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To contact me, please click here: Rep.CourtBoice@oregonlegislature.gov
The Court Report - The Boice Of Reason
May Update
Hello Friends!
We're on our way to ending the 2025 Legislative Session STRONG! I hope you enjoy this letter, filled with updates about the bills we're pushing and discussions we're having to best help YOU!
As always, I'd love to hear from you. Let me know how I can address your concerns. And on that note, don't miss our Virtual Town Hall on Thursday, May 22nd. More details below.
Yours truly,
Representative Court Boice
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1401
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-382, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.CourtBoice@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boice
I have nearly 50 quick ‘links’ below representing my most important and most recent House Floor Speeches, Various Committee Testimonies, Remonstrances, along with Radio and Television interviews.
I believe there are multiple issues that will be of interest to all the friends and citizens I represent in the Southwest Corner of Oregon - District 1 - Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties.
Click here to access the links of your choice.
Updated May 16th, 2025
We want to hear from you! I hope you'll join me and Representative Mark Owens virtually on Thursday, May 22nd, from 5:30-6:30pm PT to ask us questions and share your concerns! CLICK HERE to register now.
Please take a look at my three most recent press releases:
Click here: Press Release | Boice and Drazan Applaud President Trump’s Timber Executive Order, Urge Increased Harvest On Federal Lands
Click here: Press Release | Coastal Republicans Oppose Bill To Establish Elliott State Research Forest
Click here: Press Release | Revenue Forecast - Boice, Harbick, Diehl - Oregon on the Brink
Click here to view a comprehensive list of just some of bills we've pushed forward this legislative session.
I've released three Op-Eds to date about my suggested solutions for the wildfires that wreak havoc on our communities. Click here to read them.
Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Director Kyle Williams, Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple, and Governor’s Fire Counsel Doug Grafe continue to do an amazing job protecting our citizens!
Recently, I had the honor of standing alongside former Governor Candidate and House Leader Drazan as we and Representative Shelly Boshart-Davis challenged our fellow legislators to look at the Republican Plan to NOT raise taxes and fees and instead, cut approximately $680 million through savings, by refocused spending, cost savings, and spending cuts in ODOT’s budget.
“This plan protects Oregon families from more tax increases by requiring ODOT to cut wasteful spending that does not align with core functions,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan.
On Saturday, we celebrated Armed Forces Day, a federal holiday that recognizes and celebrates all active and former members of the U.S. Military, thanking them for their service and sacrifice to our country. President Harry Truman established the first Armed Forces Day in 1950.
Last Wednesday, we kicked off the celebration at the Capitol when two F-15s from the Oregon National Guard did a flyover the Capitol building. Nothing says freedom like jet noise! Rep. McIntire staffer and photographer Katey Tryon captured the magical moment. Click here to watch.
Thank you to all who have served!
Grateful to have had a meeting with Curry County Commissioner Patrick Hollinger at 6:30 A.M. last week at the Capitol.
Commissioner Hollinger is currently in Salem attending the Association of Oregon Counties’ Commissioner College. I'm proud to work alongside Patrick, and my other 8 Coos, Curry, and Douglas County Commissioners (John Sweet, Rod Taylor, Drew Farmer, Jay Trost, Lynn Coker, Chris Boice, Tim Freeman, and Tom Kress. Each one is an expert in multiple and different ways, and who are all passionate about doing what’s best for their communities and citizens.
Representative Kevin L. Mannix (R-Salem) released a statement in response to federal authorities conducting the largest multi-state federal fentanyl bust in U.S. history, resulting in the arrest of a Sinaloa cartel-linked man living in Salem. Click here to read his remarks.
Douglas County Justice of the Peace Machelle Briggs-Mayfield and I had another great visit and update last week at the Capitol!
My colleagues and I are celebrating a win this week with the decision by Oregon’s Department Of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to delay enforcement of the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) rules for medium- and heavy-duty trucks for model years 2025 and 2026.
This means diesel trucks will remain available for Oregon’s hardworking businesses without the burden of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates. Adopted in 2021 by the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC), the ACT rules required manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles, with penalties for noncompliance.
