Friends and neighbors, here are some highlights from this last week and helpful community information for you. And I will continue to send out weekly updates on what is happening at the Capitol. 

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

Measure 110 Bill Passes the House

Today, the House passed HB 4002, a bill that will effectively end Measure 110 as we know it. This bill is far from perfect but does have some positive aspects. As amended, associations representing District Attorneys, Sheriffs, and Police have worked hard to give this bill a chance to dent our drug crisis.

The bill recognizes police and prosecutors have a role to play in disrupting the supply of dangerous drugs and protecting communities and people suffering from addiction.

There are four main pieces to this bill:

Make it easier to prosecute drug dealers: HB 4002 will reverse court rulings that have made it more difficult for district attorneys harder to prosecute drug dealers.

Enhanced penalties for dealers: HB 4002 will create stiff penalties for dealers who sell near parks, treatment facilities, and homeless shelters.

Recriminalizes drug possession: Possession of a controlled substance will now be an Unclassified Misdemeanor that carries up to 180 days in jail if a defendant fails a diversion program.

Creates voluntary county-level deflection programs: The legislation provides funding for local communities to build deflection plans that allow officers and prosecutors to divert people who would otherwise be charged with drug possession toward pre-booking diversion programs when appropriate.

Here’s how it would go:

A police officer arrests someone for using drugs. The officer or district attorney is encouraged to refer the person to a deflection program - think of a deflection program as a treatment program. There are few details about how rigorous deflection programs will be right now.

If they complete the deflection program, their arrest records will be expunged. If they fail, they are given another chance to avoid jail via a conditional discharge diversion, which is 12 months of supervised probation. If they fail conditional discharge diversion, they will get convicted with probation. If they fail probation, probation is revoked, and they get up to 180 days in jail.

So basically, drug users get three strikes before they face serious jail time. It’s better than what we have now, but we still have a long way to go.

Notably, here is what is not in the bill:

• It doesn’t repeal Measure 110.
• It doesn’t make sobriety a goal of our drug policy.
• It doesn’t remove harm reduction as a core measurement of success.
• Data tracking isn’t required to include sobriety as a measurement of success.

Education Supports for Foster Care Moving Through Committee

I am excited to see that HB 4084 is moving through the committee process. I am proud to chief sponsor this legislation alongside Representative Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro).

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

The bill passed the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. It will now move to the full Ways and Means committee. I urge you to email the Ways and Means co-chairs supporting HB 4084. You can do that here:

Email Representative Tawna Sanchez

Email Senator Elizabeth Steiner

Survey finds majority of Oregon voters oppose proposed tolling projects

After Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek postponed the Oregon Department of Transportation’s proposed tolling program until 2026 after receiving negative public feedback, a new survey found that a majority of Oregon voters oppose the tolls.

The survey, conducted by DHM Research, polled voters in the Portland metro area in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties in early February 2024.

The survey was based on ODOT’s Regional Mobility Pricing Project, which would implement tolls on Interstate 5 and Interstate 205.

Proposal to divest Oregon state retirement fund of coal stocks nears final vote
The Senate Committee On Energy and Environment passed the proposal Tuesday on a 3-2 partisan vote led by Democrats and sent it to the full Oregon Senate for a vote that has not yet been scheduled. The act has already passed the Oregon House. It has the support of Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read, who is finishing his final term this year as the state’s chief investor, and who is also proposing a plan to get PERS investments to “net-zero” emissions by 2050.

Measure 110 rollback – now with $211 million price tag – heads to vote

As the bill that would undo Oregon’s drug decriminalization law advances through the Legislature, dozens of people filled more than four hours of testimony late Monday offering starkly divergent views of its implications.

Legislators are making changes to Measure 110, not everyone is happy

Oregon Democrats and Republicans appear to have reached agreement to enact jail sentences of up to 180 days for people caught with small amounts of drugs like fentanyl, meth and heroin. House Bill 4002 also weakens a provision that would have required police to offer to connect people caught with drugs to treatment rather than bringing them to jail. That “mandatory deflection” was designed to give drug users a choice to avoid a criminal charge. But under the most recent version of the bill, it’s only optional. Malori Maloney, a staff attorney at the Oregon Justice Resource Center, joins us to explain how she thinks this bill will affect Oregon’s already overburdened criminal justice system.

Oregon Employment Dept. Putting $106M Computer System to Work

Oregon is at last retiring the ancient computer systems that manage its unemployment benefits, putting to rest a notorious bit of technology that far outlived its usefulness.

“While I certainly hope the implementation of the new computer system helps the Oregon Employment Department’s response time to Oregonians, I do not believe a technology upgrade addresses the root problem - a lack of management and oversight,” Elmer wrote in an email.

