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To contact me, please click here: Rep.KevinMannix@oregonlegislature.gov
Hello Friends,
It has been a busy two weeks! I heard and participated in a combination of over 50 public hearings and work sessions from March 31-April 9 and sat in over 10 hours of floor session last week alone. The first chamber deadline passed on April 9, so we have held elongated floor sessions to compensate for the large number of bills passing the House Floor and can expect to see a number of Senate bills being assigned to committees this upcoming week.
 Last week I joined my fellow legislators in recognizing Crime Victims' Awareness Week. We recognize this week because we need to remember that every crime has a real victim. Property crimes impact individuals who have had their cars stolen or their homes broken into. I recognize the additional severity of personal crime, and we should aggressively pursue those offenders.
Let us all remember that our public safety system needs to focus on the protection of the public and the reduction of victimization by holding criminals accountable.
On Tuesday my office welcomed Bradley Guptill as the opening ceremony performer on the House Floor. Bradley is 6 years old and lives in Keizer. He is the two-time state champion for the Small Fry Division of the Oregon State Fiddle Contest. Through winning the state contest Bradley is now certified to perform at the National Fiddle Contest in Weiser, Idaho in June, representing our amazing state of Oregon. It was an honor to have Bradley as my guest and I wish him the best of luck as he prepares for his competition in June. Click on the photo below to watch Bradley's full performance.
 Bradley with his older sister Caraline following his opening ceremony performance.
 Transportation Package:
Last week the House leadership announced their plans for the 2025 Legislative Transportation Package. This proposal revealed a number of tax proposals including raising of the Oregon gas tax, an additional payroll tax increase, and raising costs on the purchase and sale of cars. While our first goal should be to ensure existing transportation programs are operating in an efficient and cost – effective manner, we also need to evaluate our priorities in regard to transportation funding.
As we work our way through various transportation programs and proposals, I will press the need to be mindful of the costs which are imposed by our system and the financial challenges carried by Oregonians.
Good Things Moving:
HB 3522 Eviction of Squatters: I have heard from many people who are prevented from promptly evicting squatters from their property. The standard eviction process is long and complicated. The House has now passed a clean and simple solution which allows any property owner to give a squatter 24 hour written notice to depart. If the squatter has not departed within 24 hours, law enforcement may be brought in to carry out the eviction. This reform is in HB 3522, which I supported from the beginning, and which passed the House on April 3. This bill eliminates the red tape and expenses that are involved in many property disputes, and it shows strong respect for property owners' rights. The bill now goes on to the Senate, where I will support its passage. Click on the video below to view my comments on the House Floor.
 HB 2316 Home Start Land Act: At the start of this legislative session, I developed a visionary proposal for assistance in housing production by opening up parcels of unused state land for residential building. HB 2316 had its first public hearing in February where many questions and concerns were brought forward, showing a need for adjustment and additional creativity. My office has been honored to partner with Governor Tina Kotek and a number of additional statewide organizations to make this idea a reality.
 Representative Mannix posing with Governor Tina Kotek after testifying together in support of HB 2316 -4 in front of the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness. Click on the photo to view their testimony.
HB 2316 -4 frees up approximately 3,500 acres of state land of which can now be used for housing production, all within the urban growth boundaries. It provides revenue to the state from the sale of the land, and it also provides revenue to our cities because the land becomes taxable for property taxes five years after purchase. This bill is known as the Home Start Land Act and passed through the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness unanimously on Wednesday April 9. HB 2316-4 will now be considered before the House Revenue Committee, with an additional referral to the Joint Ways and Means Committee, before moving to the House and Senate Floors
Estate Tax Exemption Updates: In the 2023 legislative session I celebrated a large success with the passage of SB 498, rolling back the Oregon Estate Tax (Death Tax) for family-owned farms, ranches, fisheries, and woodlands with a $15 million exemption. I have had the opportunity to continue forward in that work with the introduction of HB 3630 which clarifies that exemption and ensures these families have access to this exemption.
