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To contact me, please click here: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-385, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RickLewis@oregonleslature.gov/lewis
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we begin a new year, I want to wish you and your family a healthy, hopeful, and prosperous 2026. January is always a time for reflection and renewal, and it also marks a busy season at the Capitol as we prepare for the upcoming 2026 short legislative session. The work ahead is important, and I remain committed to representing our district with common sense, accountability, and a strong focus on the priorities that matter most to you.
Next week, legislators will be back in Salem for January interim committee days, where we will continue reviewing policy issues, hearing from state agencies, and laying the groundwork for the short session. These meetings are critical to ensuring that when the session begins, we are prepared to act efficiently and responsibly on behalf of Oregonians. I will continue to advocate for transparency, fiscal discipline, and practical solutions that strengthen our communities and our state.
This newsletter is designed to keep you informed and connected. You’ll find updates from state agencies, helpful resources, and other news I believe is relevant to you and your family. I encourage you to review these materials and reach out to my office with any questions, concerns, or ideas. Your input plays an essential role in shaping the work I do on your behalf and I’m here to listen and help.
Finally, as we look ahead, 2026 also marks an important milestone for our nation as we begin the countdown to America’s 250th birthday in July. This historic anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on our shared values, our constitutional principles, and the enduring spirit that has guided our country for nearly two and a half centuries. I look forward to recognizing this milestone throughout the year in my monthly “Countdown to America’s 250th Birthday” newsletter segment.
Thank you for the honor of serving you. I look forward to the work ahead and to staying connected in the months to come.
Sincerely,
 Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District
In this Issue:
View previous newsletters here.
Tune in for Legislative Interim Committee days on Tuesday, January 13-15. This is the third and final scheduled Legislative Interim Committee days to take place before the 2026 Session. During these days, committees hold informational hearings on topics that could lead to legislation in upcoming session, hear updates on implementations of past legislation, and receive reports from state agencies.
I continue to serve on the following committees:
Click on the links above to follow along and see what’s scheduled for discussion in my committees.
In less than a month, on February 2nd, we will convene for the 2026 Session. Legislators and staff are completing required training and preparing bills to be introduced. 2026 is an even-year “short session,” lasting no longer than 35 days. Unlike the nearly six-month odd-numbered year ‘long sessions”, it moves at a warp speed. To keep issues focused so we can complete our work within this tight timeline, legislators are limited to introducing two bills, and committees are limited to three bills.
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A priority for the session will be a budget rebalance to address the state’s declining revenues - among other fixes. Legislators must file their bills no later than Friday, January 16th for introduction.
You can view the 2026 Session deadlines calendar on OLIS here.
My Bills:
I will be introducing two bills. One is a redraft of a bill I introduced last session on behalf of the District Attorneys. It increases the penalty for felony attempt to elude a police officer. The measure proposes common sense sentence enhancement to create a deterrence for persons who habitually elude police officers, often driving reckless at high speeds and while impaired. Eluding a police officer while in a motor vehicle is a significant risk to the safety of persons and property in our communities.
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The second is a bill to assist law enforcement in handling of a veteran in crisis through the creation of a Veteran Crisis Card and trained veteran crisis teams.
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As stated in my previous newsletter, I remain committed to monitoring agency performance, evaluating the fiscal impacts of proposed legislation, and making budget recommendations that ensure a strong, accountable, and transparent public safety system, and ensuring that Oregon veterans receive timely, high-quality services.
The 2026 House Honorary Page Program application is now open for scheduling! The program is a unique opportunity for young minds to engage directly with the legislative process and gain invaluable experience at the Oregon State Capitol. The program is a one-day program, from 9:00am – 3:00pm. Transportation and lunch is not provided. The program is open to students aged 13-17 and runs Monday – Thursday from February 9 – February 26.
For any questions, please email Civics.Education@oregonlegislature.gov or call the Chief Clerk’s Office at 503-986-1870.
Tax season is underway, and the Oregon Department of Revenue (DOR) offers helpful tools and resources to make filing easier and more secure.
Most Oregonians must file their state tax return by April 15, and many can file for free using approved software through IRS Free File or other Oregon-supported options. The DOR encourages taxpayers to gather documents early, double-check Social Security numbers and banking information, and file electronically with direct deposit to receive refunds faster.
You may also be eligible for important credits, including the Earned Income Credit or the Oregon Kids Credit, which can significantly reduce your tax burden or increase your refund. Please be cautious of tax scams. DOR will not contact you unexpectedly by phone, text, or email. For refund tracking, payments, or payment plans, use the state’s secure Revenue Online system or the “Where’s My Refund?”, “Direct File Oregon," and “What’s my Kicker?” tools.
For full details and assistance, visit the Oregon Department of Revenue website here.
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With winter settling in, driving conditions in Oregon can be challenging. I want to encourage everyone to take extra care on Oregon’s roads. Snow, ice, heavy rain, and fog can create hazardous conditions, and a little preparation goes a long way.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) provides several helpful Winter Travel Tips. These resources ensure you get the information you need to safety travel this winter. Check them out and find more here!
Please drive slowly, give yourself plenty of following distance, and avoid unnecessary travel during severe storms. Your safety and the safety of others on the road matters.
 Fire Prevention Begins with You.
As we move deeper into the winter season, I want to share a few simple steps to protect your homes and families from fire hazards. Heating equipment, holiday decorations, candles, and increased indoor activity all contribute to a higher risk of fires during cold months. A little preparation now can help prevent tragedy later.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) Fire Prevention Education page provides a wealth of information to help you harness the power of fire safety. Their goal is to help you keep your home and loved ones safe from the risk of fire.
Check out the quick links below and OSFM’s Fire Prevention Education page here.
In a recent Oregonian Op-Ed, Joint Ways and Means Democrat Co-Chairs, Senator Kate Lieber and Representative Tawna Sanchez, acknowledged the magnitude of Oregon’s budget shortfall. While they attributed much of the challenge to federal tax policy, their own assessment revealed something more significant: Oregon’s economic vulnerabilities are rooted in long-standing structural issues at the state level.
The federal tax cuts, especially those benefiting middle-income families, exposed the strain created by Oregon’s heavy reliance on taxes to fund government growth and the cumulative impact of regulations that make it harder for businesses to thrive. Even the Co-Chairs noted that Oregon can’t stabilize its economy without “strategies to grow private-sector jobs that stimulate our broader economy and provide good wages to hardworking Oregonians.”
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Republicans have been sounding this alarm for years. Businesses are leaving, private-sector growth is slowing, and Oregon’s revenue model is increasingly unsustainable. This acknowledgment from Democratic leadership is an important step, but recognition alone is not enough. |
Oregon cannot afford more delay. It’s time for the majority party to take responsibility for the economy shaped by years of state decisions, and for the legislature to act boldly. Strengthening the private sector isn’t optional; it’s the only path to sustainable budgets, stable communities, and long-term economic resilience.
In early December, Governor Kotek acknowledged what Oregon businesses have long been saying. The state’s economy is struggling. But her five-page “Prosperity Roadmap” offers few actionable solutions and relies heavily on adding new government roles, including a Chief Prosperity Officer and a Governor’s Prosperity Council, rather than addressing the policies contributing to Oregon’s decline.
Business Community Points Out Contradictions
Oregon Business & Industry (OBI) thanked the Governor for beginning the conversation but also highlighted that several major bills she signed this session SB 916, HB 2688, and SB 426, directly undermine the goals outlined in her own roadmap. OBI warned that Oregon must stop pursuing tax increases, heavy regulations, and policies that drive up business costs.
Economic Reality Demands More Than New Titles
For months, businesses have been leaving Oregon, unemployment has held at 5%, and over 1,200 workers lost jobs in the last month alone due to major corporate downsizing. These trends cannot be reversed with more government layers or advisory groups.
Oregon Needs a Course Correction Now
Oregon’s economic challenges were years in the making. Truly restoring prosperity requires a shift away from burdensome policies and toward an environment where the private sector can grow, invest, and hire. The status quo is not working, and Oregon can’t afford more delay.
As I stated in my previous newsletter, “Oregon needs a healthier economic climate. One that encourages job growth, attracts investment, and keeps families here. That means prioritizing policies that support private-sector employers, not expanding government at the expense of the people who are already stretched thin. The increased burden that has been placed directly on the backs of businesses over the past decade are taking a heavy toll and cannot continue.”
“It is time to acknowledge the importance of the business sector to the economy and well-being of our state. The path forward is not higher taxes and more regulation… it’s creating the conditions for growth and opportunity. I remain committed to a balanced, fiscally responsible approach that helps build confidence in our economy and gives Oregonians a real reason to stay, work, and invest here.”
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On November 25th, the Oregon Department of Education released its annual Statewide Report Card, and like the year before, it highlighted the State’s poorly performing education system.
Over the 2024-2025 academic year, ODE reported 2,300 fewer students and 258 fewer teachers than the previous year. Despite this, ODE added 639 staff positions, none of which were teachers, including 454 educational assistants, 365 support staff, and 11 district administrators. ODE received a record-breaking budget this past year, yet they chose not to invest in licensed educators and instead added less qualified positions with minimal training — opting for a quick fix over a long-term, viable solution.
Superintendents saw their salaries grow by 29% from 2018-2024, while teachers’ salaries increased by 26%. The appropriate salary adjustment for inflation (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) is closer to the increase teachers saw, while the increase superintendents saw was higher. Despite Democrats consistently advocating for higher teacher wages alongside the unions that endorse them, the numbers show that ODE prioritizes raises for administrators over educators.
In 2024, 4th-grade testing scores in reading and math were lower than the national average, according to the NAEP. Once again, our students are falling behind. No matter how much money we throw at education, no tangible progress has been made.
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A recent audit released by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office (SOS) revealed what too many Oregon families have already lived through.
Measure 110 failed to deliver on its promise to help people struggling with addiction, and the state failed to provide the leadership and oversight needed to prevent that failure. Measure 110, which aimed to replace the criminalization of substance use disorder with a public health approach, was sold as a compassionate, public health approach. Instead, it became a system with no clear direction, no meaningful accountability, and no urgency, even as overdose deaths continued to rise. In 2023 alone, more than 1,700 Oregonians died from drug overdoses. While overdose deaths declined in nearly every other state, Oregon fell further behind.
The audit makes clear that the Oregon Health Authority lacked stability, coordination, and measurable goals. Funds were distributed without consistent oversight, data were insufficient to show whether programs were working, and services were not integrated into Oregon’s broader behavioral health system. The result was wasted time, wasted resources, and lives lost that did not need to be.
This was not a failure of compassion. It was a failure of leadership.
Oregonians expect their government to act when policies aren’t working, especially when lives are on the line. Instead, warning signs were ignored, repeated requests for improvement went unanswered, and accountability was absent. We owe it to families, first responders, and people battling addiction to do better. A public-health approach must be focused on saving lives, getting people into treatment, and delivering results… not protecting a broken system. Oregonians deserve urgency, transparency, and leadership that is willing to admit when something isn’t working and course-correct immediately.
Read the SOS full report here: Oregon Health Authority: Measure 110 Lacks Stability, Coordination, and Clear Results
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Yesterday, I attended Chemeketa Community College’s Legislator & Staff Breakfast, where the conversation centered on strengthening Oregon’s workforce through education and strong partnerships with local employers. I appreciated hearing directly from adult students and employers about how Chemeketa’s career and technical training programs are equipping students with practical, real-world skills to meet today’s workforce needs. It was a valuable opportunity to see firsthand how Chemeketa is supporting both students and employers while helping drive workforce development and economic growth across our state.
Chemeketa’s commitment to educational excellence and workforce readiness is clearly making a difference for our community and our economy. I am grateful to the college leadership, staff, students, and employers who made this event possible and for their continued dedication to preparing Oregonians for success.
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Discovering Who We Are as Americans
As we look ahead to America’s 250th birthday, I am taking a moment each month to revisit the stories that shaped our nation. In the winter of 1777, for example, General George Washington led the Continental Army into the harsh encampment at Valley Forge. With limited supplies and bitter cold, soldiers endured unimaginable hardship. Yet, in those difficult months, the Army transformed… training, unifying, and emerging stronger. Valley Forge remains a powerful reminder that perseverance and shared purpose have always been at the heart of the American story.
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This historic milestone is also an opportunity for all of us, kids and adults alike, to explore our own family heritage. Whether your roots stretch back to the Revolution, as in my family’s case, or your family arrived generations later, every story is part of the American tapestry. Learning where we come from helps us understand who we are and deepens our appreciation for the freedoms and responsibilities we share. America didn’t just happen; our nation was founded on the shoulders of those who came before us. Freedoms we enjoy are the result of generations who fought, bled, suffered and died to preserve those freedoms.
As we continue the journey to America’s 250th birthday, may these reflections inspire curiosity, pride, and a renewed sense of unity. Our history is more than dates and battles, it’s a living legacy carried by each of us.
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