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To contact me, please click here: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This month’s newsletter comes after the 60-day blackout period that prohibits legislators from using public resources to communicate with constituents prior to the election.
November is a month to express gratitude. I am deeply honored and grateful for the trust you’ve place in me by reelecting me to serve as your State Representative. Thank you for your confidence, your support, and your belief in our shared vision for the future of our communities and our state.
This election cycle closes out my fourth term. Serving you is both a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. Your voices, concerns, and dreams drive me every day, and I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure our communities continue to thrive. Together, we have made progress, but there is still much more to accomplish.
As we move forward, I will continue to listen, and advocate for your needs, and to lead with integrity and dedication. Please know that my door is always open, and I am here to serve you.
Thank you once again for your support and for this incredible opportunity to build a brighter future for us all.
Sincerely,
 Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District
View Previous Newsletter at: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis/Pages/news.aspx
On December 10-12th, Legislators will return to Salem for interim committee days. This will close out the last of our committee days for 2024 in preparation for the 2025 Session that will convene on January 21st.
The week also brings us to the December 13th deadline for legislators to pre-session file bills so that they are first read on opening day.
The following week on December 18th, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) will release the Revenue and Economic Forecast to the Senate and House Committees on Finance and Revenue. You can Sign up to receive an email when new forecasts post on OEA’s website.
The Oregon Economic Forecast provides information to planners and policy makers in state agencies and private organizations for use in their decision-making processes. The Oregon Revenue Forecast opens the revenue forecasting process to public review. It is the basis for much of the budgeting in state government. The forecast reports are issued four times a year: March, June, September, and December. You can watch the forecast report live or a replay of the committee meeting on OLIS here.
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The following is a brief overview to catch up on what took place in my committees in September during the blackout period.
On September 23rd, the Joint Emergency Board Interim Subcommittee on Public Safety met for interim committee days and held a work session on the following items that were passed to the emergency board for further consideration.
1.Judicial Department – Unrepresented Defendant Persons Crisis
7. Public Defense Commission – Unrepresented Defendant Persons Crisis
2. Judicial Department – Mandated Payments
3. Judicial Department – State Court Facilities Security Account
4. Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability – Case Backlog
6. Public Defense Commission – Executive Branch Transition Plan
9. Public Defense Commission – Temporary Hourly Increase Program
10. Public Defense Commission – Reorganization
12. Public Defense Commission – Maximum Attorney Capacity
13. Public Defense Commission – Assignment Coordinators
14. Public Defense Commission – Executive Branch Transition
69. Department of Forestry – 2024 Fire Season
41. Department of the State Fire Marshal – 2024 Fire Season
31. Department of State Police – Equitable Sharing Program
33. Oregon Military Department – Jackson Armory Service Life Extension
34. Oregon Military Department – Rees Training Center Range
35. Department of Emergency Management – Disaster Preparedness Stockpile
38. Department of Justice – Victims of Crime Act Grant
40. Department of Public Safety Standards and Training – Scenario Village Structural Repairs 43. Department of Corrections – Substance Use Disorder Pilot
Watch a replay of the committee and access meeting materials here.
On September 24th the House Interim Committee on Judiciary met jointly with the Senate Interim Judiciary Committee to receive reports and updates from various stakeholders on the following topics:
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- Oregon Public Defense Update
- Wrongful Conviction Compensation Update
(SB 1584 (2022)
- Role of Local Courts
- Uniform Parentage Act: 2025 workgroup update
- Forensic Science Commission Field Trip Report
- Civil Commitment Updates
- Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (SB 619 (2023)
Implementation Update
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Watch a replay of the committee and access meeting materials here.
This was my view leaving the Capitol after an evening caucus meeting during September legislative committee days.
On August 29th, I attended the Willamette Career Academy’s Dental Sciences ribbon cutting ceremony. The Dental Science program is for students interested in a career in the world of dentistry. It is an exciting program that allows students to engage in a hands-on learning experience using state-of-the-art tools and simulators while earning high school credits and hours toward state licensure. The courses consist of both lecture and lab instruction and serves students from 20 high schools in the region.
On September 9th, I had the privilege to attend the Demobilization Ceremony to welcome home the Oregon National Guard’s A (-)/641st Aviation unit members following their overseas deployment to the Horn of Africa. Thank you for your dedication to duty and for your commitment to serve our country.
On September 17th, I was honored to speak at a ceremony in Silverton as the Silver Sparky award was presented to Garnet Cooke by the State Fire Marshal. This award recognizes a civilian or civilian agency for outstanding achievement in fire prevention or public safety education.
The State Fire Marshal shared the following information about Garnet’s volunteer service on the agency’s Facebook page.
“Congratulations to Garnet Cooke, the 2024 recipient of the Silver Sparky Award!
For the last eight years, Garnet has been a tireless advocate for wildfire preparedness, attending local events, fairs, and other gatherings to share wildfire preparedness information. Her engaging presentations, including her hands-on demonstrations about reducing fire risks, have helped countless Oregonians better protect their homes. What is so special about Garnet is that she does this all on her own; she is not affiliated with any organization.
She understands the importance of wildfire preparedness and works tirelessly to share that information with her community. Her dedication and passion for wildfire prevention have made a lasting impact, and we're proud to honor her with this award!
Thank you, Garnet, for your hard work and commitment!”
On September 20th, I attended the Lebanon Oregon Veterans’ Home 10-Year Anniversary hosted by Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
The event featured military displays, including the Oregon Memorial Traveling Wall and the “I Am Not Invisible” poster exhibit. Guests were provided guided open house tours, engaged in meet-and-greets with residents and staff, and participated in other celebratory activities throughout the day.
