SALEM, OR – Governor Tina Kotek this week signed a bipartisan package of legislation focused on strengthening Oregon’s mental health and addiction care workforce, supporting frontline providers, and protecting Oregonians – especially young people – from emerging risks from irresponsible technology. The effort builds on Governor Kotek’s broader record of expanding mental health and addiction care to every corner of the state.
“Every Oregonian deserves access to quality mental health and addiction care – no matter where they live or the size of their paycheck,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “While the Trump administration recklessly cuts federal healthcare funding, Oregon is doing the opposite: investing in our providers, expanding treatment, and tearing down the barriers that keep Oregonians from getting the help they need. I won’t let Washington D.C. dictate who in Oregon gets care, and I will keep fighting to make sure those in crisis can get the help they need when they need it.”
Governor Kotek has made expanding access to mental health and addiction care a central priority throughout her time in office – increasing treatment capacity, growing the workforce, and ensuring more Oregonians can get care close to home.
- In 2025, Governor Kotek launched the Behavioral Health Talent Council, which is chaired by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, to develop a comprehensive action plan to address Oregon’s behavioral health workforce crisis, tackle worker shortages in rural communities, reduce turnover, and strengthen recruitment and retention for providers serving Oregon Health Plan members.
- Governor Kotek also signed bipartisan legislation in 2025 to improve and expand mental health and addiction care across Oregon, including a $65 million investment to expand residential treatment capacity.
- Governor Kotek has delivered major investments in Oregon’s behavioral health workforce – including $60 million in workforce incentives for scholarships, loan repayment, retention, and peer support, and $20 million in clinical supervision grants – to help recruit, train, and retain providers across the state.
- Under Governor Kotek’s leadership, Oregon has created over 600 new mental health and addiction treatment beds and expanded access to addiction counselors so more Oregonians in crisis can get the care they need close to home.
- As the Trump administration recklessly cuts federal healthcare funding, Governor Kotek has continued to invest in the systems and people Oregonians rely on for behavioral health care – and refused to let Washington dictate who in Oregon does or doesn’t get the care they need.
ABOUT GOVERNOR KOTEK
Governor Tina Kotek has spent her career making history and fighting for others. Over the last three years, Governor Kotek has expanded access to affordable childcare, created thousands of new shelter beds, protected abortion access and vote-by-mail, and funded early literacy and summer learning programs. She has also been a national leader in pushing back against Donald Trump’s attacks on our communities, our healthcare, and our rights by blocking his illegal attempts to deploy the Oregon National Guard in our communities and working through the night to reverse his decision to strip food assistance from Oregonians by taking away SNAP benefits.
Governor Kotek is running for reelection to continue defending Oregon values and tackling the state’s biggest challenges – lowering costs, reducing homelessness, strengthening schools, expanding mental health and addiction care, and bringing affordable childcare to every corner of the state.