HB 3129 Oregon House · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to the behavioral health workforce; declaring an emergency.

Summary

Establishes the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund. Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to distribute moneys from the fund to community colleges and public and private universities in this state for purposes of expanding the training, employment and retention of behavioral health professionals. Appropriates moneys to the fund. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Jun 28, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced → A-Engrossed · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add Representative MUNOZ and Representatives PHAM H as co-sponsors, expand the list of institutions eligible to receive funding to include Oregon Health and Science University, and clarify that scholarship recipients must agree to a two-year service obligation in the publicly funded behavioral health system. The amendment also updated the list of priority populations to serve and refined the advisory group composition to include community mental health programs and public behavioral health employer organizations.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include Oregon Health and Science University as an eligible recipient of behavioral health workforce funding, and the service obligation for scholarship recipients was made explicit.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Oregon Health and Science University to the list of institutions eligible to receive behavioral health workforce fund distribution.

Updated the list of priority populations to serve by reorganizing the categories and adding specific language about individuals in underserved communities.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that scholarship or stipend recipients must agree to a service obligation of at least two years in the publicly funded behavioral health system.

DEFINITION

Changed the advisory group composition to include representatives from community mental health programs and public behavioral health employer organizations.

TECHNICAL

Updated co-sponsorship information to include Representatives MUNOZ and PHAM H.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee upon adjournment.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Higher Education and Workforce Development with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.

lower

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

lower

2 primary · 7 co-sponsors