Creating Awareness for Safe Surrender Laws
On Wednesday, I had the honor of testifying in front of the House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services on behalf of one of my bills: HB 3076.
This bill arose after watching a YouTube video last summer about a newborn who was surrendered in Texas under their “Baby Moses Law”—which shields parents from criminal liability or prosecution—and wondering if Oregon had a similar law. After some research, I discovered that yes, Oregon does (passed in 2001 and regarded as “Safe Surrender”), but hardly anyone knows about it!
Safe Surrender laws currently exist in all 50 states and have been used to safely surrender over 4500 babies since 1999. Unlike many states, Oregon has no requirement for surrender locations (police stations, fire stations, hospitals, doctors offices) to have signage informing communities of Safe Surrender protections, and as a result, the law is very rarely utilized here.
HB 3076 proposes mandating signage to create awareness around this important protection, but also to expand the safe surrender period from 30 to 60 days, making Oregon a national leader on Safe Surrender protections (joining just 6 other states allowing surrenders for 60 days or longer). With the -1 Amendment, Oregon would also join 11 other states in allowing the option for “baby boxes” for truly anonymous surrender.
It is not our place to judge why parents may feel a need to surrender their infant, but rather to make known the fact that there is a legal, no questions asked, way for parents to surrender their baby—which is a clearly the preferred alternative to illegal abandonment.
A link to my testimony can be viewed here.
Support for SB 795 is Needed!!!
Your support is needed! If you want to see our forests logged again, now is the chance to make your voice heard!
SB 795 will have a public hearing Monday morning at 8:00 in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. You can testify in person, or submit written testimony on OLIS within 48 hours of the hearing.
SB 795 would give counties an option to take back forest lands that were deeded over to the State under an agreement that those lands would be managed for the “greatest permanent value” if counties feel the agreement is not being upheld and that they could obtain more value from the lands.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, it is likely due to the fact Linn County lead a lawsuit on behalf of the O&C counties against the State in 2019 due to the State’s failure to manage forests to maximize the value to the tax base, and were awarded over a $1 Billion settlement in past losses.
That lawsuit was overturned on appeal, and the Oregon Supreme Court has refused to hear the case, forcing counties like Linn to resort to Legislation to get our forest lands back and actually manage them.
We’ve all seen the decline of our forests as management practices by the Department of Forestry have increasingly limited logging, and have seen the toll it has taken on our communities as we’ve not only lost jobs, we’ve lost the tax revenue from our forest industry that should be supporting our basic services.
We need to make rural Oregon’s voice heard, and once again see true management of our forests!
HB 2898 – Wildfire Recovery RV Habitation – Headed to the Floor!
This is an important wildfire recovery bill that continues to allow recreational vehicles to be used as habitation on a lot that was damaged by natural disaster. It extends this allowance until December 30, 2030 for dwellings destroyed in 2020 wildfires, and creates the allowance for 5 years for future disasters.
HB 3248 – Road Legal RTVs
This bill would align Oregon with other states which allow UTV/RTVs (“side-by-sides”) to be licensed and used on roadways if they meet standard safety requirements. This is something we've been asked for from a lot of rural communities, and it needs your help if it is going to receive a hearing. Reach out to committee members and ask for a hearing.
HB 2001 - Emergency Housing Package – That Doesn’t Create More Housing
The Governor intends to spend over a billion dollars on housing and has set an incredibly ambitious goal of boosting Oregon's production to 36,000 units per year, and yet this rushed housing "omnibus" package does nothing to actually achieve that goal. Though some included items have merit (and others erode landlords' ability to operate their businesses, risking the loss of more rental units), we need to see more than lip service to the promise of actual housing solutions if we are going to address this crisis.
HB 2816 - Harmful Business Energy Regulations
This bill would require high energy businesses to be 100% below baseline emissions levels by 2040. Oregon is spending hundreds of millions to try and regain lost business in the chip manufacturing sector, but continues to consider legislation that will only make Oregon more unfriendly to business.
After taking 2nd place out of 13 teams in the 4A division at OSAA State Competition, the Sweet Home Huskies took home the Grand Championship at the OCCA State Championship! Linn County couldn't be more proud!
At the Oregon Cheerleading Coaches Association (OCCA) Championship, they took 1st place in both the Traditional Division and Game Day Division. I also want to give a shoutout to the JV team, who finished 2nd in the JV Game Day Division!
Up next, the Huskies are headed to Anaheim for USA Spirit Nationals! I can't wait to see how they do! GO HUSKIES!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at (Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov)
Jefferson's New Fire District Chief
We’ve got a new Chief in town!
At Jefferson Fire District’s Board meeting on Tuesday, February 21, Levi Eckhardt was sworn in as the new Fire District Chief.
The Jefferson Fire District provides fire and EMS services to about 86 square miles in southern Marion County and northern Linn County, and includes the communities of Jefferson, Talbot, and Millersburg.
Welcome and Congratulations, Chief Levi!
Save The Date!
79th Annual Chamber Awards
When: 03/11/23 6:00pm
Where: 870 18th Ave -
Sweet Home Boys & Girls Club
"Don't be late for this very important date!"
Attention all Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce members! The 79th Annual Awards Banquet is just around the corner and we want you to join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our colleagues. The event will be held on March 11th at 6pm at the Sweet Home Boys & Girls Club.
Don't miss out on this special evening of recognition and fun!
We hope to see you there!
Tickets can be purchased HERE
There's still time to nominate your hardworking friend, colleague or family member HERE
Construction at the Capitol
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On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of touring some of the ongoing construction here at the Capitol along with other Members. I learned what a huge undertaking this project has been for our construction crews! |
The 1938 building will be entirely isolated from the ground and the office wings in the event of a seismic event. There will be a "moat" or buffer around it, allowing the ground to move two feet in any direction while the building stays in place.
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Each support pillar is being prepped with a "collar" that large steel supports are then built around to support the building structure, which will then be jacked up 1/32 of an inch allowing the pillars to be demolished and rebuilt on deeper shoring. |
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The entire basement floor will be excavated 15 feet to build new foundations. The finished floor will be five feet lower than it is now.
Every piece of Hearing Room 50 has been documented and preserved to rebuild this historic hearing room almost identical to its prior state.
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Celebrating FFA Week
This week is National FFA week, and the perfect time to acknowledge the incredible achievement of the 324 Oregon FFA Members who will be receiving their State Degree at the Oregon FFA State Convention March 17th.
I especially want to honor House District 11’s recipients:
Brooke Glaser, Central Linn
Jaxon Wirth, Central Linn
Saydey Johnson, Central Linn
Alexis Laiblin, Harrisburg
Shaiyenne Molthan, Harrisburg
Alyssa Baker, Lebanon
Ashlyn Brinson, Lebanon
Katelyn Hacker, Lebanon
Adalai Rudkin, Scio
Elliana Savage, Scio
Khloe Free, Scio
Rayanna Morris, Scio
Congratulations to you all! The future of Oregon Agriculture is brighter thanks to all you do!
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