Friends and neighbors, as we reach the conclusion of the 2024 Legislative session, it's clear that despite our political differences, progress has been made for the people of Oregon. 

While there have been disagreements along the way, I am proud of the efforts that have resulted in legislation benefiting all Oregonians. We've tackled challenges head-on, prioritizing the needs of our communities.

As your State Representative for House District 15, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving you. Please know that my door is always open to hear your concerns, answer your questions, and work together to build a stronger Oregon for all.

Below are some of the highlights from this last week and helpful community information. Now that the 2024 session has ended, I will continue to provide monthly updates during the interim. 

 - Shelly

Earlier this week, the House honored the life and work of late Linn County Clerk Druckenmiller. His commitment to the integrity of our elections and public service will be his legacy. He is already missed.

Oregonians Will Now Be Limited in How Much They Can Give Their Favorite Political Cause

As the Legislature raced to the finish line, a compromise campaign finance reform bill passed both the House and Senate this week with broad bipartisan support.

For many years, Oregon was one of the few states in the nation without any campaign finance reform limits, but after Ballot Measure 107 passed in 2020, which allowed the state to adopt limits, it was only a matter of time before we got some kind of regulation. Competing ballot measures that threatened campaign finance reform of some sort were being circulated and set to go on the November ballot. This encouraged legislators to negotiate on a bill. As a result, the ballot measure campaigns have dropped their efforts.

Under House Bill 4024, starting in 2027, individuals and businesses will be capped at giving only $3,300 per election to a candidate for State House, State Senate, circuit court judges, district attorneys, and local candidates like city council. Individuals and businesses will be capped at $10,000 to give to state parties and caucus committees.

What is new in this bill would be what is known as small-donor committees (SDC) and membership organizations. Individuals and businesses will be able to contribute up to $250 per year to an SDC and an unlimited amount to membership organizations. An SDC is defined as a committee that doesn’t take any contributions over $250.

In turn, membership organizations can give up to $66,000 to State House, State Senate, circuit court judges, and district attorneys and  $33,000 to local candidates per election year. SDC’s may give $33,000 to statewide candidates for every 2,500 donors they have. If they meet the 10,000 donor threshold, they can double their giving from $132,000 to $264,000.

There are also allowances for membership organizations to donate in-kind personal services, meaning they can pay someone to work on a candidate's campaign.

State Board of Forestry Passes Habitat Conservation Plan

Yesterday, the Oregon Board of Forestry approved a 70-year plan that will reduce timber operations on about 630,000 acres of state-owned timberland in the state of Oregon. The plan passed narrowly, along a 4-3 vote.

The effort is aimed at protecting endangered species. (We know how well the government has been at doing that: Shooting barred owls to save spotted owls in the Northwest)

The plan will crush rural communities that thrive on their timber industry to provide jobs and tax revenue for local services. Linn County is expected to lose over $1.6 million per year in tax revenue. Take a look at the impact on other counties here:

It’s not just county budgets, which include services like elections, sheriff's offices, and road maintenance. School districts also rely on timber revenue from state lands.

On Wednesday, the day before the vote, the entire House and Senate Republican Caucus sent a letter to the Board of Forestry asking them to reject the plan and revise it with a less damaging one.

How State Policy is Driving Utility Bill Increases

We all know inflation has caused everything to be more expensive. But it’s not just government spending that causes inflation to increase – it’s regulation too.

You might have seen increases on your utility bill at the beginning of this year. PGE kicked off the year with a 17% increase in rates for customers. It’s easy to blame PGE for the increases, but we must take a closer look at why they are increasing their rates.

Take a look at the recent filing from PGE about why they will be requesting another rate increase in 2025. They talk about the investments they are making in “clean energy.” Whatever you think about this kind of energy, the bottom line is that it is just more expensive. Yet, government, at both the federal and state continues to push utilities in this direction.

