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To contact me, please click here: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends,
This week was a little less chaotic with regards to really bad policy being voted on, but my week remained as busy as ever. Just about every minute was scheduled with back-to-back committee meetings, Floor Sessions, constituent and lobby meetings, and other Legislative events.
This week also brought a first for me as I received the Liberty Flag (pictured on the right). This flag is a little tradition that started on the House Floor a several sessions ago, indicating a legislator as being the only NO vote on a bill.
I was the only no vote on HB 2660. Many times, Legislators vote no just to get the Liberty Flag on silly bills or simply just to “capture the flag”. For me, however, the reason had some thoughts and questions behind the vote.
While this bill has great intentions, I fear there may be unintended consequences. HB 2660 extends the vehicle trip permit from 10 days to 30 days for non-Oregon residents who purchase a recreational vehicle (RV) outside the state and drive it into Oregon without the intent of titling the vehicle later outside Oregon. However, I believe this bill may unintentionally increase the ghost RV’s that we see throughout the State, which are RV’s that never end up leaving the State and never purchase Oregon license and titles. These RV's often become abandoned and expensive for Oregon cities and counties to dispose of.
With me being the only no vote, the bill passed overwhelmingly and now heads to the Senate Chamber, and I proudly get to display the Liberty Flag on my desk until the next member of the House becomes the lone no vote on a bill.
My hope is that you find these legislative updates helpful and feel more engaged in the legislative process. As always, please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
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 Anna Scharf
State Representative - HD 23
HB 3372 passed on the House Floor this week. This bill attempts to add provision to the law for domestic wells relating to small farm water use. The sponsors of the bill presented it as needed to make domestic exempt well water use for small farms necessary so they could legally sell their products at farmers markets. They stated that the existing provision in law for domestic exempt well use states it may be used for commercial purposes up to 5,000 gallons per day but does not apply to irrigation of agriculture products.
You can watch my floor speech against the bill here. Essentially I am strongly opposed to this bill because it fundamentally changes exempt well water use throughout the state with no oversight and creates a new class of “farmers” who will have no water reporting requirements. Historically, farmers have been required to apply for water right permits to irrigate crops, and once approved, report usage and meet other criteria established in law. This new class will not be required to do so as long as they stay under ½ an acre and under 3,00 gallons per day, however, no one will monitor or enforce it.
This bill creates a new path that allows certain commercial growers to bypass all the other requirements placed on the ag sector simply by operating under the exempt well statute and the new label of “commercial garden”. This bill establishes a clear double standard.
Those who have followed the rules, invested in legal water rights, and built infrastructure to comply with Oregon law are now being told: the rules you played by will not apply to others because they are small, and we trust them more than you.
ORS537.545, which is what is being modified by HB 3372, is not a new statute. The prohibited use of an exempt well for commercial farming has been in existence for decades. However, enforcement was always complaint driven and after 2023 and a very public Legislative battle over CAFO (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) and a change to the stock water exemption, also located in ORS537.545, more complaints were lodged at the Oregon Water Resource Divisions and enforcement was ramped up. Small commercial farms who had flown under the radar for years were now being told to follow the law.
However instead of following the law, they brought forward HB 3372 makes commercial water use legal where it was not before, to legitimize revenue-generating farming activity under an exemption that was never designed for such purposes.
97% of Oregon farms are family owned and operated. This is not a corporate farm vs. family farm issue. All farms should all be treated equal. Farms that are ½ acre and farms that are 1,000 acres.
The Western Christian Boys Basketball team went undefeated in regular season play this year and took home the 2A State Championship for the 2nd year in a row! They joined me on the House Floor this week and I was excited to acknowledge this great accomplishment. Well done players and coaches!
Thursday was Long Term Care Ombudsman day at the Capitol, and I had the honor to meet with Certified Ombudsman volunteer, Ann Wilson from HD 23. She serves and the Ombudsman to Dallas Retirement Village (DRV). A place I hold dear in my heart as my grandmother lived there for a bit before she passed away Ann’s work and service to the Seniors of Dallas and DRV is so greatly appreciated.
Meeting with OSBA members at the Capitol from HD 23! Thank you School Board Members from Dallas, Newberg and Willamette ESD for coming to share with me the challenges and opportunities in our school local districts.
Amity Fire District (AFD) held their annual awards banquet this weekend. Although the main fire station is in HD 24, much of Amity fire district resides in HD 23. Again, this year, they responded to almost 600 calls. Amity also has a growing student firefighter program in partnership with the high school with 11 students enrolled. Pictured with Ian Yocum, Amity Fire Chief, and Amanda Christensen, Amity Fire Board President,
Senator Sollman (D-Hillsboro) and I introduced SB 1016 - Dignity through Duffels. Here's the of the bill and how I became involved with this amazing and important project:
One day in 2022, out of the blue, I was contacted by a group called Project Never Again, and it sent me down a path that opened my eyes into yet another aspect of our child welfare system that needed attention. I will be forever grateful to Seema, the founder of Project Never Again, for giving me the chance to use my position to help make a small difference in the lives of children in a time when they are so vulnerable.
