Friends and Neighbors,

Here are some highlights from the past week and helpful community information for you! 

 - Shelly

Lend your voice to the needs impacting our community. The Joint Committee On Ways and Means is conducting a series of 'Roadshows.' This is an opportunity to stay informed about state funding, and your opportunity to get involved in the conversation. The 'Roadshow' meeting closest to HD-15 will be in Salem at the Capitol.

WHEN: April 16, at 5-7 PM

WHERE: Oregon State Capitol, Hearing Room F

HOW: Sign up to give in-person or remote testimony by clicking here, and finding the "Register to Testify" button under the 'Public Hearing' section. If you can't spare a few minutes to give live testimony, you can submit written testimony here. For more detailed instructions, go here. Written comment may be submitted online up to 48 hours after the meeting start time.

**BIG** TRANSPORTATION TAXES UNVEILED

Yesterday, Democrats unveiled their grand Transportation plan framework. It threatens to increase or create over a dozen taxes to take billions more from Oregonians at a time when too many are struggling with some of the highest costs of living in history.

The proposal increases gas taxes by 20 cents (a 50% increase), increases taxes on truckers by nearly 17%, creates a new tax on tires, increases payroll taxes, and more. Read all the tax hikes here.

I maintain that we need serious reforms at ODOT before we even consider taxing you more. I recently went on the Oregon DOGE podcast to talk about some of the problems at ODOT and the need to provide real oversight. You can listen to that entire podcast here.

HOW OREGON DEMOCRATS PURPOSEFULLY

MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE

TO BUILD THINGS AND WHY IT MATTERS

Oregonians' top concern right now is how expensive it is to live here. Over the last 5 years, we have all seen how government can increase the costs of things through policy decisions, but Oregon Democrats seem to have learned no lessons.

They say they care about Oregonians' cost of living, but their actions speak louder. Democratic leadership is advancing policies that drive up construction costs, exacerbating the state's housing crisis, and pushing businesses and residents to reconsider their place in the state. From expanded prevailing wage laws to mandated Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), these measures create financial strain on Oregon businesses, reduce competition, and ultimately make living and building more expensive.

At the heart of this issue is House Bill 2688, a proposal by Democrats to broaden the scope of prevailing wage laws. These laws require contractors on public projects to pay union wages, which are often significantly higher than market wages. A recent article from Willamette Week details how these prevailing wage laws drive up the cost of "affordable" (subsidized) housing by 10-20%. As a transportation nerd, and considering the budget issues at ODOT, I am especially concerned about how these measures will drive up the cost of maintaining Oregon's roads and bridges. Unfortunately, working to find out how much these costs could increase is proving difficult, undermining trust and the idea of transparency in our agencies and “non-partisan” staff inside the legislative process.

Now look at Governor Tina Kotek's Executive Order 24-31 – which recently got shot down in court – which mandates the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on state-funded projects. PLAs disproportionately favor unionized contractors—who represent less than 20% of Oregon's construction workforce—over non-union firms. This reduces competition, particularly in rural areas where union labor is scarce, driving up project costs by limiting bidder participation.

A recent report from the Common Sense Institute details how damaging PLAs can be, including how PLAs can increase construction costs by 15–20%, cost up to 33,000 jobs, and take money away from from schools, housing, or transportation, or complete fewer projects overall. These duplicative costs discourage many contractors from bidding on PLA-governed projects, further reducing competition and inflating prices. For small businesses and minority-owned firms that operate as nonunion entities, these mandates create additional barriers for economic growth, and that's not theoretical. As the most recent Economic Forecast highlighted, "Oregon GDP growth has been slower than U.S. GDP growth by about one and a half percentage points, and state job creation lagged the national average as a result."

Every one of these mandates causes the government to spend YOUR tax dollars less efficiently, leading to Democrats' never-ending call for more and more taxes. It's a vicious cycle.

The Consequences

The cumulative effect of these policies is making Oregon an increasingly unattractive place for businesses and residents. A recent study highlighted how other states are actively poaching Oregon businesses by offering more favorable regulatory environments. High taxes and burdensome labor mandates are among the factors driving companies—and their jobs—out of state. Additionally, as housing becomes less affordable due to inflated building costs, more Oregonians are leaving for states with lower living expenses.

Oregon's aging population adds another layer of complexity. Oregon has one of the highest median ages of any state in the nation. With fewer working-age residents contributing to tax revenues and more people leaving the state for more affordable places to live, the state faces long-term fiscal challenges. Policies that drive up construction costs only exacerbate this issue by limiting economic growth and reducing the availability of affordable housing for younger workers who might otherwise stay in Oregon.

