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Here are some highlights from the past week and helpful community information for you!
- Shelly
This Mother’s Day, I want to recognize and honor all the women who pour so much into their children. At a time when some would prefer to call us “birthing people,” I want to acknowledge a mother's unique and complementary strength, and contributions we bring to our families and communities. Thank you for your tireless commitment, compassion, and the countless ways you help shape a brighter future for your children and our society.
And a special note to my Mom - I've never met a more generous person, both with time and treasure. I am grateful for the family you created and built. I love you.
LARGEST FENTANYL BUST IN US HISTORY;
LEADER ARRESTED IN OREGON
Earlier this week, federal authorities announced one of the largest fentanyl busts in U.S. history when over 400 kilograms of fentanyl, including three million pills, were seized from the Sinaloa Cartel.
Sixteen people were arrested across five states, including Oregon. Among them was cartel leader Heriberto Salazar Amaya, an illegal immigrant living in Salem, whom authorities say had been removed from the U.S. twice already. Read that again: a Sinaloa drug cartel leader was running a nation-wide fentanyl ring right here in the Willamette Valley, from the comfort of Oregon's Sanctuary State status.
It's unconscionable that our laws protect dangerous criminals like this. We can change those laws - we just need Democrats to muster the courage to do it. Illegal drug cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel are killing Oregonians with fentanyl at rapidly increasing rates. In 2022, illicitly manufactured fentanyl contributed to 65% of all overdose deaths in Oregon, making it the deadliest illicit drug in our state.
In 2023, Oregon law enforcement officials seized over 3 million counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Nearly all these drug seizures occurred along the I-5 corridor within Oregon counties designated as high-intensity drug trafficking areas (HIDTA).
Oregon shouldn’t be a sanctuary for criminals who flood our communities with deadly drugs and violent crime. This should be a wake-up call that if we don’t modernize our sanctuary state laws, Oregon will continue to be a haven for dangerous criminals instead of allowing local law enforcement to take them off our streets.
KNOW THE RISKS
To help protect yourself from an accidental overdose, do not take a pill that has not been prescribed by your doctor. Assume anything you receive elsewhere is counterfeit and contains fentanyl.
Resources are available if you or someone you know is in a crisis. Click on the links below for more information:
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Never Use Alone Hotline: Call 800-484-3731
- Call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org for behavioral health crisis
- Lines for Life Recovery Resources
For more information about illicitly manufactured fentanyl or counterfeit pills, contact the Injury and Violence Prevention Program at:
IVPP.General@odhsoha.oregon.gov
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE PROPOSAL THAT PROTECTS FAMILIES FROM TAX INCREASES, STABILIZES TRANSPORTATION
Last week, my colleagues and I announced a transportation proposal that protects Oregonians’ pocketbooks at a time when they’re facing rising costs and tax hikes. Our proposal prioritizes core functions of our Transportation Department, sidelines spending in non-essential programs and divisive agendas, protects federal transportation funding, and preserves critical road safety services.
In identifying approximately $685 million in refocused spending, cost savings, and spending cuts, we’re committed to delivering functioning roads without asking Oregonians to pay more.
Proposed cuts to ODOT’s budget include the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF), for which the agency budgeted $306.7 million in the 2025-2027 biennium. The STIF was introduced in HB 2017, and it proposed that the state take over some of the responsibility of funding public transportation from local governments. The payroll tax alone costs Oregonians approximately $110 million per year.
Most of the funds benefit metropolitan areas -- with 60% going to the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District, 7% going to Salem Area Mass Transit District, and 6% going to the Lane Transit District. All other counties received less than five percent of the funds.
A majority of Oregon taxpayers are not using public transportation, so why are they paying for it? My colleagues and I remain steadfast in the belief that we do not need to raise taxes to fund ODOT. We will continue to promote cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in state agencies so they can return to their core mission of serving the people of Oregon.
But that doesn't stop some from supporting an increase in the tax on your wages to keep shoveling toward empty buses. Transit providers are threatening to cut services if the Legislature doesn't increase your taxes. Some progressive Democrats and transit providers are shopping a proposal to raise the tax by 5x (.5% on your wages), an big increase from the Democrat's official proposal which would raise the .1% tax to.18% (a .08% increase).