In their testimony in support of the rate increase, PGE’s CEO and Vice President of Strategy Regulation and Energy Supply contend that this rate increase is necessary to comply with the mandates of Oregon House Bill 2021, which requires PGE and Pacific Power to submit plans to reduce emissions by 80% from a baseline amount by 2030, 90% by 2035, and completely eliminate emissions by 2040.

Patronage is Alive and Well in Oregon

This week, SB 1578 passed before the end of session, and it’s a good example of the type of gross patronage that happens all the time in Oregon’s government.

The bill would require the Oregon Health Authority to hire Unite Oregon (a liberal nonprofit funded by unions) for a very specific purpose: to operate a new scheduling and billing system for medical translators, the people who help non-English speakers talk with doctors, although the current system in place for this exact issue is working fine now.

From the Willamette Week story on the issue: “As lawmakers have noted in hearings, the nakedly transactional bill would create a monopoly for the nonprofit, and requires OHA to tackle complicated systems integration—never a strong point for state agencies.”

As Legislators, we should stay far away from the appearance of political back scratching, but instead, I am afraid that this bill gives Oregonians even more reason to distrust their government.

Oregon State Police seizes 10,000 fentanyl pills and powder; arrests 18-year-old driver

Oregon State Police found 10,000 fentanyl pills and four pounds of fentanyl powder during a traffic stop on Feb. 16 in Linn County.

OSP says around 4:30 p.m., an OSP trooper stopped a silver Honda Accord at milepost 219 on I-5 for a traffic violation.

The trooper said the driver seemed to exhibit suspicious behavior that insinuated possible drug activity.

A K-9 unit was called to assist, according to law enforcement. This resulted in the seizure of 10,000 fentanyl pills and four pounds of fentanyl powder from a grocery bag behind the driver’s seat.

5 takeaways on money grab for Portland’s $1.3B clean energy windfall

A Portland sales tax to help low-income people access heat pumps and other climate change needs succeeded in raising more money than most expected in their wildest dreams – a projected $1.3 billion over the next five years.

Now, some city leaders want a piece of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund pie – and in some cases, they want the money for projects that have nothing to do with the environment.

That subverts the intention of voters, who in 2018 overwhelmingly approved the 1% tax on in-person and online sales transactions with large retailers in the city.

PGE files request for 7.4% rate increase in 2025

A new announcement from Portland General Electric may have you wanting to dim the lights.

On Thursday, the utility company filed a request for a 7.4% rate increase in 2025. According to a recent post on social media, the proposed increase would support “investments in local battery energy storage systems to enhance reliability and flexibility, and other system upgrades.”

This comes after the Oregon Public Utility Commission approved an estimated rate increase of roughly 17% this year for PGE customers.

Yet Another Audit Slams State for Poor Personnel Management 

“Unlike several other states, Oregon does not have a statewide strategic workforce planning process,” the audit noted. “Oregon does not have a clear, consistent, or comprehensive approach to identify what state government needs to do to support its workforce and ensure it has the skills required to meet present and future obligations.”

Survey shows reputation of downtown area continues to impact Portland businesses

79% of responding businesses indicate they have lost customers due to the “reputation of downtown” showing a decrease from the 87% reported last year.

30% of respondents reported better business compared to the previous year, 32% reported similar performance, and 38% reported a decline.

For businesses experiencing a downturn, the primary reasons cited were customer loss due to homelessness (93%) and perceived safety issues (84%).

The influence of COVID-19 on customer loss has significantly decreased, with only 17% citing it as a factor compared to nearly 38% in the previous year.

Oregonians report rocky rollout of new unemployment claims system

KATU News has received complaints from several Oregonians having trouble with the new online portal for unemployment benefits.

The online portal, called Frances Online, is the same system Paid Leave Oregon uses.

Some people say there seems to be some confusion over the two different departments using the same system.

“I could not tell you how that system is working, if the features are better, because we can’t even get into it,” said Aaron Kier.

Oregon’s legislative session ending without much-needed solutions to wildfire funding issues

Lawmakers began the short session in February hoping to fill gaps in wildfire funding, with three bills to address landowner wildfire protection fees, home hardening, wildfire prevention and response, and survivor compensation.

