Friends and neighbors, here are some highlights from this last week and helpful community information for you. And I will be sending out weekly updates on what is happening at the Capitol for all the latest!

The Capitol is still undergoing major renovations and constructions, but if you want experience the Capitol you still can - virtually with new Visitor Experience interactive website, here.

During the short session, if you want to look up proposed legislation, register to testify in a committee, or subscribe to follow bills you can go here for more information and instructions on how to do so. Stay tuned!

 - Shelly

Happy 165th Birthday, Oregon!

CONGRATULATIONS SC CHEERLEADERS

Santiam Christian Cheerleaders - Winners 2nd Place in the OSAA State Championship

Congratulations to the SC Cheerleaders for their OSAA State Championship 2nd Place win! Watch the full Floor Courtesy, here.

Wheat Growers were at the Capitol this week to celebrate 'Wheat Day' on Feb. 14th. Watch the full Floor Courtesy, here

CELEBRATING WHEAT GROWERS

Acknowledging the Wheat Growers in the House.

Hypocrisy on Measure 110

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed legislation that would make it a Class A Misdemeanor to do hard drugs on public transit. At the same time, Democrats have rejected Republican proposals to make hard drug use a Class A Misdemeanor everywhere else.

I say if it's good enough for a bus, it's good enough for playgrounds, outside of businesses, and all public spaces.

That's why this week I signed a letter to the Speaker, Senate President, and chairs of the Measure 110 committee to say: "Class A, or No Way!" Read the entire letter here:

Fighting for Kids in Foster Care

This week, I testified in support of HB 4084. I am proud to chief sponsor this legislation alongside Representative Susan McLain.

This bill would start a Foster Student Education Navigator program in three schools around Oregon, including Timber Ridge Middle School right here in Albany.

Did you know that between 2017 and 2023, the graduation rate for foster care students was between 35% and 46%. Only 2% graduate from college. But in Virginia 75% of foster student graduate from high school. We know we can do better.

The Educational Navigator position in each of these three schools will connect foster students to the additional support they need to succeed. You can watch my entire testimony in support of HB 4084, here.

Staying on the education front for a moment, I want to highlight an extremely concerning bill introduced in the Senate.

Senate Bill 1583 would strip local school boards of their ability to apply age-appropriate filters for book selection in libraries. Under the guise of "non-discrimination," this bill would silence the voices of parents and their local school board if they have objections to obscene content in their libraries.

There has been a lot of controversy in recent years about the graphic nature of some books in school libraries, some of which are outright pornographic. In response, parents have petitioned their local school boards to remove these books from their library shelves. Under this bill, the school board may no longer have the power to be responsive to parent's voices.

The insistence by some that these kinds of books remain in libraries, where little children have access to them, is beyond bizarre to me. I will oppose this bill and continue to stand up for the rights of parents and local school boards.

Fighting for Workers

This week, I testified in support of two bills I am chief sponsoring this session, both are pro-worker proposals.

I introduced HB 4050 this session to lift the effective ban on worker bonuses that a 2017 law put into place. Unfortunately, despite strong bipartisan and bicameral support, labor unions successfully killed the bill. Their main argument was that allowing pay differentials based on a business's unique needs would allow employers to discriminate based on sex and/or race. However, discrimination like that is already illegal, and this bill did nothing to change that. To make their opposition all the more confusing, the bill would have allowed their members to make more money.  

Watch my entire testimony on HB 4050, here.

I also testified in support of HB 4088 this week. This bill represents years of work with hospitals, labor unions, nurses, law enforcement, and other stakeholders and I think we have a chance to finally get the bill passed this session. It passed with a vote of 9-1 out of committee and will now head down to Ways and Means for a full financial markup.  

This bill would make it a felony to assault hospital workers while they are on duty. It also includes other reporting requirements, signage, and other safety measures to take place at the hospital level. Nurses deserve protection, and that's what this bill will do.

I introduced this bill in one form or another going back to 2021 because my sister, Ola, has been an ER nurse at Salem Health for almost 20 years and has experienced first-hand assault on nurses in the workplace.

Over the course of the last few years working on this bill, I have been shocked at the stories I've compiled. 70% of nurses are assaulted at work. This should not be their reality.

The enhanced felony protections are the same protections that state law already gives to public transit workers, EMS workers, taxi drivers, and highway flaggers.

