On August 1, Governor Kate Brown issued a statement indicating that she will veto Senate Bill 721 and House Bill 2646. In her words: “portions of both unfortunately come into conflict with federal regulations or federal authority.”
In SB 721, Oregon Health Authority, the current state Medicaid agency, would delegate its authority over Medicaid policies to an independent advisory council. The implemented bill would violate the federal law that requires a single Medicaid agency in a state.
HB 2646 would disallow purchase of kratom by Oregonians under the age of 21. In this bill, the regulatory function would fall on the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The Governor, however, believes that the regulatory function over potentially harmful drugs belongs to the federal Food and Drug Administration.
In both cases, Governor Brown supports the intentions of the bills and awaits their revised versions. Brown praised the legislative body for their work on this session’s bills. “I want to thank legislators for a successful and productive session that addressed the key challenges facing Oregonians, including the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfire recovery and preparedness, and taking steps to end systemic racism and address racial disparities in Oregon”.
By Joanna Rosińska
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