Friends and neighbors, the 2023 Regular Session has officially begun. Here are highlights and helpful community information for you!

COMMITTEE TRANSPARENCY

As session begins, our caucus, like the public, is deeply concerned with the massive number of “committee bills” being introduced by committee chairs without the involvement of Republican members.

Committee bills should be limited to topics that committee members have worked on collaboratively and not simply be a way for committee chairs to utilize the non-partisan Legislative Policy and Research Office (LPRO) staff to work on legislation that should be personal member bills.

In a true Committee Bill nature, bills that have been introduced for this legislative session by the members of the previous legislative committee, are not 82nd Assembly Committee Bills.

In the effort to have transparency and accountability in our committee, we would ask these issues to be taken into account and the true nature of Committee Bills be brought back to a real bipartisan approach.

I realize with so many bills coming into the legislative session, getting a ‘head start’ on bills seems appropriate but it really leaves the majority with an advantage and new members, on both sides of the aisle, playing catch up.

Watch news video, here.

Watch full Floor Remonstrance, here.

OREGONIANS...KICKER-ED TO THE CURB?

What you need to know - Courtesy of Senator Daniel Bonham, SD26:

"Three days into the 2023 legislative session, the majority party is already looking to steal Oregonians' hard-earned money by taking the constitutionally protected kicker refund. SRJ 26 and SB 774 would deny Oregonians their much deserved $5,200 (average per household) personal kicker refunds and instead allocate that money to grow an already bloated state bureaucracy. Once I saw SRJ 26 and SB 774 post, I knew I had to speak out against it immediately.

I expressed my concern on the Senate Floor yesterday: "This is Oregonian's hard-earned money that they deserve to spend how they see fit...If we leave it to them, they will spend it wisely and spur on economic development."

Between 2001 and 2021, Oregon’s budget more than tripled from $34.1 billion to $121.2 billion per biennium. That is an insane expansion of government and demonstrates the legislature's insatiable appetite to spend, and insensitivity to a time when Oregonians are already struggling under the weight of inflation and other rising costs."

Watch Senator Bonham's full Floor Remonstrance, here.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Full Press Release link, here.

Link on 'How to find a bill.'

Education, abortion, safety: What Salem-area lawmakers will be prioritizing in 2023 Statesman Journal House Republican Deputy Leader Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, shared her mutual desire to solve the problems outlined in Kotek's address. Speaking of her legislative priorities, she reiterated the hope of coming together to tackle some of the biggest issues. “My hope is that this session will have true bipartisan collaboration to ensure that Oregonians in every corner of our state receive the representation they deserve," Boshart Davis said. "Our rural communities provide critical resources for our state, but the continued barrage of regulations from the state has raised the cost of business and living. It is simply unsustainable." Also Features: Rep. Ed Diehl, Rep. Kevin Mannix, Rep. Tracy Cramer

Oregon asks state Supreme Court to let gun control Measure 114 take effect KATU The state of Oregon is asking the state Supreme Court to step in and let Oregon’s new gun control law, Measure 114, finally take effect. It’s been on hold since December due to legal challenges. Oregon voters narrowly approved the measure last November. The attorney general’s office says it is trying to undo the pause Harney County Judge Robert S. Raschio put in place last month. He is concerned the law violates the state Constitution.

Gun policy debate moves to the ballot box Politico Gun control advocates have watched carefully as advocates scored victories even in very conservative states when they put Medicaid expansion or protecting abortion directly on the ballot. In November, a groundbreaking gun safety measure passed in Oregon. Now the idea of putting gun control on the ballot in 2024 is surfacing in several states. “We’re starting to have those conversations” with activists across the country, said Rev. Mark Knutson, a leader of Lift Every Voice, a faith-based community coalition that propelled the Oregon measure. “I think it’s going to build.”

Report: More retirees are choosing to leave Oregon than any other state KOIN6 A new report shows that many retired individuals are choosing to leave Oregon in favor of cheaper, or potentially warmer, locales. The report by Hire A Helper compiled U.S. Census data to track how many retired people moved to, and left each state. Not surprisingly, the sunny beaches of Florida attracted the most newcomers, with just under 12% of moving retirees setting their eyes on the Sunshine State. Oregon however fell at the complete opposite end of the spectrum, with just under 10% of moving retirees leaving the state. According to the report, 12% of retirees said their reason for moving was due to housing costs, which is the highest it has been since 2014. A report from late 2022 found that Oregon was among the top 5 most expensive states to buy a house in.

