Photo of Ken Helm
D Oregon House · District 27

Rep. Ken Helm

Compare
Total votes
5,876
all sessions
Attendance
96%
193 missed
Near the chamber average
With party
99%
of cast votes
Higher than 95% of chamber peers
Bipartisan score
1%
crosses aisle rarely
Lower than 90% of chamber peers
Sponsored
655
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
2
assignments
655 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
655
Primary
247
Co-sponsor
408
This page
655
matching current filters
Co-sponsor HB 4135
Signed into law · Oregon House · Co-sponsor
Relating to HPV Awareness Day; and declaring an emergency.

Maddy summaryHB 4135 designates March 4th each year as HPV Awareness Day in Oregon to address gaps in public knowledge about HPV prevention. It directly affects state agencies like the Oregon Health Authority and community groups (clinics, schools, health departments) by encouraging them to use this day for voluntary education on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. The bill's key mechanism is creating an annual awareness event to improve understanding of recommended vaccination (starting at age 9) and screening (starting at age 21), targeting Oregon's lower-than-national vaccination rates (67.6%) and screening rates (53.1% for women 25-44). It declares an emergency for immediate effect but does not create new laws or funding, instead complementing existing prevention efforts through public education.

Signed into law Mar 17, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1596
Signed into law · Oregon Senate · Co-sponsor
Relating to play-based learning.

Directs the State Board of Education to allow play-based learning to be considered instructional time for students in kindergarten through grade five.

Signed into law Mar 17, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 4034
Signed into law · Oregon House · Co-sponsor
Relating to animal rescue entities.

] Revises the definition of "animal rescue entity." Provides that veterinary facilities do not qualify as animal rescue entities for purposes of regulating animal rescue entities. Directs the State Department of Agriculture to enforce provisions related to regulating animal rescue entities. Makes changes related to recordkeeping and licensing requirements for animal rescue entities. Removes the impoundment of animals as a civil penalty for a violation of provisions related to animal rescue entities.

Signed into law Mar 17, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 4080
In committee · Oregon House · Co-sponsor
Relating to portable solar photovoltaic energy devices; prescribing an effective date.

Allows a retail electricity consumer to install and use portable solar photovoltaic energy devices with up to a total maximum generating capacity of 1,200 watts. Defines "portable solar photovoltaic energy device." Requires a retail electricity consumer to first file a declaration with the electric utility. Limits restrictions on portable solar photovoltaic energy devices in residences by landlords, homeowners associations, and condominium associations. Allows the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to amend the state building code as necessary to address the installation or use of portable solar photovoltaic energy devices. Becomes operative January 1, 2027. Takes effect July 1, 2026.

In committee Mar 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 4113
In committee · Oregon House · Lead sponsor
Relating to housing development opportunities conditioned upon land conservation.

Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development to study housing development opportunities conditioned upon land conservation. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to land use no later than September 15, 2027. Sunsets on January 2, 2028.

In committee Mar 7, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 4112
In committee · Oregon House · Co-sponsor
Relating to outdoor school; declaring an emergency.

Maddy summaryHB 4112 increases funding for Oregon's outdoor school program by $6 million, raising the biennial allocation from $48 million to $54 million for the 2025-2027 budget period. This funding supports outdoor education programs that provide hands-on environmental learning experiences for students, directly benefiting schools and educational organizations participating in the program. The bill also declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage, though the emergency declaration does not alter the funding amount or program structure.

In committee Mar 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1582
In committee · Oregon Senate · Co-sponsor
Relating to energy; prescribing an effective date.

Requires each electric company to develop a distributed power plant program for the procurement of grid services to be provided by distributed energy resources. Specifies the grid services that may be eligible for compensation and the classes of distributed energy resources technologies that must be eligible to provide the grid services. Allows a customer to enroll directly or through a third party in an electric company's distributed power plant program. Requires an electric company to use a standard offer, open access tariff. Allows an electric company to recover in rates prudently incurred costs associated with the program. Directs the Public Utility Commission to develop and adopt annual procurement targets and performance incentives. Allows an electric company to earn performance incentives for meeting program targets. Requires each electric company to file an annual report with the commission on the status of the electric company's distributed power plant program, including the capacity enrolled in the program. Provides for initial requirements and an implementing timeline. Requires an initial distributed power plant program to provide compensation for system-wide peak load reduction that is provided by an energy storage device that is a battery. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

In committee Mar 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 4136
In committee · Oregon House · Co-sponsor
Relating to tax treatment of mortgage interest; prescribing an effective date.

Disallows, for purposes of personal income taxation, a mortgage interest deduction for a residence other than the taxpayer's principal residence, unless the taxpayer sells the residence or actively markets the residence for sale. Establishes the Oregon Homeownership Opportunity Account. Transfers an amount equal to the estimated increase in revenue attributable to restrictions on the deduction of mortgage interest to the account, for the purpose of making down payment assistance payments. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

In committee Mar 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 4049
In committee · Oregon House · Lead sponsor
Relating to Harney Basin water; prescribing an effective date.

[ Directs ] Authorizes the Water Resources Commission to encourage and approve voluntary agreements between ground water users in the Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern to achieve reasonably stable ground water levels. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

In committee Mar 7, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 4081
In committee · Oregon House · Co-sponsor
Relating to photo radar in highway work zones.

Maddy summaryHB 4081 regulates photo radar use in Oregon highway work zones on state highways. It requires photo radar units to operate only within 100 yards of highway workers or temporary roadway changes (like lane shifts), with clear signage placed 100-400 yards before the zone. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State Police must ensure radar units meet strict accuracy standards, produce clear images, undergo regular inspections, and provide annual calibration. The law also mandates biennial safety evaluations and annual reports to the Legislative Assembly about photo radar usage and public acceptance. This directly affects drivers in work zones, the DOT, and law enforcement agencies operating the radar systems.

In committee Mar 7, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Showing 11 to 20 of 655 bills