Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The past several weeks have brought forth a frenzy of news stories involving state government. The resignation of Oregon’s Secretary of State, the Governor’s pause on tolling and a Senate walk-out - just to name a few. In the Legislature, our second-chamber deadline for bills to move out of policy committees passed on Friday, May 19th. Policy committees have wrapped up much of their work and are preparing to shut down. Some will hold informational hearings on policy issues that may go to interim work groups for further discussion and planning for the next session. This leaves only a few committees to work remaining policy bills forward as the Ways and Means budget process shifts into high gear. The final weeks of the legislative session are bound to take some twists and turns. At this point, it’s anybody’s guess on how it will end. Stay tuned as the session’s final days unfold, bringing us to the June 25th constitutional adjournment deadline known as “Sine Die”.
This update provides some highlights and lowlights of the session and shares some great things that are taking place in House District 18 and beyond. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office for help on issues involving state government. Thank you for reading along!
Sincerely,
 Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District
Find previous newsletters here.
Throughout the 2023 session, I have served on two policy committees and two budget committees. The following is a status report on the work in those committees.
House Judiciary Committee
Of the 15 House committees, the House Judiciary Committee saw the highest number of bills assigned to a single policy committee. A total 282 bills were referred to the House Judiciary committee. Of those bills, 96 were voted out.
House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government and Veterans
The House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government and Veterans ranked fourth highest with 167 bills referred and 67 of those voted out.|
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety
In the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety we heard budget and policy proposals by Oregon’s public safety agencies, the Judicial Department, and various stakeholders. We are in the process of passing out the public safety portion of the state-wide budget consisting of about 6.8 billion dollars. This week, we also have work sessions scheduled on a number of policy bills.
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
On May 3rd, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means concluded a roadshow of five public hearings that took place throughout various regions of the state. I appreciate the impressive number of Oregonians who shared their views on how the state should direct taxpayer dollars for the next biennium.
Given the economic uncertainty and continued high inflation that continues to stretch Oregonian’s budgets to the brink, I have exercised an abundance of caution in making budget decisions until the Revenue Forecast came out last week. Doing so, I noted my objections to moving high-dollar budget bills out of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Full Ways and Means Committee. Oregonian’s hard-earned tax dollars pay for state services that impact the state’s fiscal future should be made when we know the amount of funds available.
Currently, there are upward of 500 measures waiting consideration in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. We will see more added to the committees’ workload as the full Ways and Means process gets underway. This committee is where the budget process unfolds, investments are prioritized, allocations are approved, and the state’s 2023-25 budget is balanced. I am honored to serve on this committee and look forward to the work ahead. More information on the state’s budgeting process can be found here.
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Joint Committee on Transportation – Subcommittee on Transportation Planning
On May 2nd, I was appointed to the newly formed Joint Committee on Transportation – Subcommittee on Transportation Planning. The presiding officers announced that the subcommittee will be tasked with reviewing the planning and implementation of major transportation projects, including those under the purview of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Urban Mobility Strategy. More information can be found in a press release here. This committee is scheduled to start meeting during the interim. Please look for future updates from my office once the committee is underway.
On May 17th, State Economists released the June Revenue and Economic Forecast that sets the stage for lawmakers to finalize the budget that will fund state programs and projects for the next two years.
Economists and legislators were surprised that the forecast was much better than anticipated. In fact, Oregon will have $1.96 billion additional revenue available for the 2023-25 budget, given tax revenues were much stronger than predicted. These additional dollars will provide opportunities for solid investments in community projects and state services across Oregon.
There was more good news for Oregon taxpayers who are projected to receive a $5.5 billion kicker - the largest kicker refund in Oregon history. This is an increase of 1.5 billion since the February forecast projections.
As a veteran and Vice-Chair of the committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans, it is an honor to serve on the Oregon Legislative Veterans Caucus (OLVC). The caucus is a diverse, bipartisan group of legislators with military service or family members with military service. We are committed to showing Oregon’s veterans that their service is deeply valued and honored in our state, and we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for our veterans and their families.
