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To contact me, please click here: Rep.LucettaElmer@oregonlegislature.gov
April 25, 2025 Legislative Update
House District 24,
We had another busy week in the State Capitol! Much of our time was spent on the House Floor working through a long list of bills that are now moving to the Senate for a vote. Keep reading below for an overview of important legislation coming up.
Oregon's Housing Production Goals
I am proud to have introduced House Bill 3939 this session to increase housing for Oregon’s workforce. This legislation would provide 3,080 new housing units in the communities of Carlton, Florence, Baker City, Burns, Ontario, Hines, Dallas, Wilsonville, Adair Village, and Grants Pass. Each of the 3,080 housing units is priced at $8,400 in public investment per door. This legislation is modeled after House Bill 4134 which successfully passed and was signed into law during the 2024 Legislative Session.
This legislation has been referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.
New data shows residential housing permits in Oregon have been declining each year since 2023. Despite setting a statewide housing goal of 36,000 units a year, only 17,697 residential permits were issued in 2023. That number dropped to 14,270 residential permits in 2024. Through February of 2025, only 1,864 residential permits were issued, putting Oregon on track to issue a total of 11,184 residential permits in 2025.
Another study recently released gave Oregon an F for housing affordability, ranking it 45th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia.
We have a lot of work to do when it comes to housing production in Oregon, but I am confident that we can get there with innovative solutions, like House Bill 3939. I am a firm believer that our publicly invested dollars go much further when attached to a commitment from private investment. I will continue advocating for this legislation throughout the session!
SB 916 - Unemployment Insurance For Striking Workers
On March 20th, Senate Bill 916 passed the Senate along party lines, with two Democrats joining the Republicans in voting no. Senate Bill 916 would allow employees who strike to be eligible for unemployment benefits. This would allow striking workers at public and private employers to start collecting benefits after two weeks.
As The Oregonian Editorial Board stated: "No other state in the country allows public employees to receive unemployment benefits while on strike – Oregon would be the first."
Next week, in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee where I serve as the Vice Chair, we will be having an "Informational Hearing" with our state agencies on Monday, April 28th to ask a series to technical questions, and a Public Hearing (where YOU can make your voice heard) on Wednesday, April 30th @ 3:00pm.
Register to testify in-person or online HERE, and then clicking "Register To Testify."
Submit written testimony HERE.
Please consider taking a moment to fill out my office's poll on Senate Bill 916 HERE.
You can read more about Senate Bill 916 from the perspective of The Oregonian Editorial Board HERE.
Bill That Prevents State Procurement of Electric Vehicles, Solar Panels From Forced Labor Passes House
On Tuesday, my colleagues and I celebrated a win, when House Bill 2425 passed with a vote of 43 to 13. This bill, whose chief sponsors are Representatives Ed Diehl and E. Werner Reschke, establishes an 11-member task force to ensure that the state doesn’t purchase electrical vehicles and solar panels from manufacturers that rely on forced labor, including of children. Let me give you some background.
Child Labor in Congo
Cobalt is a key component in electrical vehicle batteries. 75 percent of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where children as young as 7 years old work in dangerous conditions without safety equipment in artisanal mines, exposed to life-threatening risks such as cave-ins, toxic dust and chronic diseases.
Forced Labor in China
Similarly, 95 percent of solar panels are made up of polysilicon, and nearly half of polysilicon global production comes from Xinjiang, China, where Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are subjected to harsh forced labor under constant threats from guards in mines and factories.
Importance of the Task Force
The task force this bill establishes, appointed by the Senate President, the House Speaker, and the Governor, will prohibit the state from buying these products from manufacturers that exploit children and oppressed communities with forced labor.
As my colleague Representative Diehl so aptly articulated during the public hearing: “As Oregonians, we pride ourselves on standing up for human rights and social justice. Our green energy policies should reflect those values. We can’t claim moral leadership on climate action if it comes on the backs of child laborers and forced labor victims.”
The Senate held a first hearing on the bill on Wednesday.
Bill Expanding Confidentiality Protections For Public Safety And First Responders’ Mental Health Services Receives Unanimous Support
Police officers, firefighters, 9-1-1 dispatchers, and other public safety professionals are frequently exposed to situations that are extremely stressful and traumatic. They’re often tasked with making split-second decisions in life-threatening circumstances. Unfortunately, they also regularly witness human tragedy.
First responders experience a higher rate of traumatic events than the general public. One study reports that, compared to non-first responders, of whom about 50 percent experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, 84 percent of first responders report experiencing a traumatic event. According to that same study, law enforcement, firefighters, and dispatchers have a PTSD prevalence between seven and 22 percent compared to only four percent for the general public.
These challenges make peer support programs essential to maintaining their mental health. On Tuesday, the House unanimously passed a bill to expand confidentiality protections for mental health services, including peer support services and counseling sessions.
House Bill 3929 aligns with nationwide efforts to ensure that peer support for first responders remains confidential. We can’t neglect the mental health of our men and women on the front lines of an emergency.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
Delphian School Choir
This week we had the Delphian School Choir perform the opening ceremony for the Oregon House! Delphian School is a private, K–12 boarding school located in Sheridan in House District 24.
Willamina Townhall
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Townhall in Willamina last night! I am always proud to call Willamina my hometown. It’s an honor to represent Timbertown USA in the Oregon Legislature.
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
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