I’d like to thank my colleague, Representative Shelly Boshart Davis, who has worked extremely hard with EQC requesting a delay to the rules. We’re glad DEQ has chosen to take the common-sense step of giving peace of mind back to countless Oregon businesses and workers whos I’e livelihoods have been threatened by these unfair mandates.
Oregon FFA members recently competed in AG Mechanics, AG Communications, Meat Evaluation, Horse Evaluation, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Crop Evaluation, and Milk Quality & Product Evaluation. Students put their classroom knowledge to the test! Click here for the results.
More seniors and people with disabilities who own homes are one step closer to being able to stay in them, while deferring property taxes, thanks to my colleagues, Representatives Christine Drazan and E. Werner Reschke.
On Thursday, HB 3712 passed in the House. This bill expands the requirements for the homestead property tax deferral program in two ways:
- Increases the household limit for homestead deferral from $60,000 to $70,000
- Raises the real market value (RMV) of a homestead to 150% of the county’s median RMV for homeowners who have resided in their homes for less than 17 years
Oregon’s seniors have worked hard their entire lives, paid taxes, contributed to their communities, and deserve to live out their retirement without the constant fear of losing their homes due to rising property taxes.
By updating eligibility criteria, the state aims to ensure that the homestead property tax deferral program remains a viable option for those in need.
Senator Aaron Woods (D-Wilsonville) passed away Saturday morning, surrounded by family, after losing his battle with cancer. Born in 1950 and raised in Chicago, Senator Woods was a U.S. Army veteran who worked in the tech industry before being elected to the Legislature in 2022.
Among his many accomplishments, Woods was the chief sponsor of a 2023 bill that requires political campaigns to disclose when they use artificial intelligence in campaign ads and marketing.
Woods was a dedicated public servant who loved serving his constituents and the state. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Had the pleasure of meeting with Oregon Cattlemen’s Association late last month with Senator David Brock Smith and Representative Darin Harbick.
This short video explains why Oregon Pharmacies are going out of business. US Senator Josh Hawley spoke the truth earlier this week.
It doesn't matter if you are a republican or democrat, he is spot on with his questions to PCMA. Please watch this 3-minute video! It explains everything very well. We can and must do better! Click here to watch.
Oregon’s State Fire Marshal is collaborating with a nonprofit backed by the insurance industry to help Oregonians protect their homes from burning and keep their premiums from rising.
State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple signed a memorandum of agreement Friday with Roy Wright, CEO of the South Carolina-based Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, which oversees the “Wildfire Prepared” certification program. The program offers homeowners in California, and now Oregon, certificates for undertaking specific wildfire prevention work around their homes. Click here to read more on the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Senator David Brock Smith and I had the fun opportunity to test the Oregon State Fire Marshal's new high tech fire truck for Curry County — pictured below is the incredible water pressure and distance.
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. Click here to read more on The Oregonian.
I always look forward to attending the Annual West Coast Fisheries Meeting in Salem — I'm immensely proud of the 4 ports in my District, and I'm always committed to helping our fishing industry.
West Coast Sustainable Fisheries and Heather Mann of Midwater Trawlers Cooperative, Representative Court Boice
This week, my colleagues and I sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging additional and immediate federal action to increase timber harvests on federally managed land. We also applauded the president’s recent executive orders aimed at boosting domestic timber production. The letter was signed by all 24 members of the House Republican Caucus.
Oregonians benefit when our state and federal government work together to responsibly manage our forests and timber resources. After years of mismanagement, we welcome the opportunity to work with the federal administration to create jobs and revitalize rural communities, source sustainable building materials locally, and ensure that one of our greatest assets, our forests, don’t burn to the ground every summer.
The federal government owns and is responsible for managing 61% of Oregon’s forestland. Oregon's forest sector currently supports 62,000 jobs. Expansion of the timber industry onto federal lands would lead to dramatic increases in employment, especially in rural communities.
I have the privilege and honor to sit on the Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources, and Land Use Committees — fish recoveries remain one of my top priorities.