Democrat's believe they can make your life more affordable by spending more money. This is their fundamental flaw. Take this recent graph put out by Willamette Week. Under Democrat leadership, Oregon has blown the doors of housing spending over the last decade, and housing costs are higher than ever.

Oregon Democrats' push for expanded prevailing wage laws, mandated PLAs under Executive Order 24-31, and ever-increasing taxes and regulations create a perfect storm of rising construction costs, reduced competition, and economic stagnation. These policies benefit a narrow group of unionized workers at the expense of taxpayers, small businesses, and prospective homeowners. If unchecked, they will continue to hurt Oregon's economy and exacerbate its affordability crisis, forcing businesses and residents alike to seek opportunities elsewhere.

CLEAN TRUCKS UPDATE - OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION

For months, I have been sounding the alarm on DEQ's Clean Trucks rules and their impact on the livelihoods of hardworking truck drivers & blue-collar workers who power America’s trucking industry. We are just starting to see the consequences. Businesses are telling me they are on the brink of closing their door because they can’t get any trucks. These policies are unworkable and out of touch with reality.

Manufacturers and dealers are already feeling the pain, unable to sell diesel-powered vehicles because they’re being forced to prioritize EV trucks that either don’t exist or fail to meet the demands of heavy-duty hauling.

Here’s what’s at stake:

Blue-collar jobs: The workers who build and maintain diesel engines are being pushed aside in favor of unproven technologies.

Truck drivers’ livelihoods: With the limited availability of zero-emission trucks and inadequate charging infrastructure, drivers would be left without reliable tools to do their jobs.

Economic stability: Diesel engines remain critical for long-haul trucking and heavy loads, yet DEQ is creating chaos in the market by prioritizing unattainable mandates.

Ironically, not decreasing emissions: Holding onto older diesel engines is the only option facing companies wanting to upgrade to the newest, cleanest, most fuel efficient diesel engines.

Instead of fixing the problem, DEQ has created a patchwork credit system - leaving Oregon businesses confused, burdened, and at legal risk. We don’t need another bureaucratic scheme, we need these rules to be delayed.

DEQ is accepting public comments on their new scheme until April 23rd, and a public hearing is scheduled for April 17th. We are gathering signatures for our petition to ask DEQ to stop the nonsense and delay these rules once and for all.

Submit written comments here before April 23rd.

Join the public hearing here on April 17^th to testify virtually.

GUN BILL UPDATES

Last week, I gave you a list of all the anti-Second Amendment bills being entertained by Democrats. I will list them again here:

• Senate Bill 243: This is a comprehensive gun control bill that combines elements from multiple previous proposals. Read more about it's public hearing here. It includes:

• Senate Bill 429: Implements a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases.

• Senate Bill 696: Creates the crime of unlawful transport, manufacture, or transfer of a "rapid-fire activator".
• Senate Bill 697: Prohibits individuals under 21 from possessing firearms, with some exceptions for certain types of rifles and shotguns.
• Senate Bill 698: Expands gun-free zones by allowing public entities to adopt policies prohibiting firearms, even for concealed handgun license holders.
• House Bill 3075: Modifies provisions of Ballot Measure 114, which is currently under constitutional challenge.
• House Bill 3076: Creates a burdensome state licensing regime on small businesses that sell firearms.

Several of these bills are still open to submit public testimony. Submit written testimony for by clicking each one of the following: 

• SB 429
• SB 696
• SB 697
• SB 698

You can sign up to give testimony on SB 429, 696, 697, and 698 here. They are all scheduled for a public hearing on April 7 at 3 PM.

Note: Work Session only for HB 3075 and HB 3076.

WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, IT'S TIME FOR POLITICIANS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

There has been a lot of handwringing about President Trump's effort to reform the federal Department of Education. It's clear that in Oregon, neither the state nor federal Departments of Education have been doing much to increase educational success for our students. I found this statistic from a recent Willamette Week article especially shocking: "When adjusted for demographics, the Urban Institute found Oregon’s performance on NAEP put its students dead last nationwide in fourth grade reading and mathematics."

Parents and students deserve politicians who are willing to try something different when it comes to education, not simply doubling down on a failed system. I am hopeful that President Trump's reforms will do just that.

THE ZYN TAX ON THE MOVE

If you were wondering how committed Oregon Democrats are to taxing Oregonians at every turn, look no further than HB 2528. On Tuesday next week, April 7, the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection will vote on legislation that will slap a 65% tax on Zyns and other nicotine pouches. I have heard from many that taxing Zyns will discourage people from switching to this safer alternative to smoking.