OLCV’s Legislative Agenda for the 2023 Session includes the following measures:
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HB 2295 – Veteran Owned Businesses (Rep. Lewis: Chief Sponsored)
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HB 2271 & *HB 2615 - Veteran Education (*Rep. Lewis: Sponsored)
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HB 2649 - Veteran Workforce
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SB 1009 - Roseburg Veterans Home
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HB 2869 - Studying Aging and Disable Veterans
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HB 3209 - Housing Veterans
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HB 5029 - Veterans Services
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HB 3615 - Veteran Suicide Prevention
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SB 540 & SB 515 - Retiring Veterans
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SB 884 - Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veteran
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HB 2146 & *HB 3001 - Gold Star Families (*Rep. Lewis Sponsored)
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HB 3421- Memorial and Veterans Events
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HB 2147 - Unclaimed Veteran and Family Remains
When speaking about veterans’ issues, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a big shout-out to LTC Dick Tobiason on his successful campaign before Congress for a coast-to-coast highway honoring Medal of Honor recipients. Dick is the founder of the Bend-Heroes Foundation and member of Stevens-Chute American Legion Post 4 in Bend, Oregon. Legislation before Congress introduced by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (S.1478) designates U.S. Highway 20 between Newport, Oregon and Boston as the “National Medal of Honor Highway”. KTVZ News Channel 21 covers the story here. An article written by Ken Olsen, published in the April issue of the The American Legion magazine (photo above) also speaks of Dick’s tireless work, as does a recent article by Gary Warner, published in the Oregon Capitol Insider.
For the 2023 session, the House Interim Committee on Veterans and Emergency Management introduced HB 2146 at the request of Dick Tobiason. The measure designates 477 miles, the portion of U.S. Highway 30 between the intersection with U.S. Highway 101 and the Idaho border, as the Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway. Dick has been a tremendous advocate for veterans. During his 20 years with the Army, he completed 2 tours in Vietnam, has been awarded numerous commendations, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. One of his proudest assignments was helping repatriate 27 American POWs in South Vietnam during “Operation Homecoming” in 1973. He retired from 33 years employment with the U.S. Army, NASA, and the airline industry. He was the first and only Army Aviator to be nominated as an Astronaut in the Apollo-Moon program. I am grateful for his service to our country and his continued work on behalf of veterans across the nation.
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When the session ends and we all go home, you are likely to hear about all the good things the legislature did. While that will be true in part there are some real opportunities being missed.
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In my April legislative update, I shared my support for the House Republican Safe School Package, a suite of bills pulled to the floor to address the safety threats in our schools. Unfortunately, only one bill appears to be moving forward this session. Republicans have continued to pull bills to the floor that have been left to die in committees. These bills would relieve Oregonian’s tax burden, support small businesses, reduce Oregon’s regulatory environment, protect our state from environmental hazards, support Oregon nurses, and make our communities safer.
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In recognition of the 2023 Tax Day, I voted in support of five bills pulled to the floor to lower taxes for Oregonians.
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While none of the motions received the required 31 votes to withdraw the legislation from committee for a floor vote, four of the five motions received bipartisan support, with two votes tying 29-29. |
These are the bills and what they would do.
HB 2119 - Repeals corporate sales tax on all goods and services.
HB 2724 - Repeals Oregon Death Tax.
HB 2433 - Protects Oregon’s small businesses by raising the threshold on the Corporate
Activity Tax from $1 million to $5 million.
HB 2259 - Increases Oregon Death Tax exemption from $1 million to $5 million.
HB 2566 - Reduces personal tax rates for all Oregonians, especially lower income
households.
In recognition of Earth Day, I supported a vote to withdraw another five pieces of legislation that would have protected Oregon from future environmental hazards.
Experts expect that more than 720,000 tons worth of wind turbine blades will end up in U.S. landfills over the next 20 years, and that 78 million tons of solar waste will end up in U.S. landfills over the next 25 years.
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While none of the motions received the required 31 votes to withdraw the legislation, three of the five votes received bipartisan support. The bills are as follows:
HB 2215 - Removes barriers to the production of nuclear energy in Oregon.
HB 2198 - Creates accountability for renewable energy project failures and requires Public
Utility Commission to investigate status of renewable projects in Oregon,
including project failures.