In 2023, I was happy to Co-Chief Sponsor SB 548 with Senator Solomon to address the practice of trash bags being used to transport foster youth belongings. I was shocked and saddened with the stories shared with me by Project Never Again and youth previously in foster care.
Trash bags are no way to move the belongings of a child at a time when the child is scared, confused and traumatized by the situation that the adults in their life have put them in. Yet here we had a non-profit group that was willing to help make this a experience a little less traumatizing, but they were struggling to get the Department of Human Services (ODHS) to adopt the practice.
SB 548 required ODHS to maintain a supply of donated luggage carriers for foster children to use when transporting children from their homes and from one foster home to another. The bill also required a report on the luggage carrier inventory and any instances of the use of trash bags and the reasons why.
Oregon was one of the very first states in the nation that established a law prohibiting the use of trash bags and should be a model for the nation.
I was honored to spend part of a day with Project Never Again stuffing duffel bags with personalizes note cards with positive messages. These are more than just luggage for kids. The love all those volunteers brought that day to help children they would never meet was amazing.
SB 1016 also helps to ensure that there is absolute clarity in language – that trash bags should never be used to transport a child’s belongings throughout their time in foster care and that this practice is not a limited duration timeframe.
However, it does give the agency some options when there are situations where the child’s living environments is unsanitary or a health hazard. At this point the agency may use totes or other carriers to quarantine the items and get them sanitized and make them safe for the child before they are returned. However, when they are returned, they will be returned to the child in a luggage carrier or duffle bags or even in the plastic clear tote, but never a black plastic trash bag. As I said when I testified on the bill in committee. “Trash bags are for garbage, totes or luggage are for moving”. We need to send the right message to these children. Their priceless belongings are not trash.
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Join the SW Polk Fire District on Sunday, May 4th for a delicious Pancake Feed! At Rickreall Community Station, 9105 Rickreall Road from 7am-11am, family friendly event with fire truck rides for the kids!
Haven't received your REAL ID? Here's what you need to know:
A message from DMV
Avoiding Long Lines
Wait times are shorter for everyone when more customers take advantage of out-of-office options. If your constituents don’t need a REAL ID and their transaction can be accomplished without visiting a field office, we encourage them to do so. Oregonians can complete many transactions online through DMV2U or visit one of our recently launched self-serve kiosks in 10 select Fred Meyer stores for vehicle registration renewals. These options present convenient alternatives to many in-person transactions and help free up space for additional customers at DMV field offices.
Recommendations for Constituents
If constituents don’t need a REAL ID to travel soon, or if they have a passport or other federally accepted identification, they may be better served by waiting for the current rush to subside. If constituents plan to travel soon, don’t have a passport and need a REAL ID now, there are a few things they can do to ensure the process goes smoothly.
DMV recommends people make sure they’re bringing the correct documents to avoid a return trip. Individuals need to provide one proof of identity and two proofs of their home address from two different sources. A full list of acceptable documentation is available here. And, we strongly encourage people to use DMV’s documents guide in advance to help them create a checklist of the right documents to bring.
Finally, your constituents should build-in three weeks to their travel schedule. That’s how long it can take for a REAL ID to arrive in the mail following one’s visit, and we are told that TSA will not accept the temporary paper ID one receives at DMV.
Additional Considerations for Constituents
- Make sure they don’t already have a REAL ID. An Oregon REAL ID has a star in the upper right corner.
- Know they don't need a REAL ID if they have a passport or other federally accepted alternative.
- Wait until their credential expires before upgrading if they aren’t flying anytime soon.
- Understand that REAL ID appointments are available, but they aren’t required. All DMV offices welcome walk-in traffic. If no appointment is available, constituents should check back later, as new appointments are released daily. Please note, REAL ID appointments are strictly for REAL ID. If someone books a REAL ID appointment for a different transaction, they could be turned away.
- If they have everything needed for their appointment, visit the self-check-in station in the lobby at most offices instead of waiting in line at the front desk.
- At busier DMV offices, once they have a ticket, ask if they can provide their cell number to receive text notifications, allowing them to leave and return when their number gets closer.
DMV has been doing more with less for years with roughly the same number of staff it had a quarter century ago while Oregon’s population has grown by roughly a million people in that time. The challenges are even more acute now as the Department grapples with its structural revenue issue. In the face of these ongoing challenges and an immense surge of customers seeking REAL IDs, DMV staff are working tremendously hard in their communities to quickly and accurately assist as many customers as possible every day. DMV asks for you and your constituents’ patience as it works to assist each person with the excellent customer service they expect.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1423
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-387, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/scharf
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