The bill also contains a grant program for hospitals to apply for funding to address their unique safety needs. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution because the safety needs of a hospital in Portland will not be the same as they would be in Pendleton, Klamath Falls, or my town of Albany. Being responsible to the diverse needs of Oregonians at different hospitals is essential. 

Watch my testimony on HB 4088, here.

Oregon legislation would fix tax disparity for large trucks | Landline

On the heels of a lawsuit in Oregon that addresses large trucks based in the state being overcharged for transportation taxes, multiple bills introduced at the statehouse seek to rectify the issue.

Crisis in the Northwest: Rural Oregon struggles to contain fentanyl epidemic | FOX News

With all eyes on Portland's fentanyl crisis, many rural Oregon communities dealing with their own opioid and homelessness epidemics feel abandoned by policy makers.

Man Repeatedly Caught Drug Dealing in Downtown Portland Has Gained Attention of Federal Prosecutors

Federal prosecutors have agreed to pursue charges against a Portland man repeatedly accused of dealing drugs, police say.

William Stevenson has gained a name for himself, not for the quality or quantity of drugs that he moves, but rather for his persistence. After cops repeatedly caught him selling fentanyl in downtown Portland, he’d be released from jail and do it again, they say, sometimes within days.

WW reported last summer about cops’ efforts to stop Stevenson’s alleged behavior. The failure of the court system to hold drug dealers accountable has gained attention from state lawmakers, who are pressuring court officials to change their policies.

How bad is downtown Portland for business? One shop owner, dealing with shoplifting, threats, knows exactly how bad

Tommy Ly never knows what a day will bring.

All that’s guaranteed is that it costs him roughly $500 to slip a key into the front door, turn on the lights and wait for customers to buy something.

...

“Right now, I have six pending court cases where I was the victim,” said Ly. “People shoplifted from me. That means I wake up at 6 a.m. to get to the courthouse by 8. Then I get to the courtroom only to have the prosecutor tell me the defendant didn’t show up. A new court date is set and I have to start all over again.”

Ly no longer bothers reporting shoplifting.

Interfor to curtail lumber production in Oregon and British Columbia

Interfor Corporation has unveiled plans to indefinitely curtail operations at its Philomath, Oregon sawmill, while also implementing temporary production cuts in British Columbia. The decision reflects the impact of high log costs and challenging market conditions on the lumber industry.

The Philomath sawmill, which produces a mix of kiln-dried and green Hemlock and Douglas-fir dimensional lumber and timbers, is expected to curtail production immediately with an orderly wind-down of operations to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2024. The mill, with a capacity to produce 220 million board feet, has been a substantial player in the region's lumber market. 

Dutch Bros will spend up to $41 million moving some corporate jobs from Oregon to Arizona

Drive-thru chain Dutch Bros said Wednesday it will spend as much as $41 million on relocation costs, severance benefits and capital expenses when it relocates 40% of its corporate jobs from its Grants Pass headquarters to the company’s office in Arizona.

Dutch Bros announced the move last month, saying it wanted more corporate employees to be working closer to a major airport and closer to the company’s rapidly growing markets in the South and Southwest. The company hasn’t said publicly how many jobs are going to Arizona, but some who decline to make the move will lose their jobs.

Pacific Power seeks 17% Oregon rate hike

One of Oregon’s largest electric companies wants to raise its rates next year.

Pacific Power has asked the Oregon Public Utility Commission to approve a 16.9% residential rate hike, effective next year. The company estimates that would raise the average bill of residential customers by about $30 per month.

The electric company says it’s trying to raise $304 million to pay for renewable power sources and invest in upgrades to the grid, and also to pay for costs associated with wildfires.

Wildfire expenses would include managing vegetation around power lines, as well as paying higher wildfire insurance premiums and creating what the company calls a “catastrophic fire fund.”

Rural pharmacies continue to close as legislature takes another look at regulation

That leaves independent pharmacies. But they too are shrinking in Oregon, a fact they blame on an obscure link in the pharmaceutical supply chain: pharmacy benefit managers.

That’s why independent pharmacists across Oregon are lining up behind House Bill 4149, a piece of legislation with bipartisan support that received a hearing with the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care earlier this month.

…

In 2023, 35 pharmacies closed in Oregon, said state Rep. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, a chief sponsor of the bill.

