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Friends and neighbors, here are some highlights from the week and helpful community information for you!
OREGON'S 164th YEAR OF STATEHOOD!
Happy Birthday Oregon! Feb. 14, 2023
A Huge Kicker – Maybe
Last week, state economists released the revenue forecast. These quarterly updates inform legislators how much money we have for the state's next budget cycle. They also determine the Kicker. They projected that Oregon taxpayers would get a $3.938 billion kicker credit on their 2023 taxes. However, a lot can change between now and when the Kicker is finalized – toward the end of the year.
I am committed to protecting the Kicker. Believe it or not, some in Salem want to take these tax dollars to pad government bank accounts. It's your money, it should be returned to you.
A Huge Housing Package
The House Committee on Housing and Homelessness is expected to vote to advance the housing package in the coming days. We have been working hard on two large bills – House Bill 2001 and House Bill 2889 – and they have now been combined into one bill (HB 2001) covering many topics.
This bill fulfills the Governor's request for $130 million that accompanied her homelessness state of emergency declaration. The most recent amendment would turn HB 2001 into a massive, 133-page omnibus. With any bill that large, there are some good and some bad. The most recent amendment included grant funding for agricultural workforce housing. This grant will aid Oregon agricultural producers in providing safe housing to farmworkers. That is a small win for agriculture in Oregon.
Linn County was not included under Gov. Kotek's executive order declaring a homelessness state of emergency. This package will likely extend the state of emergency statewide to include all counties. There will also be funding for housing projects around the state included in the package.
Consumer Choice Fueling
On Tuesday, I testified before the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans on HB 2426. This bill allows customers to choose between self-service and full-service in areas where self-service is banned today.
Watch full testimony video, here.
Historically, one of the most prominent arguments for full-service gas has been "jobs" – that a law mandating full-service gas provides jobs to people who otherwise might not have one. Oregon's current workforce challenges have made that argument less convincing. We have all seen, and experienced pumps blocked off by cones, long lines, and even stations closing their doors during regular business hours because of staffing shortages. Those pumps could be helping cut down on wait times if those who want to pump their own gas were allowed it.
Recent polling has shown that nearly 2/3rds of Oregonians support this approach.
Today, Oregon has a patchwork of regulations for self-service. Clatsop, Curry, and Tillamook counties can offer self-service at night between 6pm and 6am. At the same time, 15 eastern Oregon counties can offer self-service at all hours. The remaining 18 counties do not allow self-service. HB 2426 would implement a more standardized map allowing ALL counties to have at least 50-50 self-service and full-service. Take a look at the statewide map:
Please email my office, here, if you support or oppose this bill concept.
 Mask Mandates in Health Care Settings
I have heard recent concerns about the continued mask mandates in healthcare settings. Last week, the OHA signaled that they may reverse that policy "in the coming months." I have reached out to the OHA about what metrics they are using to make this determination.
HB 3158 – Diesel and Equipment Taxes
The last few newsletters, I have blown the whistle on HB 3158. As a reminder, this bill:
❌ Taxes on tires
❌ Taxes businesses that sell offroad diesel equipment
❌ Taxes the use of offroad diesel equipment if you purchase it out of state
❌ Taxes heavy equipment rentals
❌ Taxes heavy-duty vehicles
❌ Taxes on dyed diesel
I spoke before the committee this week on how it would negatively impact Oregonians who work outside. I came out of that hearing optimistic that the bill won’t be moving forward. Partly because of math. In Oregon, new taxes must pass both chambers of the Legislature with a 2/3rd vote. Democrats lost their 2/3rd majority in both chambers last election when Republicans gained two seats in the House and one in the Senate. I do not think this bill has the votes to pass.
Unclaimed Property
Oregon’s Unclaimed Property Program has been helping Oregonians access their unclaimed funds for more than 60 years. The Dept. of Treasury began managing the program in 2021, with the goal of connecting more Oregonians with money the state is protecting on their behalf. Over the last 25 years, the Unclaimed Property Program has returned more than $500 million back to individuals. Nearly 1 in 7 people have unclaimed property.
Unclaimed property is any asset — such as uncashed checks, forgotten security deposits, tax refunds, and more — being held by a business, nonprofit, or government entity for which the owner cannot be found. When an organization is unable to contact or return unclaimed property to an owner after some time, usually 1-3 years, they must report the property to Treasury to be held until claimed by its rightful owner.
Go to Unclaimed.Oregon.gov to search for any unclaimed property under your name. Searching is free and easy, and you never know how much unclaimed funds Treasury might be holding for you.
