|
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Rep.LucettaElmer@oregonlegislature.gov
March 21, 2025 Legislative Update
Friends,
It has been another busy week in Salem! Today marks a major deadline in the Capitol. Every bill introduced this session either has to be scheduled for a work session (where it will be up for a vote in a committee) or be referred to another committee that is not subject to deadlines (Rules Committee, Revenue Committee, or Joint Committees) by 5:00pm today. Every bill that does not get scheduled will be considered "dead" and will not move forward.
Keep reading below for an exciting announcement, as well as additional policy updates.
House Bill 3939 - Increasing Workforce Housing
This week, I introduced House Bill 3939 to increase housing for Oregon’s workforce. This legislation would provide 3,080 new housing units in the communities of Florence, Baker City, Burns, Ontario, Hines, Dallas, Carlton, Wilsonville, Adair Village, and Grants Pass. Each of the 3,080 housing units is priced at $8,400 in public investment per door.
To qualify for this public-private partnership funding, cities had to show they had shovel-ready infrastructure and housing ready for development, within the city’s current urban growth boundary (UGB), that could be completed within 60 months of receiving a direct allocation from the state. Additionally, local developers in each area had to confirm the affordability would pencil for them: 30% of the completed housing units must be available for sale or rent at 130% or less area median income (AMI) for the county.
I am thrilled to be bringing this legislation forward which directly funds desperately needed, shovel-ready infrastructure projects to house our workforce. This legislation is modeled after House Bill 4134 which successfully passed and was signed into law during the 2024 Legislative Session. I am a firm believer that our publicly invested dollars go much further when attached to a commitment from private investment.
House Bill 3939 is officially scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, April 7th in the Housing and Homelessness Committee.
- You can register to testify in support of this legislation HERE. Click "Register to Testify."
- You can submit written testimony HERE.
House Bill 3643 - Youth Suicide Awareness Day
On Monday, we had a public hearing in the House Rules Committee on House Bill 3643, which would designate October 9th of every year as Oregon Youth Suicide Awareness Day. I am grateful for all of the brave individuals who came forward to express their support for this legislation, and share their stories. We are now awaiting a work session to be scheduled. I will continue to update you on next steps.
Second Amendment Under Attack
Second Amendment rights are under attack. A public hearing was held this week on HB 3075, which seeks to expand the firearm permit provisions from Ballot Measure 114, in the House Committee on Judiciary. The turnout showed just how many people in Oregon are willing and ready to fight for their Second Amendment rights.
HB 3075 is a dangerous attack on gun owners and threatens to block access to gun ownership by expanding Measure 114. HB 3075 is stuffed with unnecessary mandates and restrictions, more bans on firearms, threats to retroactively criminalize law-abiding gun owners, and expensive permits designed to price you out from keeping your family safe.
House Republicans are standing up for the rights of Oregonians. We have done it before, and we will do it again. We need your help to overwhelm the inboxes and voicemail boxes of the Democrats that are pushing HB 3075. Please contact the Speaker of the House, Rep. Julie Fahey, and Rep. Jason Kropf, author of HB 3075, and tell them to stop attacking our Second Amendment Rights and vote NO on HB 3075. Please find their contact info below:
House Speaker Rep. Julie Fahey (D) - Speaker of the House
Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Office Phone: (503)986-1414
Rep. Jason Kropf (D) - Bill Author and Judiciary Committee Chair
Email: Rep.Jason Kropf@oregonlegislature.gov
Office Phone: (503)986-1454
Below are some other bills to keep your eye on (click on each bill to learn more):
House Republicans Call For Decency In Schools
Once again, our children are under attack. The majority party is pushing for books containing sexually explicit material to be in K-12 libraries. SB 1098 moved out of committee this week and will be voted on in the Senate before making its way to the House. This proposed legislation would prevent schools from removing sexually explicit material by “prohibiting discrimination” based on the inclusion of a protected class — race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
On Monday’s House floor, Rep. Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass) protested SB 1098 by reading a graphic sex scene aloud from young adult novel “The Haters.” His remonstrance was interrupted by Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Keizer) who said the remonstrance was against floor rules. After a lengthy deliberation, Rep. Yunker was allowed to continue. Moments later, Rep. Mannix interrupted again, and Rep. Yunker was asked to stop reading.
“If a book on our school library shelves does not meet the standard to be read aloud on the House floor, it should not meet the standard for our schools,” said House Majority Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “Discernment is not discrimination. Common sense is not censorship. I urge this body to do everything it can to restore decency in our schools.”
“House rules say a person may not use indecent or profane language during a debate. By gaveling down a member for reading the language from a book available in school libraries, this body is admitting the language is indecent or profane, which we have been told would not be allowed in our schools” said Rep. Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg). “It must be one or other. We can’t have both.”
How Oregon Industries Compare Nationwide
The Oregon Business and Industry Research and Education Foundation released its “Oregon Competitiveness Book” earlier this month. The report discusses how Oregon industries compare to those nationwide. According to the analysis, Oregon is a “hostile” place to do business compared to other states.
Additionally, Oregon is ranked as the 18th highest state in local taxes collected per capita and has the 16th highest tax burden per $1,000 of personal income. Oregon’s average personal income does not support the high cost of living and excessive tax burden.
Education trends are equally as grim. Though OBI reported an exponential increase in spending, Oregon has seen a decrease in performance. Oregon is ranked 48th in fourth grade math and 46th in fourth grade reading.
OBI also reported that the housing costs in Oregon are high with homeownership sitting at 61.9% — putting Oregon 46th in the nation. The median home sale price for 2024 was $502,900, about $60,000 above the national average.
While there was miniscule growth in some areas, all areas fell from where the state was in 2022. OBI predicted this is due to people and businesses fleeing the state due to unaffordability. I am committed to doing all I can to turn this grave reality around.
National Agriculture Day
This week we celebrated National Agriculture Day, recognizing Oregon’s agriculture community and their important contributions to our state and the world!
The agriculture community is a vital part of the great state of Oregon. Oregon is the number one producer of blackberries, hazelnuts, peppermints, cranberries, rhubarb, grass seeds, florist azaleas, and Christmas trees in the United States! 674,350 Oregonians work in Oregon’s agriculture industry and 96.7% of Oregon farms are run by families and individuals.
Oregon’s economy depends on our agricultural industry which produces $126 billion in economic output. Farmers pay around $16.5 billion in taxes and account for $39.5 billion in wages.
Thank you to all of Oregon’s farmers, ranchers, and nurseries that have contributed immensely to the great state of Oregon and the world.
Keep reading below for just a few highlights of what I have been up to this past week.
Portland Trailblazers Game
On Sunday, I was joined by several other female legislators (on both sides of the political aisle) for a Portland Trailblazers game where we were honored for Women's History Month! It was a fun night of socializing before another busy week.
Realtor Day At The Capitol
This week, we had "Realtor Day" at the State Capitol! It was fun having several House District 24 realtors stop by. I appreciate their leadership and advocacy in the housing conversation.
Farm Tour In House District 24
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to tour Chapul Farms in McMinnville! Their research and pilot facility, the Chapul Innovation Center (CIC), serves as the heart of their nationwide project development efforts. They conduct trials on diverse feedstocks to analyze Black Soldier Flies capabilities to upcycle organic waste streams into high-value feed and soil fertilizer. The work they do is fascinating and I enjoyed seeing it first hand.
To learn more about the Chapul Innovation Center in McMinnville, visit their website HERE.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Our next townhall will be on Thursday, April 24th in Willamina. See the poster below for additional details. We hope to see you there.
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
Follow Our Work On Social Media
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
|