This gives away where the Democrats' priorities are. In the ongoing conversations around a "transportation package" this year, they are eager to find ways to raise taxes for something only a small fraction of Oregonians use, while their plan makes no reference to how they plan to finish the broken promise of expanding the I-5 Rose Quarter, which is a key economic transportation corridor for the entire state. They promised that if the Legislature would just raise taxes in the last transportation package (2017), they would build this project, but it has yet to be constructed. Prices for this project have gotten worse because of the delays. New estimates show that the project could go over $2 billion now because of irresponsible decisions made by those in charge.
DEMOCRATS QUASH PROPOSAL TO FUND
CLEARING THE BACKLOG OF SEX OFFENDERS
Back in 2013, the Legislature passed House Bill 2549 to establish rules for registering and classifying sex offenders on the state’s online sex offender registry. Since then, the Legislature has been modifying those requirements.
Currently, individuals who are required to register as a sex-offender in Oregon are categorized into three levels — Level 1 has the lowest threat of reoffending, and Level 3 has the highest threat of reoffending. Current law only requires that Level 3 sex offenders be added to the state’s online sex offender registry.
The State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision oversees the process of registering and categorizing sex offenders. The board claims insufficient funding has caused a massive backlog. There are currently about 12,500 unclassified sex offenders living, working, or going to school in Oregon.
To come up with the funding to clear the backlog, House Republicans proposed HB 3952, but Democrats sent it to a dead committee. The Board now has to come up with the funding from somewhere else. This hurts Oregonians who have no way of knowing if a sex offender lives in their neighborhood until that backlog is complete.
I will always stand with survivors, and I will continue to advocate that this backlog is sorted and added to the publicly available registry as soon as possible.
Former Oregon Secretary of State faces $1,600 fine for ethics violations
Former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has agreed to pay $1,600 in civil fines to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for using her position to obtain a $10,000-a-month side job and for seeking state reimbursement for roomier accommodations on work trips where she was accompanied by her kids and the family dog, records show. Fagan signed the final order spelling out the settlement last week. The commission is set to vote on the agreement at its meeting Friday.
Oregon toddler put on Narcan drip to keep her alive after fentanyl overdose
An Oregon woman was convicted of assault in the second degree on May 1 after her toddler overdosed on fentanyl. On March 13, 2023, Megan Elizabeth Meek and her fiancé, Bret Mitchell Hollmann, started their day by smoking fentanyl pills. Their two-year-old daughter was with them, according to court documents. Later that day, they planned to take the child to a babysitter so they could go shopping. They stopped at an area business along the way. Meek then went inside to make a purchase. When she returned to the car, she put her bag, which contained multiple fentanyl pills and other drug paraphernalia, in the backseat within reach of the toddler. The child got to the pills and swallowed several of them. A short time later, Meek and Hollmann noticed the child was overdosing.
9 bodies found in Portland-area rivers since mid-April; officials say seasonal spike is normal
Nine bodies have been pulled from rivers across the Portland metro area since April 13 — a wave of discoveries that might seem alarming but, according to law enforcement, does not point to anything out of the ordinary. The most recent case was a body recovered near Meldrum Bar Park on Sunday, which the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office later identified as that of 20-year-old Marcelus Angelo Rodriguez, a California man who disappeared while kayaking near Willamette Falls on April 12.
State fire marshal urges Oregonians to prepare their homes for another bad fire season
With the possibility of another challenging fire season on the horizon, Oregon fire officials are encouraging residents to prepare their homes for wildfires before they start. Preparation will be key, they said, as Oregon’s temperature and precipitation outlook this year looks “eerily similar” to 2024 when the state saw one of the most destructive wildfire seasons in its history, with a record 1.9 million acres burned across the state, $350 million in firefighting bills and nearly 200 homes damaged.