HB 2702 - Requires renewable energy facilities that receive state assistance to provide
maximum output for customers.
HB 2769 - Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to study the impact of electric
vehicle battery disposal.
HB 2770 - Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to study the impact of waste
from solar or wind renewable energy facilities.
My colleague and Co-Vice Chair of the Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee, Representative Bobby Levy, couldn’t have said it better as she spoke on the House Floor - “We cannot simultaneously claim to be moving towards a renewable energy future while having no plan to mitigate the potentially hazardous waste caused by these energy sources. We should be doing the responsible thing and understanding the ramifications of the policy we set. I am disappointed that we had the option before us today to study the impacts of this growing energy sector and chose to disregard it.
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In appreciation of National Nurses Week, I voted in support of two more bills pulled to the floor for a vote. Both were blocked from passing by the opposition party.
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HB 2408 - Gives our hospitals and clinics a broader pool of nurses to recruit from, allowing Oregon to join 39 states around the nation that are a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). According to a survey done by the Oregon State Board of Nursing, 90% of Oregon’s rank-and file nurses want Oregon to join the NLC. On April 20, Washington Governor Inslee signed legislation into law allowing Washington to join the NLC.
HB 2141 - Expands crime of assault in the third degree to include causing physical injury to person working in hospital while worker is performing official duties, providing hospital workers the same protections offered to many other sectors. Over half of the country has strong and effective laws in place to protect hospital workers - but not Oregon.
In honor of National Police Week, I supported four bill pulls to force a vote to make our communities safer.
HJR 29 - Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to
require not guilty criminal jury verdicts in circuit
court to be unanimous.
HB 2135 - Limits pretrial release of defendants charged
with felony or Class A misdemeanor to security
release.
HB 3603 - Provides that evidence of defendant's
commission of other sexual offenses is
admissible if relevant in criminal action in which defendant is accused of sexual
offense.
HB 2310 - Repeals those provisions of Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act of 2020
(Ballot Measure 110) that pertain to decriminalization of possession of drugs. I
am a chief-sponsor of the bill and expressed my strong support for the measure
in my remonstrance on the House floor.
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This legislation would have reestablished criminal penalties for possession and distribution of street drugs, including fentanyl, that were stripped by Measure 110, while still supporting the rehabilitation funds that go towards expanding access to rehabilitation programs and helping troubled Oregonians receive treatment. |
To highlight the scope of Oregon’s drug crisis, just last week alone, it was reported that:
On May 16th, our neighboring Washington lawmakers to the north voted to keep drugs illegal.
Despite all of this, we know Oregonians see the problem at its core – Measure 110 and its failed implementation.
A recent poll revealed that:
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65% percent of voters polled felt that Measure 110 has made drug addiction and overdoses in the state of Oregon worse
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63% of respondents felt that the policy has worsened the homelessness crisis
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63% of respondents would support a tweak to Measure 110 to reinstate criminal punishments for the possession of illegal drugs but would continue funding drug addiction services with the measure 110 formula.
HB 2310 would have done what most Oregonians are asking for. Not only did the legislative body fail to meet the moment to vote on this bill, but the measure was also never even scheduled for a public hearing to gain the input of Oregonians. I asked in my floor speech, "Do we not want to hear what Oregonians have to say"? Moving forward, we must hold drug users accountable to prevent future tragedies.
Watch a replay of my floor remonstrance here.
Also, during National Police week, I honored the memory Deborah Dawn Klecker, giving a courtesy on the House floor. Deb was a Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy for 19 years. She and I served together on the Board on Public Safety Standards & Training and the Public Safety Memorial Fund board in the late 1990’s. In 2005, following her law enforcement career, she served in Iraq as an IPLO under the U.S. State Department, training the Iraqi police. On June 27, 2005, Deb was traveling in a Humvee when she was killed by a roadside IED near Baghdad. I had the honor of reading a letter from then Governor Kulongoski at her memorial service in Baghdad. Deb was posthumously awarded the Congressional Defense of Freedom medal and the civilian equivalent of the military Purple Heart. A plaque hangs in the board room at the Oregon Public Safety Academy honoring Deborah Klecker’s law enforcement service to this state and nation. Watch a replay of my floor speech here.
