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To contact me, please click here: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov

The days during session are long and often draining, but I so appreciate the time I am able to find to meet with groups and individuals from the district. Time to connect with cities, community members and local businesses. Here's a few of the fun meetings - featured below with cities on “City Day at the Capitol”, attending the West Coast Seafood Processors reception, and meeting with credit union representatives on Credit Union day. I was especially honored to receive the Legislator of the year award from the Oregon Fairs Association. 

My schedule fills up quickly, but please stop by my office if you are ever in the building. I will always try to make time for you, and if I am not available, my amazing staff will be happy to assist you.

Anna Scharf
State Representative - HD 23

Yesterday, I gave a remonstrance on the House Floor regarding the harm of passing Ag overtime in 2022. Oregon farmers and employees are just starting to see the gravity of the situation. This policy is hurting famers and the employees. I implore the legislature to roll back this poorly structured state law. Please watch my remonstrance to hear more.

BILLS TO WATCH:

SB 644 - Nonprofit Accountability
Performs an audit of the Oregon Food Bank to ensure funds are being used properly. Unfortunately, the audit is necessary as the Oregon Food Bank has prioritized specific races and genders based on political agendas, and has brought forth the question of weather or not civil rights law have been violated. Click here to learn more.

This is not to be confused with our local food banks. In fact, I support SB 452 which will help fund the Marion-Polk Food Share. This is a great program within House District 23 and I hope to see SB 452 move forward. 

SB 747 - Fertilizer Restrictions
Requires every landowner in the state with more than 200 acres of irrigated agricultural land to register and annually report fertilizer use, with a goal of having the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture to "identify persons who are overapplying" fertilizer and impose civil penalties for violations. 

This bill was brought forward by a legislator from Portland that knows nothing about Oregon Agriculture and is very poorly written. I strongly opposed this bill in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire earlier this week. Click here to watch my testimony.

SB 687 - Fuel Tax Increases
Allows local governments to impose local fuel taxes. As you know, transportation is a major topic this session, and the burning question is “how is Oregon going to afford new transportation projects, and maintain the roads and services we already have?” 

The majority party's answer is more taxes. Not only do I strongly oppose this bill, but I am even more concerned as SB 687 bypasses the voters and implements new taxes on without voter voices in the process. According to a recent statement from a member of the House Democrat Caucus, voters stand in the way of necessary taxes and are nothing more than "petulant children". 

REP. SCHARF'S BILLS:

HB 2136 - Fairground Evacuation Sites
This legislation will provide one time funding to help fairgrounds who are designated as emergency evacuation sites funds that can be used to help upgrade power, water, telecommunications, and sewer infrastructure. This is not for building new structures, and the fairgrounds must show the need for these updates to support being better prepared for a local or regional emergency. The funds will be available through a competitive grant process. Please watch my testimony from the public hearing earlier this week.

HB 2842 - Court and Community Care in Polk County
This legislation will help fund Court and Community Care in Maron and Polk County, which is free child care for children ages six week to twelve for parents to attend appointments related court case involvement. The program was started in 2017, but phased out during COVID and is now coming back online. It is a model and will hopefully be available across the state one day. Please read more here about why this bill is so important and helpful for HD 23. It received a public hearing earlier this week.

HB 2199 - CAT Exemption
This bill would exempt prescription drugs at licensed retail pharmacies from paying the disastrous corporate activity tax (CAT) passed by the Legislature in 2019. In 2021, I was able to pass a bill to exempt the small pharmacies across the state from the CAT, but the bill has a limited duration, so this bill is needed to make that provision permanent.

HB 2309 - Name Change Protections
This bill is the result of an email from a constituent. Violent criminals should not be able to hide behind a name change to escape the consequences of their actions. This bill would create higher standards for approval for specific convicted criminals as well as a notification to the victim of the name change. Victims deserve to be protected.

HB 2691 - Meat Labeling
Consumers have the right to know what they are getting, especially when it comes to food. This bill requires food that bears a label suggesting a food product made from meat is misbranded unless the product contains text disclosing that the product does not in fact contain meat. Our ranchers produce a quality product and consumers don’t deserve to be confused by misleading labels. You should feel confident when you're buying a product that says meat on it that it actually contains meat.

HB 2692 - Rulemaking Transparency
Too often, government agencies change the rules of the game with little understanding by the public. This bill aims to make that process more transparent. It was a bill I originally worked on in 2023 but am happy to be working on now with business partners to hopefully move it forward. It would require that if a state agency intends to adopt a rule that would create new requirements, new rules of compliance, or increased costs to people regulated by an agency, the agency must adopt an advisory committee to review the proposed changes. The committee must also include members who are representatives of groups impacted by the agency's changes. A public hearing is scheduled for 2/12.

HB 2697- Traffic Stops
In 2020 the legislature removed many of the tools used by law enforcement. This bill will give our officers one of those important, yet small tools back. It will simply reinstate law enforcement’s ability to stop vehicles for a broken taillight. This is a tool that law enforcement has identified that can be used to help prevent drug trafficking.

HB 2727 - Revolving Door
This bill strengthens the integrity of our legislative process by expanding the limits on post-legislative advocacy, lobbying by former legislators. Currently, former legislators cannot be paid to lobby for a year after they leave office for a private organization such as Home Builders Association, Farm Bureau, etc. However, nothing stops them from leaving office and immediately going to work for the state or another public entity and returning the next day to lobby for public, tax payer programs. This is a good common-sense rule that helps protect against the quid-pro-quo and levels the playing field between public and private lobbying of elected officials. A public hearing is scheduled for 2/10.

HB 2733 - Rioting with Masks
It has become common practice in Oregon for crimes to be committed by people wearing masks for the sole purpose of concealing their identity to avoid the consequences of their actions. Our law enforcement, general public, and property owners with damage and theft, have all suffered because of the difficulty in identifying those committing the crimes. This bill requires the court to consider when a defendant has a face mask on with the intent to avoid arrest while committing a crime, additional penalties at the time of sentencing for the crime. 

HB 3267 - Veterans
This was also requested by a constituent. This bill gives more allowances so that veterans can receive the recognition they deserve. It expands the documents that can be used at the DMV when applying for a veteran's recognition license plate.

Yesterday, the House Republican Caucus held a press conference announcing our priorities for this session. We are focused on addressing homelessness, housing shortages, and balancing the State budget without increasing taxes. Watch the press conference here.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1423
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-387, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/scharf