I will oppose this measure.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABILITY MEASURES

On Tuesday, Oregon House Republicans sent a letter to the Speaker asking her to allow for public hearings of three bills that are intended to bring down the cost of living for Oregonians.

HB 3753 – Triples the standard deduction allowed for personal income taxpayers.

HB 3914 – No tax on tips. 

HB 2234 – No tax on overtime. 

A recent January poll revealed that 79% of Oregonians favor cutting taxes to make Oregon more affordable, and 70% favor eliminating state income taxes on tips and overtime pay. The same poll showed that 56% of Oregonians say that taxes are too high. Oregon ranks as the 10th most expensive state to live in, with the 5th highest individual income tax rate. Only California, Hawaii, New York and New Jersey have higher individual income tax rates.

A recent University of Oregon study found that  Oregon’s tax burden is by far the most commonly offered incentive for out-of-state businesses to recruit Oregon workers.

Oregon lawmakers consider bill that could prevent enforcement of NIL limits in college sports

Oregon legislators are considering a bill that could prevent the NCAA and other college sports institutions from enforcing limits on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) payments to student-athletes in the state. House Bill 3694 has the endorsement of the University of Oregon's athletic department, but Oregon State's athletic director said aspects of the bill could hinder widespread efforts to create a more level NIL playing field...

...HB 3694, introduced by state Rep. John Lively, D-Springfield, would modify existing Oregon law to ensure college athletes can receive NIL payments directly from institutions once the "House v. NCAA" settlement is concluded. The final approval hearing for that settlement is scheduled for April 7.

Proposed bill would tax the sale of beer, wine and ciders in Oregon

A proposed bill amendment in the Oregon Legislature could result in a sales tax for the sale of beer, wine and ciders. House Bill 3197 would tax the retail sale of “malt beverages, cider or wine.” The tax would start July 1, 2026 at a 2% rate, increasing by 2% every two years, eventually reaching an 8% sales tax come Jan. 1, 2032.

The tax funds would be dispersed into two locations: 85% of the tax revenue will be transferred to the Youth Development Division Fund to fund alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs for Oregon youth. The other 15% of the tax revenue will be transferred to the counties in the state.

Salem homeowners warn others after dealing with squatter nightmare: 'Laws must be changed'

Squatting incidents like theirs, and worse, are happening nationwide. Laws in Oregon and many states tend to favor squatters by putting property owners and landlords through lengthy and costly legal battles to remove them. Some states are acting to close legal loopholes...

...Under current Oregon law, she said the property owners could not use the standard eviction process, referred to as Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED), because they could not prove the squatters used force to enter and there was no established landlord-tenant relationship. An ejectment lawsuit is typically more costly and time-consuming.

House Bill 3522, awaiting a vote Tuesday in the House, would allow a property owner to evict a squatter by providing a 24-hour written notice to vacate and filing a FED eviction complaint in county court. “We cannot allow gaps in our laws to create situations where unauthorized occupants have more rights than lawful tenants or homeowners,” said Hartman, a chief sponsor of the bill along with Rep. Boomer Wright, R-Coos Bay.

House GOP Leader Supports Repeal of Wildfire Hazard Maps

On Tuesday, Oregon House Republican Leader Christine Drazan released a statement in response to Senate Bill 83, which makes changes to building code standards for wildfire mitigation that House Republicans proposed in House Bill 3944. A release from Drazan said a public hearing on the Senate bill was held on Tuesday. 

Drazan said, “Oregonians desperately need relief from the wildfire hazard maps that have created chaos and fear across rural Oregon. This bill closely mirrors legislation that House Republicans have introduced that will fully repeal the disastrous wildfire hazard map and all costly mandates”. Drazan said, “This legislation provides needed relief to rural homeowners that have paid the price of costly mandates, and we appreciate the members of this committee that have chosen to stand with us, rise above partisanship and make this right”.

Oregon’s proposed clean truck rules give manufacturers an off ramp from sale requirements

State Rep. Shelly Boshart-Davis, R-Albany, said the proposed rules from DEQ still won’t work. “I’ve come to a conclusion that either DEQ doesn’t want to make this work or doesn’t know how to make this work because there’s no manufacturers out there or dealerships, or anybody, that says this will work,” she said. Boshart-Davis is the chief sponsor of a House bill that would delay the implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck rules to 2027. The bill is set for a work session on April 8.

