 Friends and neighbors, here are some highlights from the week and helpful community information for you!
SB 85 – Bad News for Affordable Food
Oregon is known for our agricultural products. These farmers are my friends, neighbors, and constituents. That is why I am opposing SB 85. It would threaten the future of Oregon agriculture and family farms.
This bill would limit or ban the expansion or creation of additional responsible, highly-regulated, and ethical livestock operations throughout Oregon. These family-owned farms and feedlots produce beef, dairy, chicken, eggs, and pork for Oregonians and beyond.
Oregon has one of the country's most robust regulatory programs for livestock feeding operations. This program was recently enhanced (with support from the ag industry) to ensure protection for our environment and food supply. Each of these farms or feedlots hold a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit; a program partnership between the Department of Environmental Quality and administered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The CAFO permit provides oversight to protect Oregon's water quality.
If SB 85 passed, it would magnify the strain on our food supply chain and further drive up costs for milk, chicken, eggs, beef, and pork. This legislation would only accelerate the loss of family farms and local food production, killing jobs and businesses. As a result, Oregon would have to rely more on out-of-state livestock products.
I recently testified before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources against SB 85. Watch full testimony here. Read my full testimony, here.
HB 2426 – Consumer Choice in Fueling
Yesterday, the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans advanced HB 2426, which would allow everyone in the state of Oregon to choose how they fill up their car. I am proud to have gotten this legislation this far, along with my bipartisan sponsors. I am now working to ensure it passes the House Floor and Senate.
HB 2001 – More of the same failed policies on Housing
Are you happy with homelessness or the cost of housing in Oregon? If not, you shouldn't like HB 2001.
This bill has been touted as the 'Housing Package of the Session.' But this bill will not do anything to bring down the cost of housing in Oregon or get the homeless off the street. The bill nibbled around the edges of our housing issues, but largely uses the same government-subsidized housing approach that has gotten us into this mess.
Last week, The House and Homelessness Committee advanced HB 2001, and it is now down in Ways and Means for a full financial analysis.
Semiconductors
With Intel already in Oregon, we have a big opportunity to benefit from the Federal Government's $52 billion investment into bringing microchip manufacturing back to America; but not with the current package being debated in the Joint Semiconductor Committee.
It's no secret that Oregon has an anti-business climate because of the policies passed over the last decade. High tax rates, low incentives, and an uncooperative government won't help bring large-scale semiconductor manufacturing back to Oregon. The Democrat-led Semiconductor Committee is supposed to be figuring out what reforms to make to entice them, and the best they have come up with is SB 4.
ATI's Albany factory provides hundreds of jobs for our community. They are part of this semiconductor conversation because they manufacture a key element of microchips. For the sake of our local jobs and Oregon’s economy, I hope we don't miss this opportunity.
As part of the SB 4, the Governor will get unprecedented powers to overrule local communities in the siting of a large scale manufacturing facility. I am always cautious when giving the Governor more power – given her track record, I do not believe this is wise.
When discussing this bill and this subject, the agriculture community should have a seat at the table. In the last few years, they have been sidelined on numerous issues – ag overtime, new taxes, and regulation, etc. They should be included in this discussion and part of the agreement.
Habitat Conservation Plan
This would be a perfect opportunity for Governor Kotek to fulfill her promise in her inaugural address:
"And finally, for all Oregonians, we must all come together to be part of the solution. I invite everyone listening today to help build the Oregon you want to live in."
This week, the House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Tina Kotek urging immediate reconsideration of the ODF's proposed Habitat Conservation Plan.
The current plan would cause a 27% harvest reduction on state forestlands.
Read full House Republican letter, HERE.
Read full Inaugural Address, HERE.
YVYV: House Bill 2426 - Pumping your own gas could be coming to Oregon KATU Here to talk about the bi-partisan effort to get house bill 2426 passed in this legislative session, Representative Shelly Boshart Davis who is the deputy house Republican leader and Representative Julie Fahey who is the Oregon House Majority Leader.
