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Friends and neighbors,
It’s been a busy few weeks in Salem, and I wanted to share important updates on the issues that matter most to our communities. From advancing the repeal of Oregon’s flawed wildfire hazard map to raising concerns about proposed tax increases and their impact on families, manufacturers, and small businesses—our work continues to focus on transparency, accountability, and common-sense leadership.
We’re also taking action on critical public safety threats, including increasing penalties for dangerous swatting incidents and updating Oregon law to protect victims from AI-generated revenge porn and deepfake exploitation.
You’ll also find a reminder about the upcoming REAL ID deadline, along with videos and updates from my recent committee testimony and floor speeches. I believe it’s important that you see and hear directly how I’m representing House District 31 at the Capitol.
Most importantly, I want to express my heartfelt condolences on the recent passing of my colleague, Senator Aaron Woods from Senate District 13. Senator Woods was a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly on behalf of his community, constituents, and our state. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this time.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve. As always, I welcome your feedback and thoughts on the issues impacting our district.
Sincerely,
Representative Darcey Edwards
House District 31
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Last week, Silverton High School went into lockdown after a fake report of an active shooter—part of a disturbing national trend known as “swatting.” Multiple law enforcement agencies responded, only to discover it was a hoax. The school later canceled classes and events after two swatting incidents in just one week.
FOX12: Silverton High School cancels Friday classes, events after 2 ‘swatting’ incidents
Swatting isn’t a prank—it’s a dangerous and criminal act that puts lives at risk, drains emergency resources, and causes real trauma for students, educators, and first responders.
Since 2019, false active shooter reports have risen by 546% nationwide. Yet in Oregon, these false reports are still considered a misdemeanor.
That’s why I introduced House Bill 3935—to increase penalties for swatting and send a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated.
🎥 Watch my floor speech on HB 3935 here.
We owe it to our schools and communities to act. HB 3935 is a commonsense, bipartisan solution to a growing public safety threat.
Under current Oregon law, “revenge porn” is a crime—but it doesn’t cover AI-generated deepfakes.
This gap in the law is dangerous and growing:
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98% of deepfake videos online are sexually explicit
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99% of deepfake pornography targets women
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In 2023, deepfake pornography increased 464% over the previous year
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AI-generated child sexual abuse material is also on the rise
Victims of deepfake abuse face lasting emotional, reputational, and professional harm. The Department of Homeland Security has labeled deepfakes a “clear, present, and evolving threat.”
To fix this, House Bill 2229 A, introduced by Rep. Kevin Mannix with bipartisan support, would:
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Expand the definition of “image” to include digitally altered content
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Require intent to harass, humiliate, or injure
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Make it a Class A misdemeanor
The bill passed the House unanimously and now heads to the Senate.
We celebrated a major victory for rural Oregon last week week as Senate Bill 83—which would repeal the state’s flawed wildfire hazard map—advanced to the Senate floor.
SB 83 reflects legislation introduced by House Republicans (HB 3944) and focuses on repealing costly and ineffective mandates, supporting voluntary wildfire readiness, and investing in defensible space, forest thinning, and local response programs
This is real relief for homeowners—and real respect for rural communities.
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Instead of solving ODOT’s internal problems, the majority party unveiled a transportation package that would ask Oregonians to pay billions more in taxes, including:
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A 20-cent per gallon gas tax hike (a 50% increase)
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A 17% increase in trucker taxes
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A new tire tax
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Higher payroll taxes—and more
To make matters worse, a small business owner in Portland was left with a $100,000 sidewalk bill when ODOT backed out of a project it had originally planned, after coordination with the City.
We cannot continue to fund an agency that passes the buck and fails to deliver for taxpayers.
Starting May 7, you’ll need a federally recognized REAL ID (or a valid passport) to board domestic flights. The Oregon DMV is urging residents to plan ahead:
- Expect longer wait times
- Allow up to 3 weeks for your new ID to arrive in the mail
📎 Learn more or schedule an appointment here
Stay up to date and see what I’ve been working on in Salem by watching recent speeches and testimony:
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1431
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-374, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.DarceyEdwards@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/edwards
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