 Remembering Sergeant John Burright
From our friends at OSP:
On the fourth anniversary of his line-of-duty death, we pause to honor and remember Oregon State Police Sgt. John Burright - EOW: May 4, 2021. Sgt. Burright died of injuries suffered on September 4, 2001, when a negligent motorist struck Sr. Trooper Maria Mignano, Albany Police Department Oficcer Jason Hoerauf, and him as they assisted a stranded motorist on Interstate 5. The crash killed Sr. Trooper Mignano and Oficcer Hoerauf instantly. Sgt. Burright's death, as a result of the traumatic injuries he received the night of the collision, is designated as a line-of-duty death. His name has been added to the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Sgt. Burright served with the Oregon State Police for 14 years before his injuries. He is the 34th Oregon State Trooper to die in the line of duty. We hold the Burright family, John's many friends, and all who knew and loved him close to our hearts today.
I invite you to join me in pausing to honor and remember Oregon State Police Sergeant John Burright, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our state. We stand with his family and the entire OSP community as we reflect on his dedication, bravery, and commitment to protecting others.
Sgt. Burright will never be forgotten.
Civilian Award of Bravery
From our friends at Albany Fire Department:
Rachael Volland is her name and she is a hero! She is an amazing young lady who rescued her younger brother from a home fire. On March 31st, Rachael saw smoke coming from their home. With the help of an older neighbor, they called 9-1-1 and forced the door to the home. Without hesitating, Rachael entered the burning home and found her brother. All three children escaped to safety. AFD was honored to recognized Rachael in front of her school peers and with her family. She was awarded our highest citizen award, Civilian Award of Bravery.
Lieutenant Levi Lindsey Retires
From our friends at Albany Fire Department:
Retirement is here for one of our best, Lieutenant Levi Lindsey. Levi worked his last shift at AFD April 28th.
Levi shared these parting words:
I'm really happy with my 27 years at AFD and serving the citizens of Albany and surrounding areas. What a rewarding career! I couldn't have done it without my families support especially Jennifer's. Sometimes shift work fell on holidays, birthdays, special events like 4H shows and baseball. She had to hold down the home front when I was on shift, away at conferences and away on long deployments during conflagrations. Every time I was away something happened at home and she dealt with it like a pro! She was right beside me through the tough times and happy times and couldn't have done it without her and her support! Now is when I get to make up for some lost time by taking trips, watching baseball and play a lot of golf!
Welcome Officer Cody Fort
From our friends at Albany Police Department:
Today's the day, the badge is earned. The donut jokes have now returned. We welcome Officer Cody Fort. He's sworn to serve, protect, support.
Ok, ok, that is the best rhyme we could come up with and it's marginal at best. We are truly excited to swear in Cody today and welcome him to our team!
Nurses: The Heart of Healthcare – Celebrate National Nurses Week
This week, we celebrate and honor the incredible nurses who are the heartbeat of healthcare. Their compassion, resilience, and dedication make a difference every single day—whether it’s in hospitals, clinics, schools, or homes.
To every nurse who goes above and beyond for their patients: thank you. You are appreciated more than words can express. And a special shoutout to my sister, Emergency Department Nurse - Ola Bachofner.
Raising awareness and advocating for safer work environments is one way we can truly support the nurses who care for us every day. I’ve fought for years to pass legislation that would increase protections for nurses here in Oregon—because respect alone isn’t enough.
Let’s protect, respect, and uplift our nurses—not just during National Nurses Week, but every day of the year.
From our friends at the Linn County Sheriff's Office:
The weather is getting better (for the most part) and that means a lot of you will be taking your boats out on the water soon! With the boat weather on the horizon, your Linn County Sheriff's Office will once again be offering free boat safety checks next weekend!
The safety checks will be taking place at Bi-Mart locations throughout Linn County. We will have free safety whistles, Sheriff's Office SWAG, as well as a limited number of FREE life vests available for kids, courtesy of your neighborhood Bi-Mart! These boat safety checks offer you an opportunity to have your boat inspected to ensure you take it out on the water in the safest and most legal way!
The safety checks will be taking place at the following locations and times:
Saturday, May 17th - Albany Bi-Mart - 8AM-12PM & Lebanon Bi-Mart - 1PM-5PM
Sunday, May 18th - Sweet Home Bi-Mart - 10AM-2PM
We hope you can stop by!
From our friends at Linn County Sheriff's Office and OSFM:
May means Wildfire Awareness Month in Oregon!
