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To contact me, please click here: Rep.EmersonLevy@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends,
Another week down, we passed my battery recycling bill off the House Floor unanimously and it’s on its way to the Senate and then the Governor’s desk. Passing a bill is a massive lift (as it should be), and it’s a team effort. Read more about my team below.
This week we took on the engagement and attachment economy. I testified in support of AI Legislation aimed at regulating AI companion chatbots by requiring them to clearly disclose that users are interacting with artificial intelligence. It mandates safety protocols to detect and respond to signs of self-harm or suicidal ideation, including directing users to crisis resources, and requires added protections for minors such as banning sexually explicit content and manipulative engagement.
In my testimony I accidentally referred to Senator Reynolds, Reps Wallan and Dobson as the Mom Mob, but maybe it works.
We also stood up for workers and went after Labor Brokers who don’t pay their workers -- we have taken a tough stance on wage theft in Oregon. Stealing peoples’ living is now literally a crime.
You can catch up below on the weekly happenings - including passing another leading bill for women’s health. We are leading the nation in standing up for women. After losing our own member to cancer, we won’t give up. We are going to keep pressing and pushing for women to be heard and supported in the doctor’s office.
My door is always open. Proud to serve you everyday.
Warmly,
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Meet Team HD53!
From policy research and constituent services to day-to-day operations, their commitment makes it all possible. I’m excited to share a little more about my team:
Emma Bowadt - Legislative Intern
Emma is a 4th-year student at Oregon State University, majoring in Political Science and serving as a Senator for OSU's student government. She went to Mountain View High School and is a proud constituent of District 53. She’s especially interested in healthcare and education policy. Outside of school and work, Emma enjoys hiking, traveling, and trying out new coffee recipes!
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Adriana Escorcia - Legislative Assistant
Adriana is new to the team this session, recently returning to her home state from Washington, D.C., where she worked for Oregon’s Sixth Congressional District. Adriana graduated from Willamette University in 2022, and her career has been dedicated to public service. She is passionate about civil rights and advocating for immigrants in Oregon. In her free time, Adriana loves exploring Oregon, finding local coffee shops, and walking her dog, Gru.
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Marilyn Fleener - Chief of Staff
Many of you know Marilyn, my Chief of Staff since day one in the State Capitol. She has a background in international development and environmental policy, and she is passionate about protecting her beautiful home-state. When she is not serving the people of central Oregon, you can find Marilyn in the mountains snowboarding, on the coast surfing, or in the city finding new local businesses to support with her friends and family.
Marilyn can be reached directly at marilyn.fleener@oregonlegislature.gov.
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Passage of My Priority Bill - Preventing Fires in Our Landfills
I’m excited to share that HB 4144, one of my priority bills, passed the House floor. This legislation addresses a growing public safety issue caused by lithium batteries ending up in garbage trucks, transfer stations, and landfills, leading to dangerous fires.
In Deschutes County alone, there were 54 battery-related landfill fires last year, putting workers at risk, damaging equipment, and disrupting services. HB 4144 will make battery recycling easier and safer by creating free, convenient battery collection sites across Oregon, giving everyone a responsible way to dispose of batteries instead of tossing them in the trash.
This bill is an important step toward protecting public safety, reducing costs, and keeping our communities safe.
This Week on the House Floor
House Passes Bill Establishing HPV Awareness Day- HB 4135 designates March 4 as HPV Awareness Day in Oregon. The bill was introduced by Rep. Annessa Hartman following her own Stage 3 cervical cancer diagnosis last year and in memory of our late colleague, Rep. Hòa Nguyễn.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and is responsible for the vast majority of cervical and several other cancers. While the HPV vaccine prevents more than 90% of cancers caused by the virus, vaccination and screening rates in Oregon still fall short of public health goals.
This bill creates an annual opportunity to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and share accurate, age-appropriate information about prevention and screening.
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Eliminating Cost Barriers for Cervical Cancer Care- SB 1527 eliminates out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary follow-up testing after an abnormal cervical cancer screening. If a woman receives an abnormal Pap smear, she can face between $700 and $1,000 in out-of-pocket costs for the follow-up testing needed to determine whether she has cancer, even if she has commercial insurance.
This bill ensures that no woman has to choose between paying rent and completing the care that could save her life.
I carried this bill on the House floor to honor those we’ve lost and to protect those still fighting. Together, we can prevent needless suffering and ensure every woman has the opportunity for timely, life-saving care.
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1.25% for Wildlife Bill- HB 4134 increases the State tax on stays at campgrounds, hotels, and vacation rentals from 1.5% to 2.75%. Revenue from the tax increase is expected to be $37 million per fiscal year, and would go toward a range of wildlife and natural resource efforts, such as:
- Implementing Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan to help species recovery.
- Habitat restoration and protection for fish and wildlife across Oregon.
- Wildlife connectivity projects (like crossings to reduce vehicle collisions).
- Anti-poaching and invasive species control.
- Coexistence programs for communities dealing with wildlife conflicts (such as wolf compensation programs)
Why does this matter in our community?
The Oregon Conservation Corps support within HB4134 engages local young adults in hands-on job training at Heart of Oregon Corps—young people reduce fire fuels in disadvantaged neighborhoods and earn wildland firefighting workforce certifications. This is a win-win-win for Oregonians, Opportunity Youth earn wages during their training, an in-demand workforce is trained, and communities and habitats are protected from wildfire.
Increasing Local Control Over Tourism Revenue- HB 4148 updates how cities and counties can use transient lodging tax (TLT) revenue, changing the current 70/30 split to a 60 percent general fund and 40 percent for tourism promotion. This gives local communities more flexibility to invest in the services and infrastructure that residents rely on every day.
The LOCAL Act also allows cities and counties to offer grants to small restaurants and lodging businesses for building improvements and upgrades. These investments help keep local businesses safe, accessible, and competitive.
HB 4148 strikes a balance: it continues to fund tourism promotion while giving communities the tools they need to thrive year-round. It’s about making sure tourism growth benefits both visitors and the people who live here.
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What's Left?
The short session runs for 35 days and must adjourn by March 8th (quickly approaching!)
Next week will be a pivotal period with more committee deadlines and floor calendars filling fast to get bills through both chambers. Stay tuned.
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
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