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To contact me, please click here: Rep.LucettaElmer@oregonlegislature.gov
June 6, 2025 Legislative Update
House District 24,
It was a contentious week in the Oregon Legislature. Despite some very disappointing outcomes, there were a few bright spots, too. Keep reading for this weeks update.
House Republicans Force Vote To Protect Women’s Sports
House Republicans forced a vote on the House Floor to protect women’s sports, locker rooms, and bathrooms. House Bill 2037 would ensure that only biological women participate in women’s sports in school and are able to enter women’s intimate spaces. The vote failed along party lines, despite hearing the stories of over a dozen young female athletes who were present for the vote.
While I celebrate all kids and want everyone to participate in sports, if they choose to, we must figure out a way that allows everyone's voice to be heard, while keeping the safe space for women in their locker rooms, bathrooms, and competitive arenas.
Yesterday’s vote should have been a unanimous commitment to protecting women’s rights and fair competition in women’s sports. Women have fought for and earned respect for themselves in sports. We must defend that progress and stand up for fairness.
The U.S. Department of Education has recognized June as “Title IX Month” to honor and celebrate the achievements made by female athletes across our country. The Oregon School Activities Association’s (OSAA) current policy violates federal law and Title IX protections that prohibit biological males from competing in women’s sports. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex for schools that receive federal funding. A statewide poll commissioned by House Republicans revealed that 69% of Oregonians oppose OSAA’s current policy allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.
House And Senate Republicans Release Transportation Bill:
No New Taxes
House Republicans released HB 3982, which preserves operations and maintenance that are key to core functions of ODOT, especially in rural Oregon, such as plowing roads and filling potholes. The bill stabilizes ODOT and avoids raising the cost of living.
The roots of Oregon’s working-class community run deep, and this bill reflects where they are. Oregonians don’t want to pay more in taxes and fees for a government they should already be getting. They want potholes filled, snow plowed, roads and bridges maintained. By cutting spending on non-essential programs, this bill will put ODOT on more solid ground than it is today without raising taxes.
Our legislation seeks to rebuild Oregonians’ trust in ODOT by refocusing their priorities without asking Oregonians to pay more. With a state budget that has doubled over the last decade alone, we reject the premise that politicians must make life more expensive for Oregonians if we want to fix potholes, plow the snow and keep our streets safe.”
HB 3982 would:
- Prevent a projected $0.60 increase over ten years to Oregon’s hidden gas tax (Clean Fuels Program).
- Redirect over $134 million of current spending on climate initiatives towards critical functions.
- Redirect $38 million in funding for passenger rail service towards critical functions.
- Redirect the payroll tax over two years to provide truckers with a tax credit on future tax bills, repaying them for years of unconstitutional overpayments.
- Adopt recommendations from the managerial review of ODOT, including the creation of the Major Projects Office.
- Modernize fuel taxes and regulations to reduce tax evasion and facilitate easier compliance.
Leaked: Democrats Scheme To Add Billions More In Taxes In Sloppy Transportation Package
On Friday, we received a copy of the Democrats’ transportation plan (HB 2025) from an anonymous whistleblower, which calls for a dozen tax and fee increases to fund ODOT. Included in HB 2025:
- 5% increase to the gas tax
- $70+ to Title Fees
- $50+ to Registration Fees
- 2% sales tax on new cars
- 1% additional car sales tax
- 2% increase to payroll taxes
- NEW per mile driven tax (RUC)
Oregonians can’t afford billions in taxes to throw more money at a broken system. Can you and your family?
Our proposal (HB 3982) holds ODOT accountable to its core mission and protects families from tax increases by reprioritizing funding instead of asking Oregonians to pay more and get less.
Democrats Reward Union Donors At The Expense Of Public Schools And Small Businesses
Also on Wednesday, House Democrats passed Senate Bill 916B, making Oregon the first state in the nation to allow public employees to receive unemployment benefits while on strike.
House Republicans offered a commonsense Minority Report which would have aligned Oregon with Washington State — with the major caveat that public employees are barred from striking in Washington, but not in Oregon. This proposal would have:
- Added a two-week disqualification period with a one-week waiting period.
- Capped the number of weeks benefits could be received to six weeks.
- Required the Oregon Employment Department to annually report to the Legislature on the prevalence of strikes and the cost of benefits for striking workers.
- Ensured that the measure would only be effective until 2035 to examine its effectiveness.
This move follows cries from superintendents of Oregon’s largest school districts who wrote a letter to all the members of the House of Representatives, asking them to oppose this bill.
With this move, House Democrats ignored the voices of their own superintendents, business leaders, and local governments to reward powerful Oregon unions.
This bill harms Oregon students, who are woefully behind in test scores and graduation rates, and leading in chronic absenteeism, and unfairly paints our hardworking school board members as the bad guys when the responsibility lies with the Legislature.
It also disproportionately threatens small businesses, many of which are already struggling to stay afloat with Oregon’s high taxes and regulatory environment.
You can hear a few of my remarks on the House floor here.
House Concurrent Resolution 38 Passes The House
This week, House Concurrent Resolution 38, which honors the life and service of Yamhill County Sheriff Deputy Paul Emerson Baker, passed in the Oregon House. Sheriff Baker lost his life while on duty in 1982. Deputy Baker faithfully served his family and his country in the U.S. Army before coming home to serve his local community through the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. It was an honor to speak about Deputy Baker on the House floor, and to have present Sheriff Sam Elliott, Captain Mike Browne, Erin Edelen Kutter who works with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Trust Fund, and one of Deputy Baker's granddaughters, Timmarie Fox.
Ms. Black Oregon, Bethany Palacios, Gives Opening Ceremony
It was an honor to have Ms. Black Oregon 2025, Bethany Palacios, join me at the State Capitol this week! Bethany gave the opening ceremony which was a beautiful, heartfelt poem. This summer, Bethany will be competing in the Ms. Black America pageant! We are rooting for you, Bethany. We know you will make Oregon proud.
Fun With Fellow House Republican Caucus Members
In a high stress, highly contentious environment, it is always important to have fun and find glimmers of joy. Representative Anna Scharf and I share a Senate District, and we have served on the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee together this session. Someone captured this picture of us during a recent meeting. I am grateful for Representative Scharf and her friendship.
Save The Date: The Next Story Night Event
Ladies - Join us for a special outdoor summer Story Night Event. Story Night is a community outreach event where Real Women share Real Stories of Real Hope. Doors open at 6pm to allow for a full hour of food, drinks, mingling, and time to enjoy the stunning beauty and views at Domaine Willamette. At 7pm, we will gather in the pavilion to hear Caitlin Sticka's inspirational story. Caitlin was pregnant when she found out she had breast cancer. She is now a two-time cancer survivor, mentor, and founder of With Courage. Don't miss this time to build relationships and find encouragement among other women.
I am honored to serve you and our community at the State Capitol this session. Please stay in touch and reach out if there are any issues you would like us to work on.
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All my best,
Representative Lucetta Elmer
House District 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1424
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-390, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.LucettaElmer@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/elmer
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