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Thank you to this dedicated group of independent adult care home owners who took the time to visit with me and share the impact HB 2495 will have on their industry.
 Another snapshot of a beautiful sunrise from House District 18 on my early morning commute to the Capitol. It doesn’t get any better than this! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
 Molalla Fire District proudly dedicated their new Type 3 Wildland Interface Fire Engine on April 19, 2023. After the 2020 wildfires, Molalla Fire realized the need for a Type 3 Wildland Interface Fire Engine for responses within their district.
It was an honor to advocate for and secure the funding for this project. This equipment will go a long way in the response to wildland interface fires. Having the right equipment at the right time to enhance local capabilities is critical.
Thank you to Nick Harvell for sharing news and photos of the April 26th groundbreaking celebration for the new welding shop at Mt Angel High School.
What makes this so special is that the school district has very little investment in the new shop. Rather, local companies, several not from Mt Angel, and organizations leverage their financial resources to pay for the welding room. Marion County also provided $20,000 in Workforce Development funds. The project was an industry-driven effort. Withers Lumber, K&E Excavating, GEM Equipment, Steffen Systems and others all helped to make this a reality.
 SALEM—The Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership Program, known as REAL Oregon, graduated 26 participants as the Class 6 cohort completed their commitment to personal and professional development.
REAL Oregon brought together a diverse group of individuals who work within agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and related natural resource industries. Class 6 visited Klamath Falls in November, Roseburg in December, Newport in January, Pendleton/ Boardman in February, and Salem in March. Through five statewide sessions respected industry professionals, knowledgeable presenters and natural resource advocates had opportunities to meet with Class 6 and develop a better understanding of Oregon's natural resources.
Completion of this program demonstrates admirable commitment to the future of Oregon’s natural resource industries. Congratulations to the graduates of Class 6 REAL Oregon.
Class 6 Graduates
Alyse Armstrong, Ag West Farm Credit, Ontario.
Emily Battilega, Versova Management Co., Canby.
Colton Bond, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem.
Heidi Bullock, Port of Portland, Milwaukie.
Taylor Burk, Weyerhaeuser, Stayton.
Kristine Carter, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Arlington.
Josh Ehrhart, Wilbur-Ellis Co., Tigard.
*Ryan Flaherty, Hazelnut Growers of Oregon, Aurora.
Preston Green, Miller Timber Services, Inc., Philomath.
Emily Griffith, Renewable Northwest, Hillsboro.
Laura Johnston, Boshart Trucking, Inc., Tangent.
Sarah Kellom, Ag West Farm Credit, Klamath Falls.
Ryan Krabill, Medius Ag, LLC, Albany.
Claire Lynn, Oregon Legislature, Albany.
Jarrod Maxwell, Baker County Farm Bureau, Haines.
*Sarah McArthur, Chemeketa Community College, Molalla.
Abner Mondragon, Sodbuster Farms, Salem.
Sara Nelson, Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc., Portland.
Matthew Pachta, Pratum Co-Op,
Springfield. Lena Prine, Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem.
David Rodriguez, Northwest Transplants, Woodburn.
Liz Schaecher, Oregon Aglink, Salem.
Shane Sutton, Weyerhaeuser, Scio.
Karsten VanRoekel, Farm Service Agency, Sutherlin.
Rebecca Windle, Giustina Land & Timber, Eugene.
*Julie Woodward, Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Silverton.
The vision of REAL Oregon is to develop leaders who seek positive outcomes, economic vitality, and natural resource stewardship to enhance the quality of life for all Oregonians. Applications for Class 7 REAL Oregon will be made available on May1st, 2023 at www.realoregon.net. The application deadline is July 31st, 2023.
REAL Oregon is a program of the Oregon Agriculture Education Foundation, an Oregon 501 (c) 3 non-profit. The Project Committee is able to offer this robust professional development and networking opportunity through the generous support of sponsors. For information please contact Program Coordinator: Lauren Lucht lauren@downtoearthoregon.com
www.realoregon.net
In Oregon, May is designated as Wildfire Awareness Month. The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and its partners are engaged in a month-long campaign to encourage, empower, and inform Oregonians to help prevent and prepare for wildfire.
