Deadlines and Sunshine

Oregon State Legislature sent this bulletin at 04/04/2025 04:30 PM PDT
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Represenative Emerson Levy

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To contact me, please click here: Rep.EmersonLevy@oregonlegislature.gov

Hi Friends, 

It’s been a busy week here at the Capitol, and with the Chamber deadline coming up on April 8th, things are moving fast: the Transportation Framework was released this week, and we’re also starting to get a clearer picture of new tariffs that will affect us here in Oregon — especially as an export-heavy state. We’re also expecting our economic forecast soon, and I’ll keep you posted as that comes in. 

To be honest, there’s a lot on the table right now that will have real impacts on our state—especially our manufacturers, small businesses (including our iconic sneaker industry!), and farmers. 

Each Legislative Session seems to take on a theme, and this year, transportation has been front and center. The Joint Committee on Transportation released a draft of a new Transportation Package this week. You can read more about it here. One major piece of it is a proposed increase to the gas tax by 20 cents. With the timing of the tariff news, it’s understandable that folks may have concerns. I’d really like to hear your thoughts on the framework — it’s designed to fund safety, road maintenance, snow plowing, and projects right here in Central Oregon. At the same time, it’s clear we also need more oversight and transparency within the agency. 

On a brighter note — we had a great visit from Mosaic Medical this week! And I’m excited to share that we passed several bills off the House floor, including one that closes a loophole in Oregon’s squatter laws. I’m proud we can come together across party lines to fix a frustrating issue for homeowners across the state. 

Mosaic Medical
Ruralite Magazine

And — some fun news — Representative Bobby Levy and I are on the cover of Ruralite Magazine! We had the chance to talk about our bipartisan work on energy policy and our shared hopes for Oregon’s future. You can check out the article here. 

As always, my door is open, and I’d love to hear from you. I hope to see many of you tonight in Warm Springs for the Ways and Means Roadshow — especially meaningful as it’s the first time it’s being held on a reservation. I’m really looking forward to hearing your voices and priorities.

Warmly, 

Rep. Levy's signature

What’s A Work Session — And Why It Matters

In the legislative process, a work session is when a committee discusses, amends, and votes on a bill to decide whether it should move forward. It’s a key step that must happen before a bill can reach the House or Senate floor for a full vote.

Most policy committees must have scheduled work sessions by Friday, March 21st in order for bills to be considered by the April 9th deadline. If a bill doesn’t have a work session scheduled by then, it won’t advance—and effectively, it dies. With thousands of bills introduced this session, many won’t make it past this hurdle.

House Bill 3211: Non-Opioid Directive Form

HB 3211 mandates the Oregon Health Authority to develop and provide a nonopioid directive form. This form would allow individuals to formally state their preference to avoid opioid medications in their treatment. On April 1st, the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care voted unanimously (9-0) to advance HB 3211 with amendments (printed as the -5 version). The amended bill will now head to the House floor for a vote.

Non-Opioid Directive Form

House Bill 3839: Keeping Sex Offenders Out Of Our Schools

HB 3839 directs the State Police to ensure that level one and level two sex offender information is available to school districts and entities providing school visitor management services. The need for this bill became apparent when a convicted child sex offender got past a secure door and into High Desert Middle School in 2022. We have a Public Hearing on this legislation on Monday, April 7th at 3:00pm in the House Committee on Judiciary. You can submit testimony, and watch it here.

Federal Policy Watch: Oregon DOJ Responds To National Shifts

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield recently shared how new federal actions—over 90 executive orders so far—could impact health care, immigration, and public service programs here at home. Oregon has already joined several lawsuits to protect Medicaid access, loan forgiveness, and DEI initiatives. While there’s uncertainty ahead, AG Rayfield expressed confidence in Oregon’s legal footing and pledged greater transparency from the Department of Justice moving forward.

We’ll continue to monitor these developments and keep you informed on what they could mean for Central Oregon.

Joint Ways & Means Is Hitting the Road — Week 3!

We’re now in the third week of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ statewide budget hearings, and I’m committed to making sure our district;s needs are heard as Oregon shapes its 2025-2027 biennial budget. 

This committee, which oversees the state’s budget process, is holding six community hearings across Oregon—and I’ll be there to listen to you. These hearings are your chance to share what matters most—whether it’s funding for schools, roads, health care, or other critical services.

With limited resources and uncertainty due to federal actions, your input is more important than ever in guiding the tough decisions ahead. The hearing closest to House District 53 will take place on tribal lands in Warm Springs on Friday, April 4—more details below!

Want to share your thoughts? Sign up to testify at the hearing closest to you — or join us virtually on April 16th. If you can’t attend, feel free to email me your budget priorities anytime. 

I look forward to hearing from you and working together to make sure our priorities are reflected in the state budget. 

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1453
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-486, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.EmersonLevy@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/levye​