Oregon Legislators Recognized As Public Health Champions As 2025 Session Fails To Fund Critical Health Investments (Photo) - 11/03/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Allison Mora, Public Health Program Manager
Coalition of Local Health Officials
971-480-0752
allison@oregonclho.org

Oregon Legislators Recognized as Public Health Champions as 2025 Session Fails to Fund Critical Health Investments

CLHO Releases Legislative Scorecard Highlighting Leadership While Calling on Governor, Legislative Leaders to Prioritize Public Health Funding

PORTLAND, OR – November 3rd, 2025 – Despite advancing its most ambitious public health agenda to date, the Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO) announced today that no new investments in Oregon's public health system were made during the 2025 legislative session. The organization's Legislative Scorecard recognizes lawmakers who championed public health priorities while highlighting the urgent need for future funding to support the state's underfunded public health infrastructure.

"The 2025 legislative session was a difficult one," said Sarah Lochner, CLHO Executive Director. "Economic uncertainty drove down Oregon's revenue forecast, leaving the Legislature with tough choices to make. But year after year, public health gets pushed aside—and Oregon's communities pay the price."

CLHO advanced a comprehensive public health agenda this session, advocating for investments in Public Health Modernization, the public health workforce, addiction primary prevention, and maternal and child health, along with stronger policies for synthetic nicotine regulation and taxation. But many proposals stalled in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and never came to a full chamber vote, leaving Oregon's public health system underfunded yet again.

As a result, many legislators earned a 0% on this year's scorecard—not because they opposed public health, but because the Legislature failed to act on key bills that would have strengthened Oregon's health infrastructure.

Recognizing 2025 Public Health Champions

Despite the challenging session, several legislators demonstrated exceptional leadership on public health priorities, earning recognition as Public Health Champions, Rising Stars, and members of the Public Health Honor Roll.

Public Health Champions: Legislators who went above and beyond to advance public health this session, earning the highest tier of recognition on our scorecard. These champions also earned extra credit by repeatedly stepping up for public health.

• Rep. Rob Nosse – 143%

• Rep. Hai Pham – 143%

• Rep. Travis Nelson – 129%

• Sen. Deb Patterson – 117%

Public Health Rising Stars: Senators who demonstrated strong support for public health and the CLHO agenda, earning 100% and the second tier of recognition on this year's scorecard.

• Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin – 100%

• Sen. Floyd Prozanski – 100%

• Sen. James Manning, Jr. – 100%

Public Health Honor Roll: Legislators who stepped up, many for the first time, to support CLHO's top priorities and demonstrated a clear commitment to protecting and strengthening Oregon's public health system, scoring 100%.

• Rep. Tom Andersen

• Rep. Willy Chotzen

• Rep. Lisa Fragala

• Rep. Mark Gamba

• Rep. Shannon Isadore

• Rep. Lesly Munoz

• Rep. Hoa Nguyen

• Rep. Sue Rieke Smith

• Rep. Jules Walters

"We are grateful to the champions, rising stars, and others who stood up for public health during the 2025 session," Lochner said. "These legislators understand that a strong public health system isn't a luxury—it's the foundation of healthy communities and a thriving economy."

What Was at Stake

The scorecard focused on five of CLHO’s top legislative priorities, which included:

• HB 3916 – Public Health Workforce Package: Addressing critical staffing shortages in local health departments across Oregon

• HB 2954 – Addiction Primary Prevention: Investing in primary prevention programs to stop substance use before it starts

• HB 2528 – Synthetic Nicotine Regulation: Strengthening protections for youth against unregulated and emerging nicotine products

• Public Health Modernization Funding: Building a stronger, more flexible statewide public health system

• Maternal and Child Health Investments: Supporting healthy pregnancies and early childhood development

Without these investments, Oregon's local health departments continue to operate with limited resources, understaffed teams, and reduced capacity to respond to emerging health threats.

 “Flat funding is actually a funding decrease,” Lochner emphasized. “Rising staff costs mean the funding we have buys less this year than it did last year—so even maintaining current service levels becomes impossible.”

Call to Action

CLHO is urging Governor Kotek and legislative leadership to prioritize public health in future agency budgets and legislative sessions.

"Oregon can't afford to keep underfunding prevention," Lochner said. "We've seen what happens when we don't invest in public health—communities suffer, health disparities grow, health insurance costs skyrocket, and we end up spending more on crisis response instead of prevention. It's time for that to change."

The full scorecard, including detailed methodology, is available at oregonclho.org/advocacy.

About CLHO

The Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO) is a statewide coalition representing Oregon's local health departments and health officials. CLHO advocates for policies and resources that strengthen Oregon's public health system, promote health equity, and support the health of communities served by local health departments across the state.

For more information about CLHO's legislative priorities and the 2025 Legislative Scorecard, visit oregonclho.org/advocacy. 

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