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To contact me, please click here: Rep.LucettaElmer@oregonlegislature.gov
March 8, 2025 Legislative Update
Hello Friends,
It has been another busy week in Salem! Keep reading below for several highlights, as well as updates on legislation coming up next week.
Adoption Awareness Day - House Bill 2019
This week, we had a public hearing in the House Rules Committee on House Bill 2019, which designates August 25th as Adoption Awareness Day. This date is personal for me, as this is the day I was adopted. I am proud to be bringing this legislation forward, with my colleague from the other side of the aisle, Representative Rob Nosse, who adopted his children. This legislation is an important step to raising awareness about the ongoing need for adoptive families and the resources available to support them, as well as honoring the families who have chosen adoption.
You can watch my full remarks here.
Friends In The State Capitol
Below are a few highlights of just some of the many groups that stopped by for their annual "Advocacy Day" at the State Capitol.
Family Physician Lobby Day
McMinnville Habitat For Humanity
Oregon Small Woodlands Association
Tire Tax - House Bill 3362
On Tuesday, the Joint Transportation Committee heard House Bill 3362, which would impose a 4% tax on tires on Oregonians for driving vehicles. The funds would be entrusted to ODOT and redistributed to mass transit and environmental programs via a new "Tire Pollution and Rail Transit Fund." Specifically, not highways, roads or freight.
It is clear that Oregonians are frustrated with the rising cost of living. This tax does nothing to make life more affordable for families. Below you can see the ratio in which testimony opposing House Bill 3362 trounced those supporting the Tire Tax.
You can sign up to follow the bill by going to this link, and clicking "e-subscribe."
Ag Workforce Standards Board - House Bill 2548
Next week, we are seeing the BIGGEST THREAT agriculture has ever faced in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee, where I serve as the Vice Chair.
House Bill 2548 proposes a sweeping, one-size-fits-all mandate that could force many family farms and ranches out of business. This legislation disregards the significant protections already in place for farmworkers and transfers critical decisions about staffing, wages, benefits, and training to an unelected, unaccountable, bureaucratic body.
House Bill 2548 includes two provisions that effectively “unionize” farm work at the industry level:
- Creates an unelected governing body with the authority to set increased regulations for Oregon farms at least EVERY TWO YEARS.
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Eliminates at-will employment for agriculture and dictates how farm employers can terminate workers, creating significant challenges and litigation risk for agricultural employers.
Make no mistake: This legislation will result in the shutdown of multigenerational operations and loss of farm jobs. This is one of those moments where the volume of responses matters.
How To Take Action:
Send comments to the House Committee on Labor & Workforce Standards OPPOSING House Bill 2548 by 3pm on Friday, March 14th.
- Submit your written testimony through this link.
- Sign up to testify verbally through OLIS (click “Register to Testify”). Please know that time will be limited. It’s perfectly okay to testify virtually. We need people to engage (in writing and in-person for the hearing) and make their voices heard!
Click here for a list of existing farmworker protections (some of the most stringent in the country).
Click here for more information on House Bill 2548.
Additional Resources On Testifying:
House District 24 Events
Please join Senator Starr and I in Amity for a Legislative Session Update and Community Q&A session on March 13th. You can use the link HERE to RSVP and let us know what you're interested in hearing about. We hope to see you there!
To commemorate National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Juliette's House invites you to join them for their Celebrate the Children annual fundraising dinner & auction in April 2025! This unforgettable evening will showcase exclusive silent, super silent, and live auction packages, delectable local food and beverages, a delightful dinner, a captivating live show, an inspiring live painting, and a variety of engaging activities—all aimed at raising critical support and awareness for children affected by abuse, neglect, and grief.
This event will be held at the Abbey Road Farm in Carlton, Oregon on April 25th, 2025. Doors will open at 5:00PM. Get your tickets HERE.
I am honored to serve you and our community at the State Capitol this session. Please stay in touch and reach out if there are any issues you would like us to work on.
Reach My Office
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All my best,
Representative Lucetta Elmer
House District 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1424
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-374, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.LucettaElmer@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/elmer
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