Oregonians pay second highest tax percentage of annual income nationally, study reveals

According to a study published by FinanceBuzz.com, Oregonians spend the second highest amount of their annual income on taxes in the nation, only trailing Massachusetts.

Oregonians will spend approximately 23.37% of their income on taxes. Massachusetts residents will spend 23.67%.

Oregon’s neighbors to the north, south, and east pay much less according to the study.

Washingtonians only spend 18.27% on taxes, as they don’t have a state income tax. Idaho residents will spend 19.92%, and Californians spend 20.63%.

Legislative GOP Urge Immediate Reconsideration of Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan

The full Senate and House Republican Caucuses sent a letter to Governor Tina Kotek urging for the immediate reconsideration of ODF’s proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). This controversial 70-year logging scale back has already had negative consequences on businesses and concern has only been heightened after the closure of multiple sawmills in the last two months. As written, the HCP desperately lacks a balance between sound forest management policy and conservation goals of the State. The letter reads as follows:

Oregon’s legislative session ending without much-needed solutions to wildfire funding issues

Lawmakers began the short session in February hoping to fill gaps in wildfire funding, with three bills to address landowner wildfire protection fees, home hardening, wildfire prevention and response, and survivor compensation. 

But those proposals failed. Only one proposal, Senate Bill 1520, which ensures wildfire survivors do not need to pay state income tax on compensation and settlements from losses, passed the Legislature, with unanimous votes this week in the Senate and House. 

Oregon Legislature passes bill to make drug use on public transportation a crime 

The Oregon Legislature has passed a bill that would make drug use on public transportation a crime.

Senate Bill 1553 passed both chambers with wide bipartisan support after lawmakers heard testimony from transit officials concerned about safety  for staff and riders amid unfettered illicit drug use on buses. 

Under the measure, drug use on public transit would be prosecuted under the existing law for interfering with public transportation, which is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $6,250, or both. The crime would be a drug-designated misdemeanor, meaning that people would be eligible for treatment programs.

Oregon Legislature passes bill modernizing state stalking laws

It has been 28 years since Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, introduced Oregon stalking laws. On Thursday, he celebrated the overwhelming passage of a new bill modernizing stalking statutes in the House of Representatives. The bill was approved by the Senate later in the evening.

Mannix began work on House Bill 4156 months ago, convening a work group to discuss updating stalking laws in Oregon after connecting with Amber Rosenberry.

"The harrowing reality of being stalked in Oregon is that law enforcement cannot do much until an assault or homicide occurs," Rosenberry told lawmakers during a public hearing in February. 

Prairie City mill shuts down operations, lays off most staff

Prairie Wood Products suspended operations and laid off the majority of its employees on Friday, March 1, with company officials saying a sudden change in the Forest Service interpretation of a grant subsidizing transportation costs has put the mill's future at risk.

Prairie Wood Products officials say they are pursuing expedited negotiations with the Forest Service to resolve the dispute.

“In December 2023, we were awarded a Timber and Biomass Transportation grant with the understanding and representation from the Forest Service that the grant would provide matching funds covering transportation costs on our timber sales on the Malheur National Forest,” said Prairie Wood Products President Jodi Westbrooks.

A BIG PROMOTION AT AFD!

From our friends at Albany Fire Department:

Please help us congratulate newly promoted Battallion Chief Mark Bernt. BC Bernt began his fire service career with Mount Angel Fire District in 1994 and was hired with Albany Fire in 2003.

AFD has three BC positions who lead our individual shifts; A, B and C. BC Bernt will be leading C Shift.

We wish you the best of luck in your new roll Mark!

NEW SYSTEM AT OREGON EMPLOYMENT: INFORMATION TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE 

From Oregon Employment Department:

We have updated the partner toolkit with talking points, a “What’s Changing for Claimants” flier, sample newsletter article, and sample social media posts to help get the word out and support claimants in using the new system.  