All this month, with the help of the Oregon State Fire Marshall, we will share some tips and tricks to keep you and your home protected from wildfire. Defensible space is the way to go! Keeping the grass around your home and property mowed to under four inches can really slow any approaching flames or embers. Create defensible space and be better protected from wildfire this summer.
Learn more at our website here!
From our friends at the Albany Oregon Police Department:
"Vehicle vs Pedestrian" or "Vehicle vs Bicycle" makes our skin crawl and also makes us go fast and furious to that call. We have had two of these in the past two weeks and that is two too many.
One of the most basic biking rules is this: When you are riding your bike, you need to act like you are driving a car. That means you ride your bike in the same direction as traffic, not against it. And you absolutely should not ride your bike on the sidewalk when a dedicated bike path is available.
Follow all traffic laws, signs and signals and always wear your helmet even if it gives you hat hair.
From Our Friends at ABC HOUSE: Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at ABC House, we recognize just how deeply mental health impacts the children and families we serve and our community as a whole.
Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and heard. But healing from abuse and trauma takes more than safety-it takes compassionate care for both their emotional and mental well-being. This month, we stand in solidarity with all those working to break the stigma around mental health. Because when we care for mental health, we build stronger, safer futures for everyone.
From our friends at the Albany Area Camber of Commerce:
Attention Golfers! Only 6 Team Spots Left!
Thinking about hitting the green for the Annual Albany Chamber Golf Tournament? Don't wait— we're down to our final 6 team spots and they're going fast! If you've got a team ready to tee off, now's the time to lock in your spot and join us for a day of friendly competition, networking, and fun on the fairway.
Register today before it's too late here!
BE a Hole... and Tee Sponsor!
Not much of a golfer? No problem! Love the outdoors and connecting with people? Then this opportunity is fore you! Become a Hole/Tee Sponsor for the Annual Albany Chamber Golf Tournament and set up your booth right on the course — every team will stop by and see YOU!
As a sponsor, you'll:
- Connect with every team on the course
- Showcase your business in a fun, relaxed setting
- Network with local leaders and professionals
Sponsor registration closes Friday, May 16th! Sign up now here!
From our friends at the Albany Downtown Association:
News from Albany Farmers' Market:
Check our web map to see what booths are attending each week here! Albany Farmers' Market are Saturdays, through November 22nd from 9 am to 1 pm on 4th & Ellsworth!
From our friends at the Albany Oregon Police Department:
This Saturday, leave a bag of non-perishable food next to your mailbox to stamp out hunger in our community! Your letter carrier will do the rest! It doesn't have to be a lot, every can helps!
From our friends at the Albany Boys & Girls Club:
Mark your calendar and get ready to roll up your sleeve-your donation could save lives. Join us for a Blood Drive at the BGCA with American Red Cross 17 June 2nd | 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Rooted in Representation: Oregon Farm Bureau Members at the Capitol
I had a fantastic opportunity to spend some time with the dedicated farmers of our district representing the Oregon Farm Bureau. It's always inspiring to hear directly from those who are the backbone of our state's agriculture industry. Their hard work and commitment continue to shape Oregon's future, and I’m honored to be their voice in Salem!
Oregon State Student Leaders at the Capitol
This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with student leaders from across Oregon as part of the statewide University and Community College Advocacy Day, organized by the Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU). Including a returning superstar student-constituent, Alexa.
These thoughtful, engaged students shared their experiences and priorities surrounding higher education—from affordability and access to student support services. Their advocacy is a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to the voices of those directly impacted by policy decisions. I'm grateful for their time and passion, and I look forward to continuing these important conversations.
Local Leaders, Shared Goals: Conversations with Chamber Directors
This week, I had the opportunity to meet with several of our local Chamber of Commerce Directors. These conversations are always insightful and help me better understand the real-world impacts of legislation on our small businesses and local economies. From workforce development to regulatory concerns, their input is essential as we work together to create a stronger, more resilient Oregon.
A special shoutout to Janet Steele, President of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, who was in the audience. Her deep-rooted understanding of our community and tireless dedication to local businesses make her a vital source of support for Albany. We are fortunate to have her leadership - Thank you, Janet!
During the 2025 legislative session my office will continue to keep you updated and informed - and is always at your service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any community event announcements, legislative questions, or concerns.
Talk soon,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1415
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-389, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boshartdavis
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