Married couples may see additional relief from the estate tax with the passage of HB 3934, of which I am a sponsor. This bill allows surviving spouses to use any unused portion of their deceased spouse's estate tax exemption within 1 year of passing. The bill mirrors the federal estate tax exemption and ensures that married couples are not penalized for timing or unexpected life circumstances when planning their estates. HB 3630 and HB 3934 passed out of the House Committee on Revenue on April 3, 2025.
 HB 2467 Access to Civil Commitment: The House Committee on Judiciary heard compelling testimony in support of HB 2467 on April 3, which would expand access to the State Hospital for individuals suffering from mental illness. For years the Oregon Court of Appeals has provided such a gray area in regard to civil commitment (the process in which a judge decides whether a person who is alleged to be mentally ill should be required to go to a psychiatric hospital or accept other mental health treatment) that unfortunately it is almost impossible for someone to be admitted into a psychiatric facility like the State Hospital. Our current system is putting lives in danger as intervention often does not come for these individuals until they commit a crime. This is unsafe to the person dealing with the mental illness and unsafe to those caring for them.
 HB 2467 expands the criteria of involuntary civil commitment of individuals with mental illness. It defines key terms like "dangerous to self," "dangerous to others," and "serious physical harm" to provide clarity in legal proceedings so that parents and guardians of individuals who need help to care for their loved ones can access it before someone gets hurt, or in some cases killed. I was happy to testify in support of HB 2467 on April 3 and vote in favor of its passage from committee on April 8, 2025.
 Local Updates:
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Center Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit: The Salem Center Street Bridge has been selected by ODOT for a seismic retrofit update. Click here to view their online open house and learn more about how it will impact downtown Salem.
Statewide Updates:
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Oregon State Treasury Unclaimed property program: The Oregon State Treasury is pushing an initiative for constituents to find past unclaimed property tax checks. Click here to read their email and check if you have unclaimed funds which are waiting to be cashed out!
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Backlog on Real ID access: The deadline to obtain a Real ID is rapidly approaching. Starting May 7, you will need a federally recognized Real ID to board a domestic flight, although a passport or other acceptable alternative can used as a substitute. Due to the approaching deadline, the DMV warns that Oregonians should expect longer wait times than usual and to give themselves at least three weeks for their new ID to arrive in the mail.
Get Involved:
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Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Open House: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has proposed a rate increase for out-of-state individuals purchasing parking permits at State Parks. The public comment period is open on this rate change through April 30. View the email below for more information.
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Ways and Means Roadshow: This upcoming Wednesday, the Ways and Means roadshow is hosting an open house in Salem on April 16, from 5–7 pm. It will be located inside the Capitol, 900 Court St NE Salem OR 97301, in Hearing Room F.
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I joined a number of community leaders at the Willamette Heritage Center Gala on April 4th. It was a wonderful event, including a silent and live auction, raising funds for the center so it can continue to preserve its historic significance to the City of Salem. |
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My wife Susanna and I had a wonderful weekend getaway in Hood River on April 5 to attend the 2025 Lincoln Dinner hosted by the Hood River County GOP. It was a great event with a large lineup of speakers from across the state.
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I enjoyed a brief visit with the new director of the Center for Hope and Safety, Ashley Carson, and a number of volunteers during their advocacy day on April 2. They provided my office with an update on the valuable work the Center for Hope and Safety offers, supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking. |
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I was invited to speak at the Oregon Federation of Republican Women's Legislative Dinner on April 3. I provided the members with an update on the legislative session including improvements to the Oregon Estate Tax, affordability in Oregon, and other hot topics moving through session.
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It is always an honor to represent you in the Oregon Legislature. If there are things my office can assist you with in the months to come, please do not hesitate to reach out via the information below.
Yours truly,
 Representative Kevin Mannix
House District 21
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1421
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.KevinMannix@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mannix
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