Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

I have been busy working on legislative bills, testifying, meeting with constituents and helping where I can. 

Here are some highlights of what I have been up to and information you should be aware of.

This week we had major debates on 2 significant bills. The first was HB2002, which dramatically expands abortion access for minors, without parental notification or consent. I spoke against this bill, but the Democrat majority pushed this through to passage.

We also had a significant floor debate on HB2005, which significantly limits the firearms rights of law-abiding Oregonians. This bill also passed, based on the Democrat majority.

Both bills now go to the Senate. I encourage everyone to support Senator Kim Thatcher, who will oppose these bills in the Senate. For more information about these bills please go to the legislative website linked here. 

Last newsletter I explained how the legislature has the ability to pull a bill, or a package of bills to the House Floor. I had the opportunity to join many of my colleagues in this effort on Tax Day, April 18th, 2023.

During Floor Session, many House members and I attempted to pull five House Bills from the House Committee on Revenue.

The first of these bills was one of which I am the chief sponsor. It would have repealed Oregon’s Corporate Sales Tax. Though it taxes corporations, as the name implies, businesses pass that cost onto consumers. Therefore, by repealing that tax, we are relieving a tax burden on all Oregon consumers.

The rest of the bills would have repealed Oregon’s Death Tax, helped Oregon’s small businesses by raising the threshold for the Corporate Sales Tax from $1 million to $5 million, raised Oregon’s Death Tax exemption from $1 million to $2 million, and, finally, reduced personal tax rates for all Oregonians – especially lower-income households.

Oregon has some of the highest tax rates in the United States. All of these bills were designed as common-sense ways to relieve some of that burden on Oregonians.

Sadly, none of these five bills received the 31 votes necessary to bring them to the floor of the House. If the bills had been pulled out of committee to the House floor, we could have had a full debate on their merits and explained the benefits to Oregonians.

I will continue to work within our committees for beneficial legislation, but I will also support efforts to bring some bills directly to the floor in an effort for them to have a full debate among all members of the House.

Besides pulling bills, a member can be especially effective by focusing on projects and policies which come before legislative committees where the legislator serves.

Each of us votes on every bill which comes to the House Floor, but those bills go through committees before they get to the House Floor. Most bills stay stuck in committee because they do not develop enough support to move forward.

Four of the Committees I serve on include, Joint Committee on Transportation, the I-5 Bridge committee, the Ways and Means Sub-Committee on Transportation and Economic Development and my most recent appointment, the Joint Transportation Sub-Committee on Transportation Planning.

With this in mind, I am carrying out my regular duties, which include service on nine committees. I am also identifying projects and policies relating to transportation where I can make a difference.

Accordingly, I am moving forward with legislation to create a task force to study the establishment of a third bridge across the Willamette River, somewhere North of Keizer.

A second project involves establishing a task force to develop plans to extend the West-Side Commuter Rail Line. This presently runs from Beaverton to Wilsonville. I want this line to be extended (along the existing PNWR track) so it runs to Keizer and Salem. The task group I have proposed will also evaluate the prospect of having this line run into downtown Portland as well as Beaverton.

The third area involves short line railroads. We have passed legislation which will simplify our state railroad structure to make it easier for our short line railroads to apply for federal grants for improvements and additions to their facilities.

Finally, I am pressing to modify the tax credit system, which supports modernization of rail lines. I want the credit system to be simplified so as to be fully available to all short line railroads.

BENEFIT AUCTION On Saturday April 22nd, I attended the Sacred Heart Academy annual auction. I was glad to be joined by so many individuals who are invested in supporting the children in our community. Joining me in this photo is Principal Marianna Hill. Sacred Heart Academy is a Private Catholic School located in Salem and serves students from mid through senior high.

Oregon Women in Agriculture On April 15th, I had the chance to support Oregon Women in Agriculture by purchasing items at their annual dinner and auction.  These two young ladies with FFA helped me cart our items to the car.

