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To contact me, please click here: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends,
Some weeks in Salem just don’t go as planned. This week started off with a packed Monday and gearing up for an eventful week of hearings and floor sessions. However, Tuesday morning things came to an abrupt halt for me.
In December I had surgery on my nose to fix a long-time issue. Very common to many people out there, I had a deviated septum and I finally decided to deal with it. My surgery went great, and I had been healing perfectly. Then while getting ready for work Tuesday morning, I started bleeding out my nose and mouth uncontrollably. I went to Dallas ER and eventually they were able to get it under control. However, I ended up back there 12 hours later with the same issue. They once again got it stopped. I was sent home this time with a “plug” in one nostril and a plan to continue dealing with intermittent reoccurrence while waiting to see an ENT who can figure things out.
Fortunately, I have amazing staff that have kept the office going. Then between the OLIS system, email, and text, I have been able to stay as engaged as possible with my committees and my colleagues this week. I can’t thank all of them enough for their prayers and support.
I also want to give a big shout out to the medical team at Dallas Hospital. They took great care of me. The Dallas community and surrounding area are lucky to have such a valuable resource in the community. Sorry about all the blood I got everywhere.
So, stay tuned to see what next week brings. Life as a legislator is never dull, but it’s also a job. Just like everyone else out there who is trying to juggle work, family, etc., sometimes things get in the way that you just can’t control. I will deal with this as quickly as possible and get back to work for all of you as soon as I can. In the meantime, my staff is here to help, and I am doing everything I can from outside the building to make sure you are represented and heard in Salem.
Sincerely,
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 Anna Scharf
State Representative - HD 23
Oregon's quarterly revenue forecast was released this week and while Oregon’s tax revenues remain strong, troubling economic trends continue to emerge. Oregon misses the mark in job growth, population gain, and GDP, while key industries that provide sustainable, family-wage jobs like construction and manufacturing are struggling. Meanwhile, government jobs and government-subsidized sectors continue to grow at a rapid pace.
The revenue forecast is important because it helps to determine Oregon's budget. We will wait to see what the May forecast has in store.
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 Here are some bills that were worked on this week in the Legislature or that you may want to watch for.
You can find more information about them and all the other bills that have been introduced online at the Oregon Legislative Information System.
GOOD
HB 3141 – Establishes October 12th as Oregon Farmer and Rancher Day.
These jobs are the backbone of our economy and way of life. Oregon proudly supplies our local communities, the country, and the world with some of the finest agricultural and livestock products in the world. It is only right that the hard work these men and women do is recognized.
The bill passed out of the House Ag committee this week and is headed to the floor for a vote.
HB 2425 – Tells a public body that buys electric cars or solar panels that it needs proof from the vendor that no forced labor was used in producing the car or panel.
The State has set climate goals for electric cars and trucks and electricity derived from solar and stored in batteries. However, the majority of the rare earth minerals that are used in the production of the batteries and panels for these items come from regions of the world that use forced and child labor. This bill would require the manufacturer, as is done in other industries, to trace the materials back to the source and attest that no child or slave labor was used in producing the component or product.
The bill was heard this week in the House Labor committee and most likely will not receive a work session.
HB 2038 - Requires the State Department of Energy to study nuclear energy, including nuclear waste disposal from nuclear energy. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committee of the House of Representatives on Climate, Energy and Environment no later than September 15, 2026.
For over 40 years, Oregon has outlawed the construction of nuclear power plants. The policy was adopted by voters in 1980 with the passage of Ballot Measure 7, 53-to-47. Ever since, new nuclear plants have been prohibited in Oregon until the federal government licenses a depository for nuclear waste. To date there is no Federal license, system or depository for nuclear waste in the US.
The bill received a hearing along with a presentation by Max Woods, Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Energy Security, Oregon Department of Energy, in the House Climate, Environment & Energy Committee this week.
BAD
HB 2967 – This bill would prevent Landlords from charging applicants’ fees for anything related to processing a rental application.
Current law, changed over the last few years already restricted landlords in how many application fees they could collect for a complex where multiple units may be available and required a receipt to be given to the applicant showing that the fee did not exceed the cost they incurred for the 3rd party used to complete the screening and background check information. There were also provisions previously passed that stated a landlord would be required to return a screening fee if landlord filled the vacancy before the screening for the applicant was complete.
Oregon’s housing crisis cannot be solved by policies that discourage investment in rental housing. Policies that further strain housing providers will only worsen the issue, ultimately harming both landlords and tenants.
This bill has already received a hearing in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness.
HB 3200 – This bill proposes to allocate $10M from the Fund for Student Success to the Oregon Teacher Scholars Program. **note: The proposed -1 amendment pulls the funds from the Department of Education not the Student Success Account.
This program was originally created in 2017 (SB182) which awarded $5,000 scholarships for 2 years. It was increased to $12,000 for 2 years through HB5043 (2023). This $10M would be in addition to the $5M already allocated in the Governors Recommended Budget.
To qualify for the scholars program the teacher candidate must meet the definition of “diverse”: “Diverse” means culturally or linguistically diverse characteristics of a person, including:
(a) Origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa but is not Hispanic;
(b) Hispanic culture or origin, regardless of race;
(c) Origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent or the Pacific Islands;
(d) Origins in any of the original peoples of North America, including American Indians or Alaskan Natives; or
(e) A first language that is not English.
When Oregon is facing a teacher shortage, why does the state continue to focus on DEI requirements rather than on recruiting educators that are qualified from any background. In addition, the educator who receives the scholarship is not required to remain in the state and teach or even teach in a school district that is looking to meet their DEI goals.
A public hearing was held this week in the House Education Committee.
HB 3362 - Imposes a 4% tax on retail sales of new and used tires. Directs the Department of Revenue to transfer tax revenue to specified funds for purposes related to rail transit, tire pollution prevention and mitigation, and wildlife passage infrastructure.
While this bill would tax tires for cars, truck, trailers, etc., the funds would do nothing to benefit the highway system in which those tires travel. Rather it would go towards public transportation projects that involve rail or other forms of public transportation (busses). It would go towards establishing and managing a tire pollution prevention and mitigation program which would work on eliminating tire pollutants found in storm water runoff and mitigate the effects of tire pollutants on salmon and other fish. Finally, it would be used to fund the Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Fund. Projects in that fund would include things like wildlife crossing structurers and roadway fencing.
A new tax takes a 3/5 vote in both chambers, but with a supermajority in both chambers this could pass on party line votes alone.
This bill may receive a hearing next week in the Joint Transportation Committee.
Annual Cattleman's Day at the Capitol and Legislative Reception. Oregon is a big state, but the cattle business is like one big family.
Will and Gabrielle Homer of Painted Hills Beef Co. in Fossil. Gabrielle was raised in Dallas and Will went to college with a good friend and constituent
Skye and Penny Krebs from Krebs Ranch near Ione. They are distant relatives but I feel like I have known them my whole life.
 As I talked about in last week's newsletter - the wildfire maps need to be repealed! Oregonians agree and they came this week to show their support for just that. Repeal the maps!
Dundee celebrated 130 years as a city on Tuesday this week! I had invited the Mayor to the Capitol to congratulate the City of Dundee via a courtesy on the House Floor, but as I mentioned earlier, life had other plans for me.
Thank you to Sen. Bruce Starr for stepping up, welcoming Mayor David Ford and Councilor Alex Chiper, and for giving them a courtesy on the Senate Floor.
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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
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