HOW IS THIS PROPosal DIFFERENT THEN LPRO?

Oregon is entering a period of rapid change where reduced federal support, rising costs, and evolving community needs are forcing the state to make tougher financial decisions than ever before. Many of our pioneering programs falter long term due to lack of critical infastructure. To move forward responsibly, Oregon needs a reliable way to learn from past investments, measure real outcomes, and ensure taxpayer dollars go to solutions that are effective, accountable, and built to last.

The Legislative Policy and Research Office (LPRO), is a nonpartisan office within the Oregon State Legislature that provides research and policy support to lawmakers. It supports lawmakers directly by providing research, bill summaries, policy briefs, and background materials on request, to help form future laws. Their role is advisory, not investigative.

My goal is to form a Standing Research & Oversight Unit. It would be a proactive and dedicated body to evaluate program effectiveness — focusing on failed or underperforming laws, policies, and social service programs. Unlike LPRO it would have an independent mandate to continuously study specific areas (like addiction policy, housing programs, foster care systems, etc.). It would be focused on specific programs, not a general study.

Its goal is NOT to eliminate existing programs and/or funding. It would monitor the development of new programs and existing, to track program effectivness and compare it to previous programs. Its goal is to identify what support, and tools, programs need to succeed long term in helping Oregonians. With a more educated response to program effectivness, we can build foundations that last.

It would would involve hired analysts, economists, sociologists, and policy evaluators — not just legislative staff — perhaps working under a bipartisan legislative oversight board.It’s functions would be to conduct field investigations and long-term impact studies. To compare intended vs. actual outcomes of laws (like the drug decriminalization bill). Recommend course corrections, including repeals, amendments, or new initiatives. It could potentially partner with universities or state auditors for independent analysis.

This could fill a real gap — Oregon often passes bold reforms but doesn’t always follow up to see if they work. Oregon can’t afford to keep funding programs that don’t work. A small investment in oversight saves millions in failed initiatives and unaccounted spending.

You deserve to be heard. YOU DESERVE RESULTS.