Portland real estate developer says goodbye to city after bullet holes riddle office: 'Absolute madness' Fox News Real estate developer and lifelong Portland, Oregon, native Dustin Michael Miller is saying goodbye to the city after walking into his office to discover bullet holes had penetrated the glass close to where he would normally sit while working. ... Miller said Saturday's incident is a reminder that the city's violence can happen to anyone and slammed Portland leaders for pushing policies that allow criminals to "do whatever they want." … "We just passed a law where all drugs are legal. You don't get [incarcerated for] possession anymore, so anybody over a certain quantity [of substances], no problem. You go to court… and you either get a ticket or you go to treatment."
Oregon Health Authority interim director resigns after less than 2 months on the job OPB Oregon’s top health care official has announced he’s leaving after less than two months on the job. James Schroeder, interim director of the Oregon Health Authority, submitted notice of his resignation this week. “I have been honored to shepherd the agency during this time of transition,” Schroeder wrote in a resignation letter dated Thursday. “However, I have decided I will not pursue the permanent director position. My family is the center of my life and I recognize the demands of this role are not compatible with the focus I want to give to them.”
Oregon lawmakers again consider letting drivers pump their own gas OregonLive Oregon lawmakers are once again considering a bill that would allow self-serve gas throughout the state. House Bill 2426 would give drivers the option to pump their own gas anywhere in the state, ending a decades-long ban on self-serve gas enforced by only Oregon and New Jersey since the middle of the last century. (Oregon’s ban took effect in 1951. … “This bill would dramatically simplify this regulatory patchwork,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany. She, along with bill co-sponsor Rep. Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, described the inconsistent rules between counties or at different times of day.
Farmers pack legislative hearing on bill that would halt new large animal operations Oregon Capital Chronicle Eight lawmakers, including two Democrats in support of the bill and six Republicans opposed, spoke at the hearing. Many were from districts where agriculture drives the economy, including several from Tillamook County, which has large dairy operations, and Lane and Benton counties, where more large chicken operations are being proposed. State Sen. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, said halting new large operations and expansions for eight years would close many businesses in her district. State Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, said at least 20% of the state’s industrial animal operations are in his district, and that the bill would be an economic disaster for them. State Rep. Jami Cate, R-Lebanon, said that over the last 15 years, the 36 chicken plants in her district have only received seven nuisance complaints.
OLCC Discloses Employee Data Breach That Warranted Criminal Investigation Willamette Week The agency is already reeling from Gov. Tina Kotek’s recent firing of OLCC director Steve Marks, the resignation of commission chair Paul Rosenbaum, and a pending criminal investigation into the diversion of rare bourbon. Then, on Feb. 21, the agency notified employees of a data breach serious enough to warrant a criminal investigation.
Walmart’s departure from Portland shines light on rampant property crime Fox12 FOX 12 spoke to multiple local business owners and they all point to crime as the main reason many are leaving Southeast 82nd Avenue, including Walmart. Though a spokesperson for Walmart told FOX 12 last week there is no single reason for a decision to close a store, other business owners said they’re dealing with similar problems as Walmart: vandalism and shoplifting. Darrel Hanson has owned his muffler shop on Southeast 82nd avenue for nearly four decades. He said he’s watched the surrounding neighborhood decline in recent years.
Critics lash out at habitat conservation plan for state forests Capital Press State Rep. Cyrus Javadi, a Republican whose district includes Clatsop and Tillamook counties, said the current proposal came as a disappointment and fails to strike the right balance between environmental and economic priorities. "I urge you to direct ODF to improve the HCP and increase timber harvest volumes before it's too late," Javadi told the Board of Forestry .… The issue has caught the attention of the Oregon House Republican Caucus, which sent letter to Gov. Tina Kotek arguing the HCP should be reconsidered. "While our caucus largely supports the intent of the HCP and reasonable conservation measures, we want to ensure that our forests continue to be valuable economic and societal resources for communities," the letter states. The current plan is "heavy on protection and light on economic realism," the caucus wrote.
House Republican Caucus urges Governor Kotek to reconsider the ODF’s proposed ‘Habitat Conservation Plan’ Tillamook Headlight Herald Yesterday, the Oregon House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Kotek urging the immediate reconsideration of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) proposed ‘Habitat Conservation Plan’ or HCP. In a February 15 meeting, the Board of Forestry rejected a proposal that would have taken the plan back to the drawing board to balance the economic needs of Oregon’s rural communities.
