Interim Newsletter: December
Welcome to our final newsletter of 2024! As we approach the end of the year, preparations for the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session are in full swing. It might be hard to believe, but it's already been nine months since we gaveled out of the 2024 Session, and now the anticipation is building for what’s ahead.
Rep. Cate and I have been fine-tuning legislative concepts that will blossom into bills over the coming weeks, and we can't wait to share them with you in the new year! We also are anxiously awaiting committee assignments, which we will know soon enough.
You may have also heard that a Special Legislative Session occurred yesterday, December 12th in response to costs incurred this wildfire season, which burned a record 1.9 million acres across the state. The Legislature released $218 million to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to address all costs for the season assumed to date. The bulk of this was to meet the state’s financial obligations to small, medium, and large contractors who worked tirelessly to protect and support Oregonians for more than five months. This hits close to home, as we were working with contractors in House District 11 who were still awaiting payments following their heroic actions. To read Governor Kotek's full proclamation, click here.
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As we embark on a new year, we also want to take a quick look back at 2024 and some of what our office accomplished. The passage of SB 1520, which allowed for state tax exemptions on wildfire settlements was monumental, and we're now happy to report that the federal version of this bill has finally gotten over its hurdle in the United States Senate, and was signed into law by President Biden yesterday. We actually were prepared to introduce a Memorial Resolution urging them to take swift action after months of inactivity, but thankfully this is no longer needed.
So often, the focus of legislative work is only on how many bills pass or die, but there is also a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. If you live in House District 11, you likely received personal mail from our office whether it be a survey, birthday card, graduation letter, or congratulatory note for something we saw in the paper. It's something Rep. Cate strives to do, and we will keep pushing to do more in 2025 in tandem with championing your legislative priorities in Salem!
Once again, we'll keep you updated as bill drafts are finalized, committee schedules are set, and the session gets underway. We plan on beginning weekly newsletters in January.
Thank you for staying engaged with us throughout 2024—we look forward to sharing more as we head into an exciting new legislative year!
In this month's District 11 Spotlight we would like to congratulate Deputy Chris Fairchild on his retirement from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office!
Deputy Fairchild has served the great people of Linn County for over 28 years. During his many years with the office, when Chris was not out patrolling the county, he served as a member on LCSO's Warrant Apprehension Team, and most currently spent the last years of his career assigned to the Civil Division as a Civil Deputy. Chris was also a member of the Dive Team and served as the Reserve Deputy Coordinator.
Deputy Fairchild is excited to spend more time with his family, travel, and simply not have to work! He made it a point to mention that he will miss his friends and co-workers the most, and that it has been a great pleasure and honor to work for the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
We wish him the absolute best in retirement!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
Parade of Lights in Sweet Home Tomorrow
The City of Sweet Home is proud to once again host their annual Parade of Lights in downtown! Come experience all the sights and sounds of holiday cheer tomorrow (Saturday) at 6:00pm--just be sure to bundle up!
Harrisburg Library December Events
Harrisburg Public Library is keeping up a busy schedule of fun free events throughout the month of December! Their calendar features events for both kids and grown-ups, so don't miss out!
Gingerbread Contest at Scio Public Library
There's still time to enter Scio's gingerbread competition! Entries will be accepted through December 19th with judging taking place on the 20th. You can call the library for additional details or questions you may have at (503) 394-3342.
Holiday Open House at the Moyer House in Brownsville
From December 26th through New Year's Eve, consider seeing the historic Moyer House in Brownsville all dressed up for Christmas! Tours are available and the open hours are between 11:00am-4:00pm.
Storytimes Return to Lebanon Public Library
Lebanon Public Library is proud to be bringing back its popular story time events, aimed at those from 0-5 years old! No registration is required and the programs are free! Come check it out with your little one on Wednesday and Thursday mornings beginning January 8th!
Green Peter Drawdown Update
We wanted to provide an additional update on the deep drawdown at Green Peter this winter, as quite a lot has evolved since early November. Thankfully, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to halt the drawdown ahead of their initially planned timeframe, in response to pleas from Lebanon and Sweet Home.
The amount of sediment flushed downstream was less potent than the first year of the drawdown, but it was still way above the levels Sweet Home and Lebanon's water systems are designed to handle. Our cities were able to provide safe drinking water once again this year, but only after intensive chemical treatment.
The Corps have proposed alternatives to reservoir drawdowns that typically involve extremely expensive infrastructure projects, but for now, the drawdowns are likely here to stay in the Willamette Basin in order for the Corps to comply with the Endangered Species Act, as they have been ordered to do.
We will have to continue to be engaged with this in the lead up to next year's anticipated drawdown, and figuring out new ways to fight back against their devastating consequences is a top priority. At the very least, our small communities should not be the ones footing the bill for a problem they did not cause.
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