The Oregon Legislature is in its third full week and lawmakers have been busy evaluating a wide swath of public policies — many of which could affect the University of Oregon — and continue to grapple with structural budget challenges.

While more complex issues are still being worked on and debated, some measures that the UO supports are moving quickly through the legislative process.

House Bill 2399 establishes the Condon Collection at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History as the official Oregon State Museum of Paleontology. In 1935, the Legislature made a similar designation for the anthropological collection at UO.

This bill will safeguard state paleontological property, keeping it available to the public for lectures, education, displays and publications. It will also aid in keeping the rich history of Oregon alive and prevent it from being exported to other museums around the world. HB 2399 was approved by the House of Representative son a 56-0 vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 5 updates Oregon laws regulating athlete-agents to protect student athletes from unscrupulous athlete-agents who could cause athletes to lose eligibility. The Uniform Law Commission crafted the measure with the help of Jeff Hawkins, UO’s senior associate athletic airector. SB 5 would modernize Oregon’s law for the ever-evolving commercial sports marketplace and ensure uniformity across states.

“We cannot be complacent; there is still a problem for athletes in Oregon’s high schools and colleges,” Hawkins said in his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in sports agents, and they have powerful economic incentives to form relationships with athletes. Unfortunately, often times they use improper benefits like cash and gifts that put student’s education and careers at risk. SB 5 protects student athletes and their families and better regulates improper interactions between athletes and agents.”

Additionally, measures improving funding and services for university students who are veterans are gaining traction, as well as various measures tracking affordability, emergency preparedness and equity.

The Joint Ways and Means Committee continues to hold budget hearings throughout the state, including Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Building 17 at Lane Community College. This is a key opportunity for UO advocates to testify in support of increased funding for higher education to keep tuition as affordable as possible for students.

The universities are collectively asking the Legislature for an additional $100 million investment in the 2017-19 biennium. For more information about the latest federal, state and local government and community relations actions and initiatives that affect the UO, visit the Government and Community Relations website.