She’s heard from truck manufacturers that sales are down because they are trying to sell a zero emissions truck that would keep them in compliance with the rules before they sell a diesel engine. Because of that, truck manufacturers and dealers have not been able to sell any diesel-powered vehicles, she said. DEQ’s rules do not ban the sale of diesel truck engines, rather they increase the required amount of zero emission truck sales over time.

Boshart-Davis also said the proposed credit program is not a program that California has and questioned if Oregon is opening itself to legal risk by diverging from California’s rules. “This credit process or this credit scheme, whatever you want to call it, isn’t happening in California, so therefore, it’s not identical,” she said. “And so doing this takes a risk and puts people up for risk of litigation to be sued because they’re not following this. So legally this is not identical to California.”

Oregon to pay $465,000 settlement in ODOT whistleblower lawsuit

Oregon Department of Transportation's former chief information officer will receive $465,000 from the state as part of a whistleblower settlement. Mark Sauer sued the state alleging ODOT fired him in retaliation for speaking out against problems he anticipated with the transition to Workday, which led to widespread payroll issues for state workers. Sauer served as the head of ODOT's information services from July 2020 to April 2023, when he was terminated a week after being told the state's CIO "would not work with" him, the lawsuit said. Sauer had worked alongside Tracy Wroblewski, the ODOT's chief financial officer, as the agency's leaders in the payroll modernization.

Oregon Agriculture Festival!

Come check out the logging demonstrations and other fun and interactive activities that help you taste, touch and experience Oregon agriculture and natural resources! All happening April 26th-27th at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem! For more information check out our website here! 

It’s April, which means it is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Children are our most vulnerable population, and we all want to keep them safe, and help wherever we can. On that note, we will start the month with some resources for you or anyone you know that may need help with child abuse.

We want everyone to know that prevention is possible and one of the most important things we can do to help children thrive is to support families before they reach a crisis. Make the commitment this month to explore new ideas and share resources available in your community to strengthen support for children and families.

• ABC House abchouse.org 541-926-2203
• Canyon Crisis and Resource Center 503-897-2327
• Child Abuse Network (CAN) 541-926-5432
• Department of Human Services (DHS) 541-967-2078
• Family Tree Relief Nursery familytreern.org 541-967-6880
• Jackson Street Youth Services 541-220-2950
• Santiam Outreach Community Center 971-332-5676

These are just some of the services available. You can learn more about this month, resources available to you, and more by visiting https://buff.ly/REP4q5L.

GOLDFISH FARM ROAD BRIDGE CLOSURE

The bridge will be closed beginning Monday, April 7th through Monday, September 22nd. Please see detour map above and plan accordingly.

Albany Oregon Police Department:

We have some new faces to introduce around here!

Welcome aboard Officer Dylan Ferguson (pic 1), Officer Tyler Schneider (pic 2), Officer Kevin Elston (pic 3), Officer Lucy Torres (pic 4), Officer Millie Contreas-Gutierrez (pic 5), Community Resource Officer Jay Korkow (pic 6), Records Clerk Amy Moore (pic 7), Communication Specialist Bari Walter (pic and Records Clerk Grace Reed (pic 9).

We are inspired by their excitement and eagerness to serve our community. As they take on their new roles, we look forward to honoring their accomplishments.

Congratulations to Sgt. Eric Tress (pictured L) and Lt. Kyle Libra (pictured R) on their new promotions here at APD! We are so excited for them to begin this new chapter. They both work tirelessly to exceed expectations and serve the citizens of Albany with honor and pride.

Outstanding State Finishes in District 15!

Santiam Christian cheer is the 3A 2025 STATE CHAMPIONS!

South Albany took home 4th place in the 5A Cheer State Championships!

South Albany High School's Efren Ybarra placed 4th at the 5A state tournament!

West Albany Cheer varsity and JV both placed 2nd at The OCCA Championships! 

West Albany Basketball Team finished 4th in the state playoffs with an impressive 22-7 overall record! 

West Albany High School had 2 Girls Placers and 5 Boys Placers at the 2025 Wrestling State Tournament!

5A State Championship Runner up. We are so proud you, way to fight! GO REDHAWKS!

Friends - If any of our local teams have achieved a state finish that I may have missed, please don’t hesitate to let me know—I would love to share and celebrate their success!

Oregon Nurseries Visit

The good people from Oregon Nurseries were at the Capitol this week. Great to see them, even if just for a minute during this busy session!

During the 2025 legislative session my office will continue to keep you updated and informed - and is always at your service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any community event announcements, legislative questions, or concerns.

Talk soon,

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1415
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-389, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boshartdavis

Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov