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To contact me, please click here: Rep.VirgleOsborne@oregonlegislature.gov
Hello Friends & Neighbors,
We are currently in Legislative days. In 19 days, we will transition into the short session, which will bring a flurry of bills to be passed in a brief timeframe. I will strive to keep you informed about developments at the Capitol during this period.
~ Virgle
Oregon Republicans condemn initial Democrat response to Portland shooting
OPB ~ Republicans in the Oregon Legislature on Sunday criticized Democrats for their initial response to the shooting of two people by federal officers in Portland last week. “It is deeply irresponsible for elected officials to politicize an active investigation, to inflame fear and undermine law enforcement before the facts are established,” said House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer of McMinnville at a press conference in Salem on Sunday. “That kind of rhetoric does not make communities safer. It makes them more divided.” Elmer and a handful of other legislators said initial statements by Democratic leaders eroded trust for federal law enforcement officers before all the information about the case had been made public.
The press conference comes days after federal agents shot two Venezuelan immigrants — Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras — in a hospital parking lot in East Portland. The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Friday saying an officer fired shots in self-defense when Nino-Moncada “weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents.” Oregon Democrats held a press conference hours after the shooting was first reported on Thursday, condemning federal law enforcement’s actions … Referring to a DHS statement issued Thursday, Elmer criticized Democrats at a press conference last week for not discussing the allegations of gang affiliation publicly. “That information was publicly available before a press conference held by the governor, the Portland mayor, members of the city council and state legislators, yet none of those facts were shared with the public,” Elmer said.
Immigrant truck driver to enter plea in Deschutes County Court after fatal crash
OPB ~ A commercial truck driver who federal authorities say entered the U.S. illegally three years ago is expected to enter a plea Tuesday in Bend on charges of manslaughter after an accident late last year that killed a newlywed couple returning from their honeymoon. Rajinder Kumar, an Indian national, was also charged with reckless endangerment when he was booked into Deschutes County Jail the day after the Nov. 24 crash. William Carter and Jennifer Lower died instantly when their Subaru crashed into a big rig that was jackknifed on U.S. Highway 20 and blocking traffic. Dark conditions and a lack of emergency warning equipment around the truck were the primary causes of the crash, the Oregon State Police said at the time. Authorities have not said what caused the truck to jackknife. Kumar’s attorney, Andrew Ince, did not respond to OPB’s request for comment.
New rules could change how Oregon schools respond if ICE agents show up
The Oregonian/OregonLive ~ Oregon school districts could be required to expand their policies on what to do should federal immigration agents come onto school grounds, under a draft bill that is expected to be taken up during the upcoming legislative session next month. The proposal — currently still in a conceptual stage — is set for discussion at a meeting of the Senate Interim Education Committee on Wednesday, and was requested by committee leaders, including State Sen. Lew Frederick, a Portland Democrat. The proposal is among a handful of potential concepts that lawmakers are mulling to respond to an increase in federal immigration enforcement actions by President Donald Trump’s administration.
There have been no documented cases of federal immigration authorities coming to school campuses with warrants for student arrests in Oregon. The Department of Homeland Security does allow its agents to conduct raids at schools, but has said it expects such actions to be “extremely rare.” But immigration enforcement has ramped up just outside school boundaries throughout the Willamette Valley in recent months, including arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of both students and parents on their way to drop their children off at schools.
Parks & Rec Proposal to Limit Veteran Camping.
Public Comment Needed!
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is proposing big cuts to the Special Access Permit for service-connected disabled veterans. Previously, they got unlimited free camping nights in state parks. Now, it’s limited to just 10 nights per year – and only for Oregon residents.
This a 46% reduction in benefits. The state is trying to save money, but at what cost to those who’ve served.
Public comment period ends January 15, 2026 – Share your thoughts! Do these changes go to far? How has this permit helped you?
Submit your feedback here: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/prp/pages/prp-division%2015.aspx
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Annual Four Chaplains Service to be held Feb. 7 | Briefs | nrtoday.com
Since 2016, 57 outstanding members of the community have been inducted into the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor.
The Four Chaplains Service will be held at Westside Christian Church, 2712 W. Harvard Ave., Roseburg. A meet and greet will begin at 11:30 a.m., with the service starting at noon.
Register to testify!
- If there is a bill you are particularly passionate about, you can register to testify either in support or opposition to the bill.
- Advance registration is required! Registration closes 30 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to begin.
- To register, go to https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1, select the “Bills” icon on the top right corner of your page, enter the bill number, and select “Register to Testify.” Or call 1-833-588-4500.
- You will want to fill out the “Public Testimony Registration Form.”
- You will receive an email confirmation with an option to join Microsoft Teams if you cannot testify in person.
Submit a Written Testimony!
- If you prefer not to testify in person, you can also submit written testimony in support or opposition to a bill.
- To submit written testimony, follow the same steps as you would register to testify in front of the committee, but you will select “Submit Testimony” and fill out the “Written Testimony Submission Form.”
- Written testimony must be submitted up to 48 hours after the committee meeting start time.
Testifying on a bill gives you a voice in Oregon’s legislature. The voice of the people is the cornerstone of democracy! Let yours be heard today.
Yours Truly,
 State Representative Virgle Osborne, House District 2
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1402
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-375, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.VirgleOsborne@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/osborne
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