REPORT MISUSE OF STATE FUNDING
State Government Accountability Hotline: 800-336-8218 – ANONYMOUS
Who will answer my call?
Professional operators are available 24 hours a day to receive your call. They will assist you with the reporting process to help ensure we have enough information to determine if an investigation is warranted.
Am I required to leave my name or phone number when I call?
No, your call can be anonymous. If you decide to identify yourself, your name and phone number will be kept confidential. We are required by ORS 177.180(3) to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of potential criminal activity and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission of potential violations of ORS Chapter 244.
Do you investigate the use of city or county funds? What about private organizations?
If a city, county or private organization misuses funds received from the state, we can investigate. If you are uncertain about the source of funds, please call the hotline. We can help determine if state funds are involved.
For more information, go here.
What’s the matter with Portland? Shootings, theft and other crime test city’s progressive strain LA Times If you want to understand the schism that dominates the political and social landscape in this famously liberal city, a walk down Southeast Rhine Street might be a good place to start. ... The 40-year-old package handler for FedEx said that people have openly dealt drugs and urinated on the sidewalk outside her family’s duplex. They’ve dumped feces and used syringes in her manicured yard, played booming music at 3 a.m. and stripped stolen cars for parts. Shots have been fired behind her children’s bedroom.
Oregon attorney general launches criminal investigation into bourbon diversion scandal OPB Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced on Friday she will investigate whether there was any criminal wrongdoing by top managers at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission who diverted specialty bourbons away from public consumption for their own personal use.
Tolls are coming to Portland-area freeways, and even tolling fans worry they’ll stack up OregonLive In less than two years, the Oregon Department of Transportation will introduce the first highway tolls in the state. It will begin with two bridge tolls on Interstate 205. But planned within the next few years are per-mile tolls on all lanes of Interstates 5 and 205 and, if a replacement project gets underway, a toll to cross the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River.
Health officials reiterate dangers of fentanyl following 7 overdoses in McMinnville KATU "We seized just locally in Clark County, 135,000 suspected fentanyl pills," said Sgt. Chris Skidmore, public information officer with the Clark County Sheriff's Office. On Friday in Yamhill County, seven people went to the hospital on suspected overdoses in just the span of a few hours.
'Realize the drug crisis': Portland sees dramatic increase in drug needle litter KGW In 2022, crews collected 176,962 the Downtown Enhanced Service area which covers 213 blocks. The needles came from public right of ways, as well as four drop box sites installed by Multnomah County within the district. The number is staggering in and of itself, but looking at the number of needles collected over the past eight years, the increase is also troubling.
Oregon farmers urge tax exemption for processed crops Capital Press Hazelnuts are taxed differently depending on whether they’re intended for the in-shell or kernel markets, said Bruce Chapin, a grower near Keizer, Ore. The tax exemption applies to in-shell hazelnuts but not to those sold for kernels, since they’re considered to be processed, he said. “In my 50 years of farming, this is the worst year I’ve seen,” Chapin said. “And on top of this loss, to add insult to injury, there will be a CAT tax to pay.”
Lawmakers Consider Whether Taxpayers Should Foot The Bill For Remote State Workers Forbes SB 854 was introduced on February 2, 2023, with Senator Tim Knopp (R-27) and Representatives Vikki Breese Iverson (R-59) and Anna Scharf (R-23) as the primary sponsors. All 30 state senators have now signed on. A public hearing was held on the issue on February 9, 2023—you can read public testimony here.
Nine cities reached record homicides in 2022 as staffing shortages plagued police departments Fox News Portland, Oregon, also reached all-time high homicides in November 2022, when it hit 93 murders, outpacing 92 murders recorded in 2021. The city recorded a total of 101 homicides over the course of 2022, according to Portland Police Department crime statistics, and it has been trying to bounce back from budget and personnel cuts implemented after Floyd's murder in 2020, which sparked 100 days of protests and riots in Portland.
Portland resident warns addicts are using food stamps to buy fentanyl: 'Zombies on our streets' Fox News Addicts in Portland are reportedly turning to their food stamps to fuel their drug addiction, recycling bottles to garner cash to buy more fentanyl, all at the expense of the city's taxpayers. Portland resident Angela Todd released shocking footage showing people on the streets appearing to dump out water bottles shortly before cashing in on the plastic to raise money to buy more drugs.
At least 193 people died while homeless in Multnomah County in 2021 OPB Drug use was a significant factor in two-thirds of the deaths, with methamphetamine contributing to 93 of them. Fentanyl contributed to 36 deaths in 2021, up from just four in 2020. Haven Wheelock, with the homelessness outreach program Outside In, says fentanyl was not a factor in these reports until 2017.