Together with the Oregon Coastal Caucus, I formulated House Bill 3246 and House Bill 2969, which will:
- Evaluate and prioritize industrial symbiosis projects that strengthen local businesses and reduce waste
- Direct Business Oregon to develop a roadmap identifying voluntary industrial symbiosis opportunities
across the state, best practices and technologies, and barriers to adoption.
- Direct the Oregon Coast Visitor Association to likewise reduce waste in the fishing industry by utilizing fish for nonfood products based on the Iceland Ocean Clusters’ highly successful 100% fish project
Click here to read our Oregon Coastal Caucus Letter and learn more.
We’re very proud of our Oregon State Police, Coos, Curry and Douglas County Sheriff’s Departments along with our 8 Incorporated District 1 City Police Departments. I strongly believe that the state of Oregon must prioritize Rural Oregon Funding for Public Safety and supporting our Public Safety Professionals. I will work non-stop for the our Oregon Rural Reset.
First introduced by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, this is a week in which we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and honor the contributions of law enforcement officers across the country who dedicate hard work and loyalty to keep our communities safe.
In 2024, 148 police officers in the U.S. were killed in the line of duty. Fortunately, none were in Oregon. You can read their list of names here and watch the 37th annual candlelight vigil here.
Every May, beginning with Mother’s Day, we celebrate National Women’s Health Week to bring awareness to women's health issues and priorities — from physical health to mental and emotional wellbeing.
The topics this year highlight cancer awareness, mental health, and menopause. More than one million in the U.S. experience menopause each year. But there are concerning gaps in quality and access to care. In fact, 20% of OB/GYNs in Oregon reported receiving no training in menopause care.
My colleague, Rep. Boshart Davis said she was denied menopause care, and that’s why she sponsored a bipartisan bill to require more health insurance plans to cover treatment.
The bill was referred to Ways and Means in March. You can read more about it here.
I'm immensely proud of my Southern Oregon District 1 Douglas County outstanding wineries — they're an essential industry in Oregon and a boon to Oregon tourism.
The state will pay $3 million to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of two children who were sexually abused while in foster care after caseworkers placed a teenage boy with a documented history of sexual misconduct into the home, according to a negotiated agreement. Attorneys Paul C. Galm and Josh Lamborn called the case one of the most egregious child abuse civil rights cases they’ve handled in their careers. Click here read more on The Oregonian.
“Belonging to a family is a natural and vital component of life, and every child deserves to be a member of a loving and nurturing family.” That’s what President Ronald Regan said in 1988 when he designated November 20-26 as ‘National Adoption Week.’
Now, Oregon could soon be getting its very own day to celebrate adoption.
House Bill 2019 designates August 25th as Oregon Adoption Day. It’s the same day my colleague and the bill’s chief sponsor, Representative Elmer, was adopted! The bill passed and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk.
“The day this bill recognizes is not just a date on a calendar. It is my day— the day I was adopted. A day that forever changed my story, gave me a future, and placed me in the arms of a mother who chose me as her own,” said Rep. Elmer on The House floor.
Read more on her remarks here.
According to the National Council for Adoption, adoptions from foster care have continued to decline, reaching their lowest level since 2003. In 2023, 50,000 children were adopted from foster care – a 24% decrease since 2019.
Today, more than 77,000 children and teens are waiting to find a permanent home with a loving family. We support the caseworkers in our state who are working hard to ensure every child in Oregon finds their family.
Last week, during Floor Courtesies - Oregon House of Representatives, I had the opportunity and privilege to honor USMC (Ret.) Combat Veteran, Joshua Stout.
He continues to do incredible work – in fact, Josh is opening a medical supply company, manufacturing primarily IV supply units. His company will eventually provide up to 8% of the national market right here in Oregon, and he'll be employing up to 300 people in the Lane County - Eugene area.
We thank Josh for his service, then and now!
I love making visits to the Roseburg-Douglas County Veterans' Facility — such amazing work that's being done. Director Patrick Hull meets with me regularly to discuss the developments that are underway.
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