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