Behavioral Health Initiative Ceremonial Bill Signing Remarks
May 7, 2026
Good morning and thank you to the University of Oregon’s Ballmer Institute for hosting us today!
I want to point out something meaningful about where we’re standing today. The building behind me that is under construction is where some of Oregon’s future behavioral health workforce will be educated. Where they’ll learn to provide early intervention that many children need. The renovation was made possible by state bonds – a testament to what’s possible when state government, educational institutions, and visionaries come together.
The new laws we are celebrating today include making mental health and addiction care more accessible by supporting the people who do the work and making sure technology doesn’t harm our youngest. In addition to some great speakers to talk about these transformative bills, we are also showcasing all the ways people are helped, from therapy dogs from Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams to art from Harmony Academy Recovery School students to highlight the therapeutic nature of art.
Today, I’m signing five bills that represent a shift in how Oregon is tackling the behavioral health crisis. This isn’t just about working around the edges — this is about mission change.
Senate Bill 1547 creates a new credential for behavioral health work with children and youth, a professional pathway being pioneered right here at the Balmer Institute.
House Bill 4115 is about streamlining the background checks required for providers – by making them last three years instead of two and by making them portable across care settings and employers.
House Bill 4069 is about safety in the workplace, requiring behavioral health employers to develop written safety policies for their workers. People who serve others need to know they will be supported to go home safely after their shift.
Senate Bill 1546 is about protecting young people from irresponsible technology. It requires AI chatbot operators to disclose artificial interactions and implement safeguards to protect minors from self-harm.
And finally, House Bill 4083 – a bill from my office that demands change when it comes to reducing the administrative burden on behavioral health workers. This bill is the first to come out of the Behavioral Health Talent Council's tremendous work.
The First Lady, who chaired the Council, will talk more about that work in a moment, but I want to acknowledge everyone who joined in the Council’s conversations and deliberations to produce a comprehensive set of actions. Raise your hand if you were part of the Council, or the First Lady visited your facility or met with you to hear your experience. [Pause and acknowledge the many hands].
What you shared with her and the Council resulted in a report that will continue to guide Oregon’s work. Thank you for lending your voice and your experience to these solutions.
We need to be honest about where we are. Too many Oregonians struggle to access care, and while we’ve made progress, there’s more to do.
But I’m not one to let a report sit on a shelf. We are already pushing forward to implement strategies from the Behavioral Health Talent Council’s report. We’re working to determine what is most immediately feasible and most impactful – because our providers can’t wait. We need a coalition to move these strategies forward – and I ask each of you to remain our partners in this work.
Thank you for being here.