Oregon farmers blast machinery taxes meant to fund Portland truck upgrades Capital Press Rep. Shelly Boshart-Davis, R-Albany, urged the House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee against passing the bill. Similar tax proposals were discussed but not ultimately recommended by a legislative task force on helping businesses reduce diesel emissions, she said. The bill would be counterproductive, since companies are typically able to replace their fleets of trucks and machinery more quickly when they’re earning higher profits, she said. “This makes it more expensive for the people and businesses they are trying to help.”
Bourbon scandal sparks new doubts about Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission warehouse project OregonLive For years, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission has been working to build a new warehouse and headquarters. The agency argues that its current warehouse lacks capacity for all the liquor it could distribute, limiting both the variety of products it can ship to retailers and tax revenues for state coffers. … State Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, suggested the agency commission a “forensic financial audit” of the project “because of the nature of what has gone on.”
Neighbors say homeless moving into vacant homes in Portland Fox12 “I don’t know how many times I’ve talked to police, because people are screaming, or someone is overdosing. It’s just countless, countless first responders’ calls. We all have to love our neighbor no matter who they are. But at the point when they start setting your place on fire it becomes a little more difficult.”
Has the debate over self-serve gas stations in Oregon lost fuel? KATU However, the latest proposed change appears to be sparking less debate. House Bill 2426, sponsored by Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, would allow gas stations throughout the state to offer self-serve options at up to half of their pumps. "It allows Oregonians to choose how they fuel their vehicles," Boshart Davis said during a public hearing on the measure Tuesday.
Pumped up: Fight for self-service gas returns to Oregon legislative session KOIN6 At a public hearing Tuesday before the House Committee On Emergency Management, both Fahey and Boshart Davis stressed the importance of the bill’s passage, especially as the state faces a labor shortage. “As a legislative body, we should look for opportunities to help ease that labor shortage across industry sectors. This bill proposes to do just that,” Boshart Davis said.
Oregon lawmakers consider bill to allow drivers to pump their own gas KEZI Republican representative Shelly Davis said they’re listening to what Oregonians want, and what businesses need. She said businesses continue to struggle to reach full employment, and this would bring them relief. She said the bill would be a win-win for businesses, their employees and drivers throughout Oregon. Under the bill, gas stations will be required to offer attended service for the same price as self-service gas.
Lawmakers, again, consider allowing self-pumping gas stations statewide Oregon Capital Chronicle Four lawmakers are pushing the bill this year: Republican Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis of Albany, House Majority Leader Julie Fahey of Eugene, Republican Sen. Daniel Bonham of The Dalles and Democratic Sen. Janeen Sollman of Hillsboro. … Boshart Davis emphasized the bill would give drivers the choice to pump their own gas and speed up queues. She said gas stations are suffering from a labor shortage spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic that’s made it impossible for employers to hire attendants.
Oregon’s predicted 2024 kicker rebate grows to $3.9 billion, economists warn of state revenue ‘uncertainty’ OregonLive Oregon’s tax revenue forecast has jumped again, potentially giving state lawmakers more money to spend in the next budget and driving up the likely “kicker” tax rebate that taxpayers could receive next year.
Bill would end controversial practice of paying state employees to travel back to Oregon OPB “I believe the current policy is neither fair nor equitable to hybrid and in-person state employees who don’t get compensated for their commutes,” Knopp wrote. “It is also deeply unfair to hardworking taxpayers.” It was not immediately clear Tuesday morning whether Kotek had responded to the letter or altered any state policies.
Tolls in Oregon move closer to reality with ODOT’s release of environmental assessment report Oregon Capital Insider Tolling in Oregon is moving forward — and coming soon to bridges along I-205. The I-205 Toll Project Environment Assessment report from the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration was released Tuesday. ODOT is now accepting public comment on the topic, as well.
Oregon taxpayers could see nearly $4 billion ‘kicker’ next year as economic outlook improves OPB “”We must return Oregon’s ‘kicker’ back into the hands of hardworking Oregonians,” House Minority Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, a Prineville Republican, said in a statement. “While my Pendleton friends would say ‘let ‘er buck,’ I say ‘let ‘er kick.’” Breese-Iverson also signaled opposition to Kotek’s proposal to divert payments into state reserves.
Oregon economists predict bigger revenues than expected but urge caution in budgeting Oregon Capital Chronicle Meanwhile, Republican leaders Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson of Prineville and Sen. Tim Knopp of Bend focused their comments on preserving the kicker and the continued struggles Oregonians face buying staples like food and gas because of inflation. “We must return Oregon’s ‘kicker’ back into the hands of hardworking Oregonians. While my Pendleton friends would say ‘let er’ buck,’ I say ‘let er’ kick,’” Breese-Iverson said.