There are many things Oregonians can do to be prepared for wildfire, one of which is creating defensible space. The OSFM has several resources to help Oregonians create and maintain defensible space. These simple actions could make all the difference in the event of a wildfire.
Knowledge is power. The OSFM is hosting a series of webinars in April, May, and June geared towards being prepared for wildfire. A list of the webinars offered and links to register are below. Click the name of the webinar to register! Also, be sure to sign up to receive emails from the OSFM about upcoming webinar opportunities by clicking the webinar sign-up button below.
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For more information and a detailed list of webinars, click here! View past webinars here.
Additional Awareness Resources:
This session I sponsored two bills to prohibit tolling:
SB 933 - Prohibits Oregon Transportation Commission from establishing toll on Interstate
205 or Interstate 5.
HB 3614 - Prohibits tolling on state highways until January 2, 2026. The measure introduced
on April 26th is supported by a bipartisan and bicameral group of 31 legislators,
many from the metro area.
This drew the attention of Governor Kotek, who on May 4th directed the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to delay all toll collection until January 1, 2026. I am grateful for the Governor’s leadership on this issue and her decision that will allow further study of this issue through the newly formed Joint Committee on Transportation – Subcommittee on Transportation Planning, of which I am a member. The Subcommittee will meet through the interim to oversee ODOT’s plans to ensure safety, mitigate congestion, support our economy, reduce pollution, and ensure that the needs of local communities are being heard and incorporated into planning. Read more on the Governor’s order here.
On May 17th the Oregon Military Department celebrated Armed Forces Day on the Capitol Mall to honor the men and women currently serving in our military, as well as those who have served and sacrificed to defend our freedom.
On display were some of the Guard’s newest vehicles, aircraft, and equipment. Attendees enjoyed visiting with Soldiers and Airmen as they listening to the 234th Army Band, observed a cannon salute, and experienced the power of an F-15 Eagle flyover by the Oregon National Guard.
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Armed Forces Day was originally created in 1949 by President Harry S. Truman to honor Americans serving in all the branches of military, replacing the separate Army, Navy, and Airforce Days. The holiday was officially designated in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, declaring that, “Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to guard.”
In the United States, there are several holidays and observances that honor the armed forces. Among those is Memorial Day.
Originally called "Decoration Day," Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military. On April 14th we passed HB 3421 off the House floor. The measure requires ceremonies held by state agencies to commemorate Memorial Day or Veterans Day to be held on the legally designated holiday.
Over time, we have placed more emphasis on a 3-day weekend than we do on the meaning and the significance of those two events for which a legal holiday was created. As a consequence, the holidays have lost their true significance. But I guarantee the significance of those days and the intent behind the designation of those two days – Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day – are not lost on surviving veterans and their families. If you have ever attended a Memorial Day event, you will see the tears of those veterans in the audience and the families of those veterans no longer with us as they remember their comrades, their loved ones and their heroes who gave all for their country. If you have ever attended a veterans Day event, you will see the pride of those veterans who have served when called upon by their country to do so as they are honored and recognized for their service to their country and their commitment to preserving the freedoms that we enjoy, but all too often take for granted. These two days have very special meaning to many.
I have been honored to speak at so many of the events paying tribute to those who have served. I believe that ceremonies should be dedicated to the day on which they were intended to be commemorated and my hope is that local communities will follow suit. Click here to watch a replay of my floor speech.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will host Oregon’s annual Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony in person at 11 a.m., Monday, May 29, at the Oregon World War II Memorial located on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
The event will honor the nation’s fallen service members and include remarks from ODVA Deputy Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, veteran leaders, and state dignitaries, along with a color guard ceremony, performance of the national anthem, and the laying of a wreath followed by the playing of “Taps.”
The Oregon WWII Memorial is located on the corner of Church and Court Street Northeast. Limited seating will be available. Attendees are welcome to bring their own seating for the park setting and are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. For those unable to attend in-person, the event will also be livestreamed beginning at 11 a.m. on ODVA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/odvavet.
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Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-385, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis
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