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To contact me, please click here: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends,
Below you will find a timeline of the 2025 Legislative Session.
We have finally arrived at the 2nd Chamber Work Session Deadline! This means bills must be posted for a hearing and work session by May 23rd or they will not move forward (with certain committees being exempt from the deadline).
So, the good news is we are one step closer to the adjournment of the session. However, much of the major work to do such as budget allocations, has yet to be determined. The main driver for that is waiting on the May Revenue Forecast, which will be released May 14th. That will paint a clearer picture to what budget allocations may look like.
The timeline shows a target adjournment date of June 18th, but I have said all along session will continue until the final Constitutional deadline of June 29th. There are just too many bills lingering in committees that are not subject to the deadline plus the work to do on the budget. I also fully anticipate a special session being called in September or sometime in the Fall to revisit the budget pending changes at the federal level with their budget process.
On another much happier note, I want to wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day weekend. Motherhood comes in many shapes and forms - often being one of the most rewarding and exhausting jobs, but raising our children is the most important job there is. Here is an extra special courtesy from the House Floor I did this week - Happy Mother's Day!
Thank you all for your continued support. We may not agree on every vote or issue, but my office is always here to help and we do our best to keep you informed of what is happening in Salem.
Sincerely,
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 Anna Scharf
State Representative - HD 23
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.
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 wakeup 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.
This session I joined other Republican House members in sponsoring HB 3551, which would require public bodies and law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws with respect to any individuals who are convicted of a violent felony or Class A misdemeanor or felony sexual offense. It would revert Oregon back to the time period when law enforcement would notify immigration authorities when an individual was convicted of a crime.
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary in February, but has received no hearing. In light of the fentanyl bust just miles from the State Capitol it seemed appropriate to bring this bill to the Floor for immediate consideration. Protecting Oregonians is paramount and harboring criminals needs to stop.
The motion was made to bring the bill to the Floor for a vote, but of course it failed due to partisan politics. We had four members absent that day and the Democrats had three missing. The bill received 29 votes. 31 is the magic number. It would be interesting to know if those nine Democrats would still vote 'yes' if we had our members there taking the total count to 35 yes and passing the bill. Or were they just playing politics to get it just to the line without going over?
Head Start
Pictured with Rep. Annessa Hartman (D-Gladstone), Chair of the Early Education and Human Services (ECHS) Committee, and Head Start members before the informational hearing in ECHS.
Farm Bureau Day
 Pictured with Farm Bureau member from HD 23, Polk County Farm Bureau Chair, Dave Hiebenthal (far left), and other County Farm Bureau members from around the state after a meeting in my office.
Pictured at the Farm Bureau Lobby Day reception with my husband, Jason Scharf, and the Director of Oregon Farm Bureau, Greg Addington, who is also my constituent. Also being photo bombed in the background by Rep. Hartman (D-Gladstone) who is a member of the House Ag committee.
George Fox University
Pictured with President Baker of George Fox University after he gave the invocation on the Senate Floor.
May Day at Amity High School
Amity High School held their 100th May Day Celebration on May 2nd and I was excited to attend along with a packed gym full of Amity students, parents, school staff, alumni, community members and several past May Day Queens. Beginning with the Coronation of Queen Mya Haarsma, to the wrapping of the Maypole and the conclusion of the evening with the Senior waltz, it was filled with tradition from beginning to end.
From 1925 to last week, there have only been two years where Amity High School did not hold the May Day Celebration. 1943 due to WWII (There was no queen that year either) or 2020 due to COVID. However, a queen was chosen in 2020, there was just no celebration due to everything being on lockdown. Two years out of 100 missed, that is an impressive record.
Congratulations to everyone who made the 100th celebration and all the ones before that such a success and thank you for all the hard work and dedication to keeping such a wonderful small town tradition alive!
Health Coverage Expansion
Meeting with constituent Sara Hollandsworth about SB 699. This is an important piece of legislation to expand health coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices.
Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Host Drug Take-Back Event
In-District Transportation Projects
FREE WorkSource Oregon Event
Touch-a-Truck Event
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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