A clearer look at Portland's homelessness | Axios

Oregon has the second-highest rate of unsheltered people in the nation, according to the federal 2023 Point In Time count, but a Portland State University analysis provides a deeper dive into homelessness in Rose City.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE YMCA 

For more information about what is going on in sports, children's services, and community events at the Y, go HERE.

ABGC - HELP LOCAL KIDS THRIVE!

From our friends at the Albany Boys & Girls Club:

This is the 10th annual in-store fundraiser at Ross to provide support to local Boys & Girls Clubs. Together, more than 46 million dollars has been donated to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. Head to our local Ross and help local kids thrive!

Shop at Ross Stores Feb 10 - March 3rd!

INPUT FOR DEERFIELD PARK

From our friends at City of Albany:

The City of Albany is developing a new master plan for improvements to Deerfield Park.

This 11-acre space is a well-loved neighborhood park that is due for some meaningful upgrades. The Parks and Recreation department has allocated funds for this purpose.

Join us for our first public meeting where we will discuss the existing conditions of the park, review potential opportunities for improvement, and set goals and a vision for the future of Deerfield Park. This meeting will take place at Riverfront Community Center (489 NW Water Ave) at 6:00 PM on February 28th.

We hope to see you there!

CSC - UTILITY ASSISTANCE

From our friends at the City of Albany:

Applications will be available at our regional offices Tuesday 2/20 - Friday 2/23, available to download online starting Monday 2/19.

While applications are only available to get that week, you can submit them anytime, as always!

Completed applications, which include the required documentation, can be mailed in or returned in person to our regional offices. Find locations and walk in hours on our website.

Find more info and get the application communityservices.us/utility-assistance

If you are at risk of a disconnection, call our help desk for more immediate assistance 541-704-7632. 

SHERIFF'S SEARCH & RESCUE ACADEMY

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office:

The Linn County Sheriff Sheriff’s Office is recruiting young men and women, ages 14 to 18, to join the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and participate in the summer training program.

This will be the 30th Search and Rescue Training Academy in Linn County and will be held June 21 through July 1.

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. The life skills and mentorship by our staff has been an invaluable experience for past SAR members. Many have gone on to become full-time employees!

More information, HERE.

JACKSON STREET - YOUTH RISING EVENT

From our friends at Jackson Street Youth Services:

Save the date! Our annual Youth Rising fundraising event for youth is on the books for 5:30pm, Thursday, April 25th at the YMCA Family Activities Center. Expect another joyful gathering with delicious food, tasty beverages, and live music. We'll hear heartwarming stories from our youth, share some huge program updates from our staff, and celebrate a special community partner with the Our Caring Community Award.

Look for more details in the months to come, and we hope to see you there!

OTA President Derek Hofbauer from Cascades East Transit (left) and Board Member Kim Curley from Commute Options (center).

Hanging out with Kristie Glaser with Oregon Farm Bureau.

Oregon Association of Nurseries

A quick minute with President Murthy and Board Member Greg Macpherson from OSU.

Public Universities Day at the Capitol.

Benny stopped by! #GoBEAVS!!

Megan Scharf representing Eastern Oregon University.

Stacie Wyss-Schoenborn stopped by on Credit Union Day at the Capitol.

Visiting with Central Linn FFA members.

Chemeketa Community College

MY DAY WITH REP. BOSHART DAVIS

By Elizabeth Fessler

I was lucky enough to get to spend a day at the Capitol with Representative Shelly Boshart Davis on Oregon’s Birthday. I learned so many new and interesting things about the Capitol. I learned how a bill gets passed, and I just got to see what it is like to be a Representative for the day and hear about a lot of the issues that impact Oregonians.

My favorite part of the day was being on the Floor when they were passing bills. Something that I thought was cool was that the carpets and the wood for the desks and chairs were different in the Senate than in the House of Representatives. When I learned about Oregon at school during covid, we didn’t get to come to the Capitol, and so I loved getting this experience. Thank you Representative Boshart Davis for this wonderful opportunity, and I hope that other kids have an opportunity to experience something like this.

# # #

The brief visit at the Capitol with Elizabeth (and her Dad, Kyle) was fantastic, despite construction limiting our access. I managed to give her a glimpse into the legislative process from the Floor's side aisle. She experienced the hustle of a House Representative's day during the short session. It was a whirlwind of excitement, and hopefully left her with lasting memories of civic engagement and interest!

During the 2024 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.

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