Oregonians,

Your feedback has been loud and clear—our Good, Bad & Ugly bill breakdowns have become one of the most helpful and popular parts of our newsletter. You want to know what’s happening in Salem, what’s at stake, and how it affects your family, your job, and your community.

Starting this week, we’re making this resource even better.

As the legislative session ramps up and the volume of policy decisions increases, we’re expanding our updates to include key proposals, agency decisions, and other developments you should be aware of—not just legislation. The goal is to keep you informed, without the noise.

These Good, Bad & Ugly updates will now be delivered every other week—short, focused, and straight to the point. And don’t worry—our regular newsletters with community updates, events, and deeper dives into policy and progress will continue as usual.

Thank you for staying informed, engaged, and hopeful. Together, we can keep Oregon on the right track.

Thank you,
Representative Darcey Edwards

✅ THE GOOD

SB 9 – Expanding Driver Testing Access in Rural Communities I am so proud to have Chief Co-Sponsored this bill - and we won! It was signed by the House and the Senate this week and now heads to the Governor's desk. This bill allows third-party providers to offer driver’s license testing—expanding access in rural and underserved areas.   Click above or here to watch my Floor Speech!

✅➕ MORE GOOD

DEQ Delays EV Mandate Penalties – A Win for Rural Oregon
Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has delayed enforcement of its Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) rules for 2025 and 2026 model years. These mandates would have penalized manufacturers for failing to sell a set percentage of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks—despite the lack of charging infrastructure, high costs, and limited capabilities of electric trucks today.

This delay is a major win for common sense and for the working Oregonians whose livelihoods depend on freight, agriculture, and construction. It shows what’s possible when local voices push back against unrealistic regulations—and it sends a clear message: our rural communities deserve fairness, not one-size-fits-all mandates.

HB 3936 – Establishing Guardrails for Government Use of AI
This bill sets clear standards for how artificial intelligence can be used by state agencies—protecting privacy, promoting transparency, and ensuring responsible innovation in public services.
Status: Passed the House Floor

SB 710 – Strengthening Judicial Training on Domestic and Sexual Violence
This bill directs the Oregon Judicial Department to study options for training judges on domestic and sexual violence. It’s a step toward more trauma-informed and effective handling of these serious cases in Oregon courts.
Status: Signed into law by the Governor

🚫 THE BAD

SB 599 – Undermining Common-Sense Screening in Housing
This bill prohibits landlords from inquiring about an applicant’s immigration status and requires them to accept expired or foreign identification. It’s another example of Salem putting ideology over practical safeguards.
Status: Signed by the Senate President on May 20

⚠️ THE UGLY

Governor Kotek’s Plan to Redirect the Kicker – A Slap in the Face to Taxpayers
Instead of honoring Oregon’s constitutional taxpayer refund, Governor Kotek is proposing a $1 BILLION sleight of hand—redirecting your Kicker refund to patch holes in wildfire management funding caused by years of mismanagement. It’s not just a bad idea—it’s against your vote, your voice, and the Constitution! 

Nice try. No thanks. That’s our money.

Oregonians are already struggling with the high cost of living. The Kicker belongs to the people—not to Salem.

SB 426 – Expanding Wage Liability Beyond Reason
This bill holds owners and upper-tier contractors liable for the unpaid wages of subcontractor employees—even when they have no control over day-to-day labor decisions. This could drive up project costs and drive out small contractors.
Status: Passed out of Committee on May 19

The Truth

We work for you. And your voice truly makes a difference—I mean it. Whether it’s sharing your feedback, showing up, or testifying on a bill, you have the power to shape Oregon’s future.

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🗣️ Testify on a bill: Here’s how to submit written testimony or testify live