Action Required for Current Claimants 

We are asking partners to help spread the word about what current claimants need to do to use the new system:  

1. Create a Frances Online account at frances.oregon.gov. If they have an active claim or applied but their claim is still being reviewed, information about their claim will appear in their new Frances Online account. If they have an account in Frances Online because they claimed benefits from Paid Leave Oregon, they do not need to set up a new account.  
2. File their weekly claim at frances.oregon.gov/claimant. Claimants can now file for the week of February 25-March 2. If they did not file a weekly claim for the week of February 18-24 and they are seeking benefits for that week, they can still claim that week using Frances Online. They can file all future weekly claims using Frances Online.   

Customer Service Tips  

OED expects the Unemployment Insurance Program will receive high call volumes for at least the first couple of weeks after going live in the new system. We are encouraging customers to use self-serve features available through Frances Online such as checking the status of a claim, uploading documents online, or making a payment online. Go to unemployment.oregon.gov/frances for more customer service tips. 

We value your partnership; thank you for helping us serve the people of Oregon. We are excited about the enhancements with this new system. We are pleased we can follow through on our commitment to modernizing to better serve Oregonians. Visit unemployment.oregon.gov/frances to learn more.  

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE Y!

From our friends at the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA:

Lifeguard Certification - Gain the skills to save a life!

Red Cross Lifeguard Certification is a comprehensive course, focusing on water rescue and safety and prepares lifeguards to anticipate and prevent dangers.

March 24-26 | Ages 15+ | $50

Courses include:

Lifeguard Training.

CPR/AED certification for the Professional Rescuer

First aid certification

Emergency oxygen administration certification

Certifications are good for 2 years.

More information

We can’t wait for the sunshine! YMCA Summer Day Camp registration opens Friday, March 15th. Registration takes places at our Welcome Center.

GET IN LINE, LET'S DANCE!

From our friends at the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA:

Join us for 6 weeks of Line Dancing at the YMCA! Bring a friend and let's dance our hearts out together. All levels are welcome. See you on the dance floor!

Boot Scootin’ Boogie, Electric Slide & More! No partner needed.

More information and registration

MEMBERS AND PARENTS OF ABGC!

From our friends at the Boys & Girls Club of Albany:

Members and parents, join us for the Boys & Girls Club of Albany Spaghetti Feed!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 4:00 PM

Please meet in the Member Pickup Room

OREGON STUDENTS COME TO THE CAPITOL

When one of my best friends asks me if I could host her daughter's high school Government Class for a tour, I say, "When, how many, and what do they want to learn?" 

My office welcomed and hosted a group of students (mostly seniors) from Mr. Nic Anundson's Government Class from Scio High School. They met Senators, our House Minority Leader (who also gave them a House Courtesy - Thanks, Rep. Helfrich!), veteran lobbyists, and hopefully learned more about the legislative process and their Capitol. 

Sadly, most of the building is closed off due to the major construction and renovations, but we were still able to provide a well-rounded visit despite limited building access. 

Stay engaged, students. Stay engaged!

APD AND AFD KNOW HOW TO SEND IT!

Albany Police Department and Albany Fire Department came out big for two State Championship send-offs this week! 

Congratulations to South Albany HS Redhawks Girl's Basketball Team and West Albany HS Bulldogs Boy's Basketball Team for making it to the State Championships!

Great stuff, great community!

OUR COMMUNITY STEPS UP FOR BGCA!

Thank you Ross Dress for Less for supporting the Boys & Girls Club with the 10th annual in-store fundraiser! This year, we met our $2,000 goal and Club kids were able to pie the store manager! This was such a fun campaign for our kids to get to participate in, thank you to all who supported!

Thank you so much Chief Wooton and the Albany Fire Department for coming out to our Waverly Elementary School location and reading to our kids.

We truly appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule, we are so blessed with our community support.

IT'S IN THE B.A.G.S.

From our friends at APD:

B.A.G.S. Bringing Awareness Giving Solutions came by today to give us warm bags to give to others in the community. Thanks so much!

During the 2024 interim (break from 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