Oregon Senate Takes Rare Action to Override Governor’s Veto on Foster Youth Protections
SALEM, Ore. — In a historic move, the Oregon State Senate has successfully overridden Governor Tina Kotek’s veto of Senate Bill 875, marking the first override in over a decade. The bill, which aims to establish a "Foster Youth Bill of Rights," received strong bipartisan support prior to its passage.
On Wednesday, senators voted to affirm the bill, which guarantees foster children essential rights, including regular contact with siblings, access to legal representation, and safeguards against unwarranted separation from family unless sanctioned by a court. Governor Kotek vetoed the measure earlier this week, expressing concerns that it might complicate Oregon’s existing child welfare and abuse investigation frameworks.
However, the Senate’s decisive action, surpassing the two-thirds majority needed, indicates strong legislative support. "The policy is right, the process was right," asserted chief sponsor Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis. She emphasized the bill’s importance in ensuring foster youth can maintain connections with their siblings and attend their court hearings, reinforcing the bipartisan commitment to improving foster care.
Despite the Senate’s progress, the House of Representatives chose to table the bill on Thursday, significantly diminishing its chances for enactment in the current legislative session, which concludes by Sunday. This development leaves many advocates disappointed, as Sen. Blouin highlighted the urgent need for foster youth to have basic rights, hoping they won’t have to wait another year for vital connections with family members.
As the legislative session nears its end, the future of Senate Bill 875 hangs in the balance, symbolizing ongoing debates over the rights and wellbeing of Oregon’s most vulnerable children.
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