Salem Philharmonia Orchestra  I attended a magnificent performance- "East European Romanticism ", featuring Crystal Zimmerman performing Liszt, Piano Concerto No. 2. Here I am with Crystal and her husband, Matthew, on April 16th. Crystal is very talented, and teaches music at Willamette University. The Orchestra next performs June 3 and 4 at East Salem Community Center. Get your tickets here: https://www.salemphil.org/

Don’t forget to vote!!!

Important Election Dates

• May 2, 2023 - Last day to distribute county voters' pamphlet.
• May 2, 2023 - Last day to mail ballots to voters.
• May 9, 2023 - Last day to conduct public certification test of vote tally system.
• May 16, 2023 - Election Day!

Click here for more information!

2023 Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Note: All tickets must be purchased online for 2023. Click here for tickets.

Tickets are NOT sold onsite.

Individual Season Passes and Day Tickets now available for 2023 Tulip Fest!

Tulip Fest is here! Extended now until May 7th. Our family looks forward to welcoming you to our 39^th annual Tulip Festival to experience the beauty and create new memories.  We have millions of beautiful tulips for our guests to enjoy on our family farm.

Our tulip festival runs March 24 – May 7, 2023

Monday through Friday: 9am – 6pm

Saturday and Sunday: 8am – 7pm

Sunrise Entry: 5am – 7am, Season Pass Access: 5am – 9pm 

Salem-Keizer partially allows public back inside board meetings The Salem-Keizer Public Schools governing board is now allowing in-person public comment for the first time in more than six months — but it comes with restrictions. And there seems to be no specific plan from the board on when they plan to fully reopen their required public meetings in-person to the public. To read more, click here.

City Council moves forward with turf fields, plus another new sports facility coming to Keizer The Keizer City Council voted to authorize City Manager Adam Brown to apply for funds for the artificial turf fields project at Keizer Rapids Park. The council also had the option to direct Brown to apply for funds for improvements at Volcano’s Stadium. That option was not moved forward. The funds will be applied for from the state’s Capital Funding Project, fueled by federal dollars. The applications for that money will be submitted to state Senator Kim Thatcher. To read more, click here.

New details released for downtown Salem cannery redevelopment, including soccer stadium Big plans are underway at the former Truitt Bros. Cannery in north downtown Salem. Additional plans released Friday by developers detail the drastic changes planned for the 13 acres from Mill Creek to Shipping Street along Front Street, including 374 units of multi-family housing, an eight-stall food hall, wine tasting room and brewery, access to the Willamette River waterfront and a United League Soccer stadium. To read more, click here.

Kotek says no to Salem tribal casino Gov. Tina Kotek threw cold water on plans for a new tribal casino in northeast Salem – but the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians say they’re not giving up on the project. In an April 13 letter to the chairs of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes, Kotek said she does not support an expansion of gaming, and intends to maintain the status quo from previous governors of “good faith bargaining between sovereign Tribes and the State on one gaming facility per tribe on reservation land.” To read more, click here.

Chief of Staff: Michelle Mhoon.  Michelle is assisting Representative Mannix move the 93 bills he has sponsored or co-sponsored through the legislative process.  If you have questions about legislation that Representative Mannix is working on for Keizer, Salem, and Oregon or other policy related questions,  Contact: Michelle.Mhoon@oregonlegislature.gov

Legislative Assistant: Hayley Guptill  Hayley is a great resource for all your general questions as she manages the Representative’s schedule and is involved in all aspects of the day-to day-operations of HD 21!   If you have general questions, or want to schedule a meeting with Representative Mannix,  Contact: Hayley.Guptill@oregonlegislature.gov

Community Outreach Coordinator: Kimberly Castro  Kimberly is spending much of her time out in the field listening to the needs and concerns of the citizens in Keizer and Salem. She loves helping constituents! Kimberly is fluent in Spanish to help reach our Spanish speaking friends.   If you have questions or concerns that Representative Mannix and the HD 21 team can help with,  Contact: Kimberly@mannixlawfirm.com

Would you like to make me aware of your position on an issue? Do you have an idea to improve our state?

I want to hear from you. Contact my team as noted above. You can reach me via email, below. 

I look forward to connecting with you. 

Thank you,

Representative Kevin L. Mannix

House District 21

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1421
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.KevinMannix@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mannix​