Behavioral Health Initiative Ceremonial Bill Signing Remarks
August 5, 2025
Good afternoon, it is my pleasure to be with you here today.
I’d like to take a moment to thank our hosts, the great team here at Fora Health. The First Lady and I were here a few months ago for a tour, and we know the cutting edge substance use treatment work you’re doing here. Thank you for everything you’re doing for Oregonians.
I also want to thank all the legislators, advocates, providers, family members, and other partners in the room today for your work to improve our behavioral health care system. The bills I’m signing are happening because of you.
And thank you to Oregon’s First Lady, Aimee Kotek Wilson, who helped advocate for the changes to the civil commitment law contained in House Bill 2005 and is also chairing my Behavioral Health Talent Council.
We’re here to celebrate four behavioral health bills that will make a real difference in people's lives. Better approaches for helping people in crisis. More resources for treatment and workforce capacity. Looking upstream to health young Oregonians stay healthy. This year’s legislative successes get us closer to the vision of an Oregon where we focus more on prevention and intervention, helping people get the care they need, when they need it, no matter where they live. This is a journey, and there’s certainly more to do, and I’m thankful for everyone here who knows what it takes to keep going until we reach that better future for everyone.
House Bill 2005, when paired with the $65 million in new treatment capacity planned through House Bill 2059, will make a course correction in our system by helping more individuals who are suffering from acute mental illness get the care they need. These bills will lead to better outcomes for people in crisis and for our communities.
House Bill 2024 focuses on supporting our essential workers in mental health and addiction care. The $6 million in the bill is another downpayment on critical grants that will help us recruit and retain the professionals who serve Oregonians. There’s also a renewed commitment to workplace safety and protecting workers. Thank you, AFSCME, for your advocacy on the bill. When the First Lady and I visited with providers across the state on the One Oregon Listening Tour, we heard time and time again about the struggle to attract and keep workers in areas with the deepest gaps in care. We must continue this work, and I appreciate the members of the Behavioral Health Talent Council for the action steps they will bring forward by January of next year.
Finally, House Bill 3321 focuses on prevention. The bill requires the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to develop and implement a statewide substance abuse prevention plan with specific strategies tailored to Oregon’s youth. The rates of substance abuse and overdose deaths among our youth are unacceptable. This bill will marshal our efforts toward the best practices and data driven solutions so that Oregon can get ahead of our addiction crisis.
None of these bills would be on my desk today without the support and determination of our lawmakers, especially Representative Jason Kropf, Representative Rob Nosse, Rep Jules Walters, Rep Tawna Sanchez, Rep Tom Andersen, Senator Kate Lieber, and Senator Floyd Prozanski. Thank you for your partnership.
Thank you all once more for being here. And to our provider community, I so appreciate you. You all confront the most difficult human problems with compassion, resolve, and so much wisdom.
Thank you.