Coos Bay community recognized for their hospitality during OSAA 3A Basketball State Championship The World Today, Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City), Representative Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport), Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), and Representative Court Boice (R-Gold Beach) recognized the community of Coos Bay for their exceptional hospitality during the OSAA 3A Basketball State Championship. On Monday, Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) and Senator Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton & Southwest Portland) took to the floors of their respective chambers in the State Capitol to extend courtesies to the community of Coos Bay for being exceptional hosts.
OREGON AG FEST 2023: MORE INFO!
From our friends at Oregon Ag Fest:
SAVE THE DATE! Come join us April 29th – 30th for the 36th Annual Oregon Ag Fest at the Oregon State Fairgrounds! Pony rides, animals to pet, and over 30 different kid-friendly activities (planting seedlings, digging for potatoes, racing mini-pedal tractors, etc.) are just some of the fun things to do at Ag Fest! To experience life on the farm in an interactive, fun, and festive way, head to the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem on Saturday, April 29th from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM and Sunday, April 30th from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
- Free Parking
- Free Admission for Children 12 & Under
- $9 Admission for 13-years & Over
More info and tickets, go here.
BLOOD DRIVE - MARCH 13
From our friends at the Albany Boys & Girls Club:
BLOOD DRIVE
Where: 1215 SE Hill Street Albany, OR 97322
When: Monday, March 13th, 2023
What time: 8:30 am-1:30 pm
***Masks are required***
To schedule an appointment, contact Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767, or sign up online at RedCross.org and use code: BoysandGirlsAlbany
APD: YOUTH POLICE ACADEMY
From our friends at Albany Police Department:
It's time! Applications are being accepted on our website for Youth Police Academy Day(s)!
Join us for a full Saturday of fun! 8:30-4:00pm
Students get to learn about law enforcement in our community! Free!
Register today!
LINN COUNTY SHERIFF'S
CITIZEN ACADEMY - 2023
From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office:
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is happy to announce that we will be offering our Citizen’s Academy once again this Spring!
Our Citizen’s Academy offers a unique and detailed look into the dynamic operations of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office! The Academy is open to any qualified and interested Linn County resident.
Our spring academy will run from April 5th – June 21st. Classes will be every Wednesday evening from 6PM-9PM. There will also be a Sunday “field trip” during the academy with that date to be determined later.
Citizen’s Academy students are introduced to each of our divisions and specialty teams. They receive classroom instruction and hands-on training in areas such as patrol, detectives, corrections, firearms, defensive tactics, traffic enforcement, narcotics investigations, swift water rescue and dive recovery, prisoner transport, and search and rescue.
The atmosphere at the Citizen’s Academy is fun and informative. Classes are taught by our dedicated sheriff’s office team members. The minimum age for attendees is 18 years of age, however, applications will be considered for those as young as 16-years-old, provided they attend and take part in Citizen’s Academy with their parent or guardian.
To apply, go HERE.
SAR TRAINING ACADEMY - 2023
From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office:
First SAR recruit meeting is coming up soon!
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is recruiting young men and women, ages 14 to 18, to join the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and participate in a 10-day summer training program.
This will be the 29th Search and Rescue Training Academy in Linn County and will be held June 23 through July 2.
Those who are interested in becoming an integral part of the sheriff’s office search and rescue mission should have an interest in community service and a desire to be a part of a highly trained and professional life saving organization.
There is an application process that includes oral interviews, a background check and physical aptitude test. Applicants must attend one recruit meeting at the sheriff’s office on March 13th, April 10th, or May 8th at 7pm to attend the academy. Applicants will further need to pass the physical aptitude test on either May 13th or May 20th. Accepted applicants will be required to attend the pre-academy meeting on June 12th. At that time, applicants will be eligible to attend the 10-day Linn County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Training Academy in June. The training will include classes in wilderness survival, shelter building, search tactics, first aid/CPR, map and compass reading, rappelling, and many more topics.
For more information about the program contact Emergency Management/SAR Coordinator Ric Lentz at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office (541-967-3950) or visit the Linn County Sheriff’s Office website.
Online applications are available on the website and at the sheriff’s office in Albany.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TESTING *** MARCH 11 ***
From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office:
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan Reports upcoming test of the Linn-Benton Alert System
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan announces a test of the Linn-Benton Alert system on Saturday, March 11th between 2PM and 4PM.