Oregon community college enrollment drops again OregonLive Enrollment in Oregon’s community colleges declined again this fall, a worrying sign for higher education in the state and for its supply of skilled workers. Oregon’s community colleges had 85,000 students enrolled for the fall term, according to state data. That’s down 3.6% from 2021 – and off more than 26% compared to enrollment before the pandemic.

Oregon legislative session begins with the goal of bipartisanship solutions Fox12 Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, a Republican from District 15, called on House members to work on bills in committees with her caucus’ input. She understands with so many bills introduced, there was a need to get a head start in committees. But she claims that puts the minority parties and new members of the legislature at a disadvantage. “In the effort of transparency and accountability in our committee, we ask this nature to be taken into account and the true nature of committee bills be brought back to a real bipartisan approach,” Boshart Davis said. … In a show of bipartisanship, the leadership from both parties in the Oregon House of Representatives held a joint press conference for their priorities this legislative session. We have committed to having conversations,” House Minority Leader Vikki Bresee Iverson said. “The way that we get to the right answer for Oregonians is to continue to have conversations and look to places where we can come together to find good solutions.

West Linn, Oregon City mayors push back against I-205 tolling plan Fox12 “I think the key is that we’re frustrated with ODOT,” Mayor Bialostosky said. “They seem to be ignoring cities and our comments about mitigation and things like that. I have not been able to find a single instance where something has changed in the tolling plan as a result of local government comments.” During Tuesday night’s meeting, local leaders talked about creating a coalition involving more cities to work on solutions. They talked about bringing in Gladstone, Milwaukie and Canby.

Making National News:

Oregon’s first Republican congresswoman describes speaker fight, working on Capitol Hill OPB For the first time since 1997, voters in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District elected a Republican to represent them in Congress, flipping a seat that was previously held by Democrats. Last November, Chavez-DeRemer narrowly defeated opponent Jamie McLeod Skinner. She ran on a campaign focusing on addressing inflation, providing resources to law enforcement and lowering taxes. After five days and 15 rounds of voting for House speaker, Chavez-DeRemer was sworn in on Jan. 7, becoming the first Republican congresswoman to represent the state.

TALE OF A NEW 'TYGER'

From our friends at The Historic Carousel & Museum:

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

Blake is shining bright enough to do justice for the poem that inspired him, written by the poet he was named for!

He joins the rest of the menagerie on the Carousel on January 28th at 11AM.  If you can't wait until then to see him, he is on display in our lobby from now till that Saturday!  Come get a look at him shining bright up close Wednesday through Sunday 11AM-4PM!

ALBANY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB: GROWING

Albany Boys and Girls Club:

A new Waverly location for the Albany Boys and Girls Club creates satellite site, for increasing access for our community youth.

Read more, here. 

KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE

From our friends at the Linn County Sheriff's Office:

We know a lot of children out there received gifts for the holidays that allow them to access the internet. These include phones, tablets, computers, and other online capable devices. Knowing this, we wanted to share some online safety tips to help keep our children safe.

Parents:

• Monitor your children’s screen time. Have them leave it on the counter at nighttime when they go to bed, so you are aware of when they are using their phone.
• Limit what apps you allow your child to use. Predators often use apps with chat features such as Snapchat, Instagram, Roblox, Yubo and Kik. They will often pose as another child to gain your child’s trust, convincing them to send inappropriate pictures or meet them somewhere.
• Periodically check your child’s phone to make sure there is nothing on there that concerns you. Make sure you know their passwords to apps.
• Most phones as well as cell phone providers have tools that allow you to control what apps your child can access, the amount of “screen time” they can have, times they can use their phone for online purposes and more.
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Kids:

• Don’t give anyone your password, name, address, the name of your school, or any information about your family.
• Don’t talk to strangers on the Internet, even if they seem to be in your age group. You don’t have to respond to strangers that try to talk to you.
• Don’t agree to meet anyone in person that you’ve met online.
• Don’t visit a chat room without a parent’s permission.
• Don’t stay online if you see something you think your parents won’t like.
• Don’t post pictures of yourself without your parents’ permission.
• Do not download or install anything on your computer without your parents’ permission.

If you are unsure if your parents would approve of something, ask. They only have your best interests at heart.

As always, communicate with each other about internet usage and any concerns.

The ABC House, located in Albany, offers a free Smart Cyber Choices training that will show you how adults can empower children and teens to use technology safely and wisely. We encourage you to sign up for these trainings, here. 

We hope you and your children find these tips useful and will help keep them safe online!

During the 2023 legislative session my office will continue to keep you updated and informed - and is always at your service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any community event announcements, legislative questions, or concerns.

Talk soon,

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1415
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-389, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boshartdavis