The Lebanon Local published an article reported by Sarah Brown featuring full coverage on this event that you can read here.
On September 28th it was a profound honor to attend the Dallas Garden Club’s Gold Star Memorial Sign Dedication with my colleague Representative Anna Scharf.
Witnessing this tribute to the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and their families was both humbling and deeply moving. This sign stands as a lasting symbol of gratitude, reminding us all of the bravery and commitment shown by those who gave everything for our country. It was a privilege to join in honoring their legacy and supporting the families who carry their memories forward.
On October 2, I had the pleasure to join teachers, administrators, community leaders, and local families for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Clackamas County Early Learning Center.
The center, owned and operated by Clackamas Education Service District, provides instruction and evaluation services to children ages birth to 5. It focuses on providing accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive support to children and families from underserved populations, including those experiencing poverty, those experiencing disabilities, and families who speak languages other than English.
The center is a valuable resource where children and families will receive the foundation they need for educational success into the future.
More information on how to access services through the Clackamas County Early Learning Center can be found on their website here.
I join the North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity in welcoming the Constante family to the Silverton community on October 14th as they received the keys to their new home. We are so glad you’re here!
In the last 36 years, nearly 50 homes have been constructed by volunteers and purchased by local Habitat families serving the communities of Scotts Mills, Woodburn, Mt. Angel, Silverton, Oregon City, Gervais, Canby, Molalla, Aurora, and Hubbard. In addition, Northwest Willamette Vally Habitat for Humanity has completed one home rehab, more than 22 re-habitat repair projects and has built 65 homes overseas.
Read more about the Constante family story here.
On October 30th, I toured the Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) during their statewide IronOR 24.
IronOR 24 was a 4-day exercise designed to test the state’s response from day 4 to day 7 of a catastrophic Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake scenario. Building on the Cascadia Rising 2016 exercise, which tested readiness from day 1 to day 3, IronOR 24 focused on maintaining operational coordination, securing communications, and addressing human impacts during a prolonged response phase. The event was the culmination of a year-long planning effort, ensuring that we are prepared to support Oregon communities in the face of a major disaster.
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As Vice-Chair of the House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans this opportunity is of great value to my work on the committee as we review and evaluate our state’s critical emergency management and disaster resilience topics.
 
This afternoon, I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Silverton Middle School students during their Veterans Assembly. The opportunity to share my personal experience as a veteran and to encourage students to understand and value the role of veterans and to foster a sense of respect and gratitude for the sacrifices made by our military personnel was the highlight of my day.
A big thank you to Jackie Renoud for the invitation to speak and for coordinating this meaningful event.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces during its Statewide Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, in view of the Oregon State Capitol Building.
This event will feature remarks by dignitaries and special guests along with ceremonial elements including a color guard, singing of the national anthem, a wreath laying and the playing of "Taps."
The celebration will honor Oregon veterans of all eras and will be hosted at the Oregon State Capitol State Park located on Court Street Northeast in Salem — directly in front of the main entrance of the Oregon State Capitol Building.
The event is open to the public and uncovered seating will be provided for attendees. Accessible pathways and seating areas for those needing accommodations will also be provided. Attendees are reminded to plan accordingly for Oregon weather.
For those unable to attend, the event will also be livestreamed on ODVA’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/odvavet. If you have any questions about this event, please contact ODVA at (800) 692-9666 or visit www.oregon.gov/odva.
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As the holidays draw near, I want to share with you the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s November issue of The Gated Wye. This month’s issue is packed with essential fire safety tips! Inside, you'll find holiday cooking safety guidelines and the latest updates from our incident management team in North Carolina. We’re also celebrating community success stories, like the impact of our wildfire season staffing grant and a special feature on Chiloquin Fire & Rescue's inspiring team!
Download your copy to stay informed and safe this holiday season!
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The Oregon Department of Energy has been awarded over $113 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for two new home energy rebate programs that will provide financial incentives to single-family and multifamily households for eligible high-efficiency home improvements, appliances, and equipment.
The Home Efficiency Rebate Program (also known as HOMES) will provide performance-based rebates for energy efficiency retrofits in single-family and multifamily homes. This can include installing more efficient equipment like a heat pump or on-demand water heater, weatherization measures like insulation or air sealing, smart thermostats, and more. HOMES rebates will be issued for projects that can provide at least 20 percent estimated energy savings, with higher incentives available for projects that could save 35 percent or more. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program (also known as HEAR) will provide point-of-sale rebates to low- and moderate-income households to install eligible high-efficiency electric appliances and associated upgrades, as well as insulation and air sealing measures.
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HOMES rebate amounts will vary depending on the project scope, with rebates covering 50 to 100 percent of project costs up to $4,000 or $10,000 per project, depending on the household’s income and the estimated energy savings. Similarly, HEAR Program participants could receive between 50 to 100 percent of project costs up to $14,000, depending on the energy upgrades completed and the household’s income.
Funding for these programs comes to Oregon thanks to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Oregon has previously been awarded IRA and other federal funding, including a Solar for All award and a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. ODOE submitted its initial application for home energy rebates to the U.S. DOE in March 2024. Now that the state has received the awards, ODOE can begin to finalize the programs’ design and start procuring and developing the program guidance, technology systems, coordinating agreements, and other materials necessary to launch two effective and well-run programs. ODOE expects that rebates will be available in late 2025 or early 2026.
Learn more on our blog.
On Veterans Day we gather to honor the brave men and women who have served our country with courage and dedication. Your sacrifice, whether on the front lines or in support roles, have safeguarded the freedoms we hold dear. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering commitment our nation and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Wishing you a joyful and blessed Thanksgiving filled with warmth, love, and delicious food. May this season bring you peace and a heart full of gratitude.
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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