Current Legislative Issue Briefs, Testimonies, and Statements

Drum 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.

2025 Issues

2024 Issues

During the 2024 Oregon Legislative Session, OLA is supporting SB 1583 which prohibits discrimination when selecting textbooks, instructional materials, program materials or library books that are used in the public schools of Oregon.  Available here are the two statements, one from the Legislative Committee and the other from the Intellectual Freedom 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 past 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Currently, 10% of Oregon’s public libraries have internet speeds lower than the FCC’s current (and outdated) definition for broadband: 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads.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:

1. A part-time consultant to contract with the State Library to act as a E-Rate consultant for all of Oregon’s public libraries; and

2. $750,000 to be directed to the newly created Connecting Oregon Libraries Fund, established by HB 4092 in 2022

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  past 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.

Topic handout by past OLA Lobbyist Tess Milio

Ongoing Issues

Media Standards Study Report

Law libraries