Accomplishments

In her first year in office, Governor Kotek has taken decisive action to take on Oregon's biggest challenges. From the first full day of her administration when she declared a homelessness state of emergency to signing bills that aimed at improving mental health care and addiction services, jobs and infrastructure, early childhood education and so much more, Governor Kotek has been mission-focused in delivering results for Oregonians.

*Updated 12/31/23

Signed over 600 bipartisan bills

Declared a homelessness state of emergency

Secured $155 million early the legislative sessions to fund an emergency package to prevent homelessness, expand shelter capacity, and rehouse people experiencing homelessness.

Visited all 36 Oregon Counties

Support for Reading and Writing

Governor Kotek worked with the Legislature to secure increased funding for early literacy and improve how we teach kids how to read and write - ensuring educators, parents, caregivers, sovereign Tribal nations, and communities have what they need to support our students by passing and signing House Bill 3198.

Directed Oregon State Police to deploy enhanced fentanyl enforcement strategies

Signed the Oregon CHIPS Act

Signed Senate Bill 4 to bring new state investments into semiconductorresearch and manufacturing to make Oregon competitive for federal resources from the federal the CHIPS and Science Act. Business Oregon led an expedited process to start isuse contracts this month.

Advocated for and secured $650 million for affordable housing

Secured $650 million to preserve and build more affordable housing statewide.

Sent new expectations to state agencies to enhance customer service to Oregonians, and strengthen accountability and transparency

Launched multi-agency coordinating teams to implement Homelessness State of Emergency

Advocated and received $200 million in funding to expand access to behavioral health services

$200 million will add capacity for detox and substance use disorder residential treatment facilities, provide incentives to stabilize and support the behavioral health workforce, and increase community services for individuals who are likely to end up in the Oregon State Hospital.

Educator preparations for teaching students reading and writing

Governor Kotek established the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council in May in order to develop recommendations to raise the bar on elementary educator preparation for reading and writing instruction.

Launched Paid Leave Oregon

This new program has provided benefits to tens of thousands of Oregonians, allowing them to take paid time off from work to care for themselves or loved ones dealing with serious health concerns, to bond with a new child, or to address the impacts of domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking.

Secured $2.5 million for the Clean Start Program

Used $1 million from the Governor's Strategic Reserve Fund to support an expansion of the Clean Start program that employs individuals who recently experienced homelessness to clean up trash in Portland, combined with $1.5 million from Multnomah County.

Announced action to protect access to Mifepristone for abortion and miscarriage management

Announced next steps to improve outcomes for students, parents and teachers following resolution of Portland Public Schools strike

Signed HB 2005 which bans untraceable and undetectable ghost guns in Oregon

Championed the Interstate Bridge Replacement project

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR) was awarded $600 million from the Mega Grant Program for the replacement of the Interstate 5 Bridge.

Established Tribal Affairs Office

And hired Oregon's first Director of Tribal Affairs.

Signed Climate Resiliency Package into law

Record turnaround for distributing Homelessness State of Emergency Funds

Homelessness Emergency funding package signed March 29, contracts distributed to emergency areas April 10, and executed contracted returned on April 28.

Appointed 9 agency directors

ODE Director Charlene Williams, OHA Director Sejal Hathi, OSP Superintendent Casey Codding, DPSST Director Phil Castle, OEM Director Erin McMahon, TAG Alan Gronwald, DOC Director Mike Reese, DOA Director Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells.

Convened advisory panel on gender responsive practices in corrections

Expanded access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication

Governor Kotek championed and signed SB 1043, which required hospitals, sobering facilities, and detox facilities to provide two doses of opioid overdose reversal medication and necessary medical supplies to administer medication to specified patients upon discharge or release.

Funded the Oregon Tribal Student Grant

Governor Kotek worked with the Legislature to continue funding the Oregon Tribal Student Grant. This grant program is expected to pay for most or all public undergraduate college-related expenses for students from Oregon's nine federally recognized sovereign Tribal nations.

Directed Oregon Health Authority to grant licenses to PeaceHealth to maintain behavioral health services in the wake of hospital closure

Directed the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to make state tax compliance a requirement to issue or renew cannabis retail licenses.

Responded to over 9,000 constituent inquiries.

The Governor's Constituent Services team completed 9,205 constituent contacts by supplying them with more information or providing agency referrals. (current as of 12/19/23)

More need-based financial aid for higher education

Governor Kotek's leadership was instrumental in the Legislature's approval of a $100 million increase to the Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG), bringing the funding to $308 million. With the added funding, the Higher Education Coordinating Commissions is increasing awards to up to 75 percent of average tuition for the lowest income Oregonians.

Secured funding for DPSST, cutting training wait times in half

Directed the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), with new funding from the Legislature, to expand the capacity to train new officers to meet workforce challenges across the state.

576 board & commission appointments

Extra support for rural and small schools

The Legislature funded Governor Kotek's nearly $5 million request to support education service districts (ESDs) in providing rural and small school technical assistance support and reducing administrative burden for these districts.

Championed Oregon's broadband expansion

Oregon is being awarded $156.7 million to expand broadband infrastructure across the state through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund.

Secured over 70 new substance use disorder treatment beds in Portland Central City in partnership with Central City Concern, City of Portland, and Multnomah County

Convened Portland Central City Task Force; issued urgent, concrete action steps to revitalize downtown

Appointed Justice Aruna Masih as Oregon’s first Punjabi, Indian American and South Asian Supreme Court Justice

Forgave fines and fees to allow more than 10,000 Oregonians to reinstate their driver’s licenses

Issued new remissions orders forgiving unpaid traffic fines and fees to include over 10,000 individuals who were inadvertently omitted in the previous 2022 remissions orders.

Announced historic federal partnership with Six Sovereigns to address declining salmon population, climate, and Tribal justice crises facing the Columbia River Basin

The Six Sovereigns - who joined together to develop the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative - formed a partnership with the Biden Administration as an integral step in the work to prevent salmon extinction and restore salmon to healthy and abundant levels.

Formed $25 million partnership with Coordinated Care Organizations to expand youth behavioral health capacity

Established Artificial Intelligence Council

In response to the growing role that generative artificial intelligence is playing in society, Governor Kotek announced the formation of the Oregon State Government AI Advisory Council to develop recommendations for its utilization across state government.