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To contact me, please click here: Rep.EmersonLevy@oregonlegislature.gov

Hi Friends and Colleagues, 

I am writing to you from the Oregon State House Floor on this lovely Friday afternoon. We are busy today passing bills and budgets. The Oregon State Constitution requires that we balance the budget by June 29, 2025. We are heads down trying to get it done! 

On a serious note, this has been a challenging week for our country. As a state legislator, I work hard to stay in my lane and focus on the things I know, like state policy on energy, housing, prescription access and children’s issues. I am not a member of Congress and don’t have power over immigration or foreign policy.

So I am speaking to you as a human: it feels hard not to have power in this moment, to not be able to fix things or stop kiddos from being deported. The federal government said they were going after criminals, and like bullies always do, they go after people who never had a chance at a fair fight. We are not powerless, we can vote, we can sue, and we can peacefully use our voice. 

This is not about immigration policy. If you look at polling, most Americans support immigration reform. What they don’t support is pulling people from graduations or at an immigration court. They don’t support destroying families. The polling now shows a majority of Americans do not support these aggressive tactics and that shift happened within a few days. I am pleased to see colleagues on the other side of the aisle speaking out.

Before I zoom back to my lane, I see you. It’s hard out there. We’ve got to protect our peace and be present for our community and families. This chaos is designed to make you feel unmoored. I hope you find time to find some peace, maybe that's in service to the community or maybe that looks like watching the Valley and eating a bucket of cookies. 

Lastly, thank you for all of the feedback on the Transportation Package. Keep it coming! This week the Joint Committee on Transportation heard 8 hours of testimony. You can watch the hearings here and here. 

In solidarity, 

Making it Easier for Women to get Breast Reconstruction Surgery 

Last year, my wonderful constituent and friend Gail Menasco, let me know about an issue she faced while battling breast cancer and a needed double mastectomy: she was unable to get the breast reconstruction that worked best for her body, because her insurance plan wouldn't cover it. The last thing women going through these life altering experiences need to deal with, is having to jump through the hoops of insurance coverage. 

Senator Broadman and myself introduced Senate Bill 1137 to ensure that those facing breast cancer in Oregon, are able to get the right procedures for their bodies. This bipartisan legislation requires health benefit plans to cover autologous breast reconstruction procedures, and I am incredibly proud to announce it was passed unanimously out of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, and will next be on the Senate Floor. 

Before it unanimously passed in Committee, Senator Kate Lieber gave a powerful speech about this bill, and the impact this legislation could have had on her when she battled cancer years ago. You can watch the video here, and read more about it in an editorial in the Bend Bulletin that was published this week. 

Funding for Oregon’s Homeless Youth 

Today, the budget for the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) was voted out of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, with major investments aimed at supporting our most vulnerable youth. One of the most critical pieces of this budget is nearly $20 million dedicated to preventing youth homelessness, a growing crisis demanding our urgent attention. We need upstream solutions to address adult homelessness. When young people experience housing instability, it affects every part of their lives. By investing in prevention now, we reduce long-term costs and help ensure youth have a real chance to succeed. 

The proposal also includes $2.5 million for the Independent Living Program, which helps youth transitioning out of foster care build stable, self-sufficient futures. An additional $7 million will support family stabilization efforts, helping keep youth safely at home and out of the child welfare system. These strategic investments not only provide critical services but also reflect our commitment to breaking the cycle of homelessness and creating pathways to opportunity for Oregon’s youth.

Supporting Seniors in their Homes

I was proud to support HB 3506 as it advanced out of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means this morning. This important bill invests in helping Oregon seniors and people with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes, where most of us want to be as we age.

HB 3506 allocates $3 million from the Senior Property Tax Deferral Revolving Account to fund home modifications like wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms, and other safety upgrades. These improvements can make all the difference for someone trying to stay in their community and avoid a move into costly institutional care.

The bill also invests $150,000 in outreach to help more people access Oregon’s Homestead Property Tax Deferral Program, ensuring that folks who qualify aren’t forced to sell their homes because they simply didn’t know help was available.

As Oregon’s population ages, we must do more to ensure dignity, safety, and stability for older adults and people with disabilities. This bill is a step in the right direction.

CivicsLab: Building Community Relationships  Last weekend I was honored to join Embrace Bend, an organization committed to fostering community. Embrace Bend has conducted 3 Civics Lab events, each focusing on learning how the government works and to access our government. I was joined by Bend’s Mayor, Melanie Kebler, and Senator Anthony Broadman. Thank you to everyone who came out on a sunny Sunday afternoon!

Oregon House Votes to Reform County Lien Tax Foreclosure 

This week, the Oregon House of Representatives passed HB 2089, a bill that I have been working on for over a year alongside former Representative Charlie Conrad and various stakeholder groups. This very technical, but critical bill reforms the tax lien foreclosure process to create a clear pathway for surplus to be recovered by the property owner. 

For some background, this conversation began with the Supreme Court case Tyler v. Hennepin, in which the court unanimously decided that the act of withholding surplus – funds in excess of the debt owed – is considered a taking. Before this case, when a property was foreclosed upon and sold by the county, excess funds were retained by the county. 

With this legislation, counties must notify former property owners of the potential surplus and provide a transparent and accessible process for claiming it. While this bill is not super flashy or exciting, it is critical in protecting our most vulnerable consumers while respecting the financial risk to counties. I am very proud of all the work put into this initiative.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the Sanctuary Promise team at the Oregon Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Unit which provides support to impacted community members and elevates violations reported on the Sanctuary Promise Hotline (1-844-924-STAY / 1-844-6-AMPARO) and Online Portal (SanctuaryPromise.Oregon.gov or PromesaSantuario.Oregon.gov) for investigation by Oregon Department of Justice.  

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1453
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-486, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.EmersonLevy@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/levye​