Oregon economists project next year's kicker could be near $4B, still recession-wary KATU House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson also reacted to the news, writing in part: "For the remainder of the 2023 Legislative Session, we must pursue fiscal responsibility" and leave the education stability and rainy-day funds alone.
Oregon state employees sue over missing, incorrect wages under new payroll system Statesman Journal “We still have many missing or late paychecks. This has led to people not being able to pay rent, or daycare,” said Andrea Kennedy-Smith, a paralegal for the state’s Child Welfare Services and president of SEIU Local 503, OPEU Local 200, which represents Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority employees.
Portland records snowiest day since 1943, landing at No. 2 on all-time list OregonLive Portland International Airport recorded 10.8 inches by Thursday morning, beating out the 9.3 inches that fell over 24 hours in 1956. Since snowfall record-keeping at the airport began in 1939, the greatest snow accumulation over a day-long period was 14.4 inches in 1943.
ROLLING INTO THE
OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE
I was able to speak to the Oregon Logging Conference yesterday about the legislative process and how to be involved. Show up, tell your story. I may have explained the “how”, but every person in that audience already understands the “why”.
When forests are actively managed by Oregon's professional operators, passion for the protection of the resource is front of mind.
These land stewards contribute to Oregon through contributions in environmental protections, forest resiliency, social stability, public welfare and the state's economic wellbeing.
WELCOME WHEAT FARMERS TO SALEM!
“Friend of Oregon Wheat”
It’s hard to put into words the honor I feel when thanked for doing this job. See, my grandpas are my inspiration. One a farmer, one in manufacturing. They set the tone for my family, and I’m a result of their life’s work.
My grandpa Merrill lived in the field, in the shop, in equipment, and at church. All of my summer memories are with cousins, uncles, siblings, and my parents in the field. Looking back, in my opinion, there is no better way to grow up. The appreciation of the land, of our natural resources, of those we worked beside and learned from - these are the memories and the traits I watched and learned. In the field, or on the Oregon House Floor, I will continue to be a friend to Oregon Ag in everything I do in Salem. It’s the least I can do.
Senator Daniel Bonham (SD-26) and I were honored to receive the "Friend of Oregon Wheat" Award.
Wheat Day at the Capitol - 2023
From our friends at Oregon Wheat Growers:
Special thanks to Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis and Senator Bill Hansell for giving Oregon Wheat a shoutout on the floor yesterday for Wheat Days in the capitol! Both legislators have been strong advocates for our industry and work hard to help us strengthen it every year.
Watch full video of my Courtesy from the House Floor, here.
Chemeketa Community College:
Ken Hector-Chemeketa Board of Education, Diane McLaran-Director of Community Relations, Jessica Howard-President, myself, and Arielle Holgado-Student.
Oregon Credit Union Day at the Capitol!
NEW ABGC WAVERLY SITE INFORMATION
For more information on hours of operation, location, and activities, go here.
ABGC DENTAL SERVICES
For more information on no-cost dental services for uninsured children, go here.
ABGC ANNUAL AUCTION - SAVE THE DATE!
For event updates, go here.
HAPPY NATIONAL FFA WEEK!
In honor of National FFA Week, my youngest daughter, Samantha, recited the FFA Creed this week on the Oregon House Floor. What a great way to honor and celebrate National FFA week! The FFA Creed by E.M. Tiffany was written in 1928 and has remained relatively unchanged since then.
Sam’s favorite line is “With a faith born not of words, but of deeds” because it shows that actions speak louder than words.
Phenomenal job Sam!
Watch the full video, here:
Why is the FFA Creed Important? By Sam Klum
Why is the FFA Creed important? The FFA Creed represents what a FFA member lives by. The Creed was written in 1928 by E.M. Tiffany. The Creed shows us what we as the FFA community believe in. “I believe in the future of agriculture”. The first line of the Creed. Tiffany believed in the future of our agricultural industries. He believed in that so much, he made it the center of the beliefs an FFA member should possess. The whole Creed is about what we live by, what our goals are, how we have come from our struggles and made them into opportunities. Tiffany, without a doubt, represented our standpoint in the best way. He showed how we must respect one another and do our very best. He showed how much we need to make honest wealth and not rely on others but that we can still ask for help in our time of need. Tiffany, when writing the Creed, covered both the family farm and national agricultural businesses, both the joys and challenges of agricultural life. The FFA Creed is important because it states exactly what an FFA member should live by, think by, and do by.
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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. |
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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
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