The test alert will go to recipients in both Linn and Benton counties that have signed up with the system. We would like recipients of the alert to confirm receipt of the message on each phone or device. This will stop additional attempts to deliver the message. Recipients should not call the Sheriff’s Office or 911 when receiving the message.
Linn-Benton Alert is a system that can push out emergency notifications to Linn and Benton County residents of any emergency event or evacuation. Sheriff Duncan encourages every resident to sign up if they haven’t already done so. This system was instrumental in notifying residents of evacuation areas throughout Linn County during the catastrophic fires in 2020.
Residents can sign up for the notifications by going, HERE.
Residents can choose how and where they receive alerts including cell, home, and/or work phone, by text message or TTY (hearing impaired devices) and more.
SMART CYBER CHOICES - TRAINING
From our friends at ABC House:
- SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices training
- March 16th at 4 pm
- Free
- Albany Public Library
Every time a kid uses a smartphone, tablet, computer, or even logs on to a game, the door is open to a virtual world populated by cyberbullies, hackers, and predators. SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® for parents, caregivers, and professionals is a 1.5-hour training that teaches how adults can empower children and teens to use technology safely and wisely.
Some specific topics covered during this presentation include:
-- Predators
-- Sexting
-- Cyberbullying
-- Plagiarism
-- Privacy
-- Computer security
-- Identity theft
-- Gaming
-- Social networking
-- Sex trafficking
This internet safety program was developed by the San Diego Police Foundation and the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task force.
Sign-up, here.
A NEED FOR BABY THINGS!
From our friends at Every Child Linn Benton:
Has your little one outgrown their baby swing and it's taking up space in your garage or attic? We have a current request for a baby swing!
If you have one you'd like to donate (or would like to donate towards a new one for a resource family in our community) contact Jennifer, HERE.
ANNUAL CRIME REPORT - 2022
From our friends at Albany Police Department:
Extra! Extra! Read All About it!
Our 2022 Annual Crime Report is available to read on our website.
We know, we know, sounds dry (but it's not dry, it's slightly engrossing, some might say fascinating)
For those of you who have a shorter attention span and only want one stat at a time, we will post some tid-bits for you over the next few days so you are not overwhelmed by the info overload.
Read the full report, HERE.
LADIES NIGHT 90'S PARTY
From our friends at Link Up Vets:
Mark your calendars! It's Ladies Night 90's Party! Proceeds benefiting VFW Post 584. See you there!
- April 1st
- 7 pm-12
- Ladies get in free
- Guy 3$ cover charge
For more information about Link Up Vets, go here.
LITTLE LEAGUE, LAST CHANCE SIGN-UP DAY: SATURDAY - MARCH 11
From our friends at the Mid-Willamette YMCA:
Little Leagues
LAST CHANCE: Registration closes March 11th
Need to turn in documentation? Stop by the YMCA on Saturday, March 11th 10am- 1pm!
More information for document turn-in day, go HERE.
YMCA SUMMER CAMP SIGN-UP - 2023!
From our friends at Mid-Willamette YMCA:
it’s about that time, registration is now open for our Summer Day Camp! Get all the info, HERE.
"IF I WERE MAYOR" CONTEST
From our friends at the City of Albany:
Kids and parents: Alex Johnson II, Mayor of Albany, Oregon would like to remind you there's less than two weeks to turn in your entry for this year's OMA "If I Were Mayor" contest! For more details, go HERE.
GIRL'S STATE TOURNAMENT SEND-OFF
Albany Police Department and Linn County Sheriff's sending off the South Albany girls basketball team to the state championship quarterfinals earlier this week!
Wishing the athletes the best of luck at State!
SOCIAL WORKER APPRECIATION MONTH!
From our friends at ABC House:
March is Social Work Month and we want to shout out our amazing crew of ABC House family support advocates, trauma counselors, and forensic interviewers working hard to keep children in Linn and Benton Counties safe and healthy!
Thank you and we appreciate you!
LINN BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COMES TO THE CAPITOL!
Had such a great visit with LBCC President Lisa Avery (far right), students, and faculty this week!
OREGON DAIRY FARMERS WEEK!
Always a great day when the Oregon Dairy Farmers visit the Capitol!
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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