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To contact me, please click here: Rep.EdDiehl@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends,
As we approach the final stretch of the 2025 Legislative Session, critical decisions are being made that will shape Oregon’s future. From transportation, to new taxes, to wildfire policy to economic reforms, the stakes are high, and the voices of Oregonians must be heard.
Late this week, the Democrat transportation package was unveiled.
It was developed behind closed doors in a secret committee, without input from the public or even most legislators — a process that undermines the principles of transparency and democratic accountability.
In contrast to the Republican proposal, which refocuses ODOT on its core mission and uses cost savings to fund essential services without raising taxes, the Democrat plan includes a range of new taxes that will disproportionately burden lower- and middle-income Oregonians.
Shockingly, the actual bill hasn’t even been published yet, but public hearings are set to begin Monday. This rushed process leaves little room for thoughtful public review or meaningful comment.
Make your voice heard.
Contact your legislators and tell them what you think about this package.
  
This week, my colleagues and I forced a vote on the House Floor on Senate Bill 83, a bipartisan and bicameral effort to lift costly and burdensome regulations imposed on communities by the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map.
The motion to withdraw the bill from the Rules Committee failed despite receiving bipartisan votes. Only seven House Democrats were allowed a Hall Pass by Democrat Leadership, resulting in a 29-22 vote.
Once again, the majority is weaponizing the democratic process and playing politics with Oregonians’ lives so they can leverage stealing their kicker.
This bill matters to Oregonians and should not continue to be held hostage. SB 83 has been heavily vetted through an open public process that included multiple hearings, stakeholder input, and thousands of emails from Oregonians harmed by these flawed maps.
Tell Speaker Fahey today to stop holding the repeal of the costly wildfire maps hostage and bring SB 83 to a Floor vote TODAY: rep.juliefahey@oregonlegislature.com
Last week, the Oregon House passed Senate Bill 426B, a sweeping measure that allows workers to sue not only their direct employers for unpaid wages, but also property owners and general contractors—regardless of their involvement. Proponents argue the bill addresses wage theft, but in reality, it shifts liability onto uninvolved businesses, leaving contractors and owners vulnerable to claims they had no role in causing. With no clear protections for small subcontractors, the bill threatens competition and burdens law-abiding businesses, all while failing to provide meaningful safeguards for workers.
Oregon needs real solutions to wage theft—not misguided penalties that hurt the very industries that keep our state running.
Oregon Among the Worst States to Do Business
Last month, Oregon Business & Industry ranked Oregon in 44th place in the nation for business friendliness due to its high regulatory burdens and high costs of doing business
A University of Oregon report shows out-of-state businesses are actively recruiting Oregon workers, using tax incentives as “by far the most commonly offered” incentive to leave the state.
Shifting the Blame Instead of Fixing the Problem
This bill adds another deterrent to businesses without addressing the heart of the issue.
After rejecting a series of common-sense amendments in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee, House Republicans proposed a Minority Report that would have removed all owners from liability, aligning Oregon with all other states, and provided a pathway to target unlicensed construction labor brokers.
My Republican colleagues made motions to refer the legislation back to the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards and to the House Rules Committee for further consideration. Both motions failed.
WATCH my remarks on X:
House Bill 3115 has tied the hands of Oregon’s cities, preventing them from effectively managing public spaces and addressing the growing homelessness crisis. By codifying now-overturned federal rulings into state law, Oregon has become an outlier, allowing encampments to overrun sidewalks, parks, and schools while stripping local governments of their ability to take action. Instead of fostering solutions, HB 3115 has fueled the deterioration of communities, forcing families and businesses to bear the consequences of unchecked disorder.
House Republicans tried to repeal the bill, but the Democrat Majority blocked it.
WATCH my response:
We’ve got 3 weeks to fix HB 3115. Tell your legislator you want them to Support the Safe Communities Act (HB 2432).
WATCH this excellent breakdown from Portland citizen journalist Angela Todd at PDXReal:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has postponed the planned deep drawdown of Detroit Reservoir until 2026 to allow for further environmental analysis and public input.
Originally scheduled for fall 2025, the drawdown was intended to improve fish passage but raised concerns about its impact on local water supplies and communities. For now, the dam will continue operating under previous management practices, including standard seasonal drawdowns.
The Corps expects to complete a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) in early 2026, which will guide future decisions. I’ll continue monitoring this issue and advocating for solutions that balance environmental needs with the concerns of local residents.
Thank you for staying engaged as we work to protect the rights and livelihoods of Oregonians. I will continue fighting for the issues that matter most to House District 17 and keeping you informed every step of the way. Stay tuned for more updates as we move forward through the 2025 legislative session together.
In Liberty,
Representative Ed Diehl
House District 17
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1417
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-378, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.EdDiehl@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/diehl
Representative Ed Diehl
House District 17
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