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Friends,
It’s been a busy few weeks in Salem as we head into the final stretch of the 2025 legislative session. With deadlines approaching and big decisions on the line, things are moving fast — and your voice matters more than ever.
This week alone, I spoke three times on the House floor and once in committee, standing up for fairness, common sense, and the values we share in House District 31. From protecting small forestland owners to confronting the realities of our public safety crisis, I’ve been working to make sure real stories and real people are at the center of every debate.
As we head into Father’s Day weekend, I want to take a moment to thank the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures whose strength and guidance help shape our families and communities. I’m especially grateful for my husband, Rob, and my late father—a firefighter—who taught me the importance of service, resilience, and showing up for the people who count on you.
As always, I want to hear from you! Please don’t hesitate to reach out at rep.darceyedwards@oregonlegislature.gov or (503) 986-1431.
Let’s keep showing up, speaking out, and pushing for better — together.
Sincerely,
Representative Darcey Edwards
House District 31
Two headlines made waves this month — and neither should be treated as isolated incidents:
These aren’t random events. They’re part of a larger, growing crisis. One where repeat felons continue to obtain deadly weapons. One where trafficking networks are getting bolder. And one where our systems — from public safety to recovery services — are struggling to keep up.
We’ve passed laws. We’ve debated regulations. But the reality is this: dangerous people are still getting drugs, still getting guns, and still slipping through the cracks.
This isn’t just a Portland problem. It’s a statewide failure, Our current laws aren’t stopping violent offenders from rearming. And they’re not stopping a flood of hard drugs from tearing through our neighborhoods.
We need smarter laws. We need tougher accountability. And we need to stop pretending that policy tweaks will fix what is clearly a broken pipeline — one that keeps putting firearms and narcotics in the wrong hands, over and over again.
This week, I testified in Revenue Committee in support of SB 485A — a commonsense, targeted fix to Oregon’s estate tax that helps small forestland owners keep their land, their legacy, and their way of life.
Right now, our estate tax law doesn’t reflect how forest management actually works. Families who responsibly replant, thin, and steward their land aren’t always harvesting — but under current law, they can still be forced to sell off that land just to cover a tax bill triggered by the death of a loved one.
SB 485A changes that. It focuses the exemption on small forestland owners — not industrial timber companies or speculators — and it allows that exemption based on active, responsible management tied to the forest’s natural cycle. That means families who are doing things right won’t be punished by a tax code that doesn’t understand the work they’re doing.
In House District 31, this issue hits close to home. We have families who’ve cared for their land for generations. It’s more than an asset — it’s part of who they are. When we lose that land to bad policy, we lose part of our rural identity and economic future.
This bill is smart, fair, and fiscally responsible. It doesn’t repeal the estate tax — it just makes it work better for the people it was never meant to harm.
I’m proud to support SB 485A, and I’ll keep standing up for the families, small landowners, and natural resource stewards who make our communities stronger.
A huge congratulations to the St. Helens High School softball team for an incredible season that ended with a trip to the 4A State Championship game!
The Lions played their hearts out all year and made it farther than any St. Helens softball team has in nearly two decades. While the final score against Astoria didn’t go our way, nothing can take away from the grit, determination, and talent this team showed on and off the field.
To the players, coaches, and families — thank you for representing our community with pride. We’re so proud of you!
HB 2037 - Protecting Fairness and Privacy in Women’s Sports and Spaces
Requires schools, colleges, and athletic organizations to designate sports teams and competitions based on biological sex — ensuring that biological males cannot participate in girls’ and women’s sports.
The bill also requires that bathrooms and locker rooms be designated for use exclusively by either males or females, protecting privacy and safety in intimate spaces. Exceptions are made for authorized personnel under written policy. This legislation is about fair competition, clear standards, and safeguarding hard-won Title IX protections.
Status: Vote to withdraw from Education failed 6/5
HB 3936 - Mitigating Risks of AI in State Government
A proactive, bipartisan step to protect Oregonians as artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in government systems. By formally defining “AI” in state law, the bill gives agencies like the Secretary of State and State Treasurer the clarity they need to respond to security risks, protect sensitive data, and safeguard taxpayer dollars before problems arise.
Status: Passed Senate 6/12
SB 1098 – Blocks Local Control Over School Libraries
Restricts the ability of school districts and parents to remove inappropriate or age-inappropriate materials from public school libraries. By tying content review to discrimination claims, this bill undermines local decision-making and limits a community’s ability to set appropriate standards for what students can access in school.
Status: House Speaker signed 6/11
HB 2025 – Massive Tax Hike Hidden in “Reform”
Democrats’ transportation proposal (HB 2025) would hammer Oregonians with a dozen tax and fee increases — including a 37.5% gas tax hike, a new per-mile driven tax (RUC), higher title and registration fees, and multiple new car sales taxes. Despite ODOT’s ongoing inefficiencies, this plan forces working families to pay more without real reform or accountability. It’s the largest transportation tax grab in state history — and it hits everyday drivers the hardest.
Status: Public hearing scheduled for 6/12
Stay up to date and see what I’ve been working on in Salem by watching recent speeches and testimony:
Representative Darcey Edwards
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1431
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-374, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.DarceyEdwards@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/edwards
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