STEPPING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUTH

From our friends at Jackson Street Youth Services:

Hello beloved community! We revamped the #OurCaringCommunity tab on our website recently, and we just want to share how incredible it feels to be supported by SO MANY WONDERFUL PARTNERS in our mid-Willamette Valley community. From Sweet Home to Philomath, Harrisburg to Millersburg, and many points beyond and between, we rely on your contributions to make the work we do possible. With our April 25th Fundraising Event around the corner, now is an awesome time to get involved and improve the lives of homeless, at-risk, and runaway youth across the region. Reach out to our Development Director, Hannah Miller if you'd like to get involved!

More information

"IF I WERE MAYOR" STUDENT CONTEST

LAST DAY TO ENTER IS TODAY!

From our friends at the City of Albany:

Today, March 1, is the final day to submit your entry. Your 4-12 grader could be eligible to win hundreds in cash and other prizes from Alex Johnson II, Mayor of Albany, Oregon and the Oregon Mayors Association.

More information and entry submission

📣 OREGON EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT:

MAJOR CHANGES ARE COMING

News from the Oregon Employment Department:

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is a little more than one week away from launching a brand new, secure online system for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. Our dedicated teams are working diligently to ensure a smooth migration when UI benefits go live in Frances Online on Monday March 4, at 8:am. As many of you know and have experienced, this is a result of many years of focused listening, hard work, your support and oversight, and of course testing!

Frances Online offers features that will provide a better customer service experience for UI claimants. It’s also mobile-friendly. Claimants will be able to do a lot more things online through self-serve features, instead of waiting for a letter in the mail or calling the UI Contact Center.

You can find those materials online at unemployment.oregon.gov/partners and unemployment.oregon.gov/frances.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR INVASIVE SPECIES

From our friends at the Linn County Sheriff's Office:

Spring is right around the corner! For many of us, that means it will be time to get out on the water! If you are going to be out on the water,  it’s important that you do your part in helping control invasive species.

Invasive species are animals, plants, and microorganisms that are not native to Oregon and once here can reproduce so vigorously that they replace our native species. They pose a threat to key sectors of Oregon's economy that depend upon natural resources and native ecosystems. Agriculture, forestry, tourism, and water resource infrastructure, including hydropower facilities, are at serious risk of being adversely impacted by invasive species. Invasive species individually and collectively have the potential to imperil public health and to transform ecosystems.

In Linn County, invasive species can be introduced via boating that takes place on many of our lakes and rivers like Foster Lake and the Santiam River.

According to the Oregon State Marine Board, one way that you can help is to “Clean, Drain and Dry”.

• Clean all aquatic plants, animals and mud from your boat, motor or trailer and discard in the trash. Rinse, scrub or pressure wash, as appropriate away from storm drains, ditches or waterways. Lawns, gravel pads, or self-serve car washes are best.
• Drain your motor, live well, bilge and internal compartments on land before leaving the waterbody. For paddle boats, drain by inverting or tilting the craft, opening compartments and removing seats if necessary. Rinse or flush under flooring, at inflation chamber joints or other areas that can trap mud and debris.
• Dry your boat between uses if possible. Leave compartments open and sponge out standing water. Find a place that will allow the anchor line to dry.

Please do your part in helping keeping invasive species out of Oregon!

More information:

Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC)

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)

🚨 SMASH & GRAB AT SPORTING EVENTS 🚨

From our friends at the Albany Police Department:

Ok, here is the deal. Thieves have been hitting crowded parking lots during peak times at sporting events, busy stores and during the day. They are fast. They pull up, one jumps out, glances in the car for anything-purses, backpacks, bags, break the window, grab and go. They can be in and out in less than a minute.

PLEASE do not leave anything in your car and call us if you see anything suspicious: (541) 917-7680

IT'S HAPPENING AT THE Y!

From our friends at the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA:

Enchanting afternoon courtesy of Kadabra Magic Academy

Saturday, March 16th

1-2pm || Register today!

Be prepare to be dazzled by an hour of mesmerizing illusions & surprises.

Absolutely free at the YMCA! Fun for the whole family - don't miss out!

Register here

HUFANGA LINEMAN CAMP IS COMING!

From our friends at Boys & Girls Club of Albany:

Join us for Lineman Camp with Coach Tevita Hufanga! Limited spots available, so be sure to sign up quick!

Information and registration

REWARDED FOR THEIR VALOR

From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office:

As we continue on recognizing this year’s award recipients, we are happy to recognize our Medal of Valor recipients!

2023’s Medal of Valor was awarded to Deputies Derek Klein, Jacob Randall, Marion Kaftanchikov and Dillon Spangler. These men were recognized for the courage, dedication and professionalism they showed in the Cascadia Officer-Involved Shooting that took place this past March.  Unfortunately, the suspect, who was a wanted violent felon, made the choice to point a firearm at our deputies, which ended his life.  These deputies risked their own lives to take keep our community safe and we are proud to have them on our team. 

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