Inside Salem: Fighting for Oregon’s Hardest Working, from Farm to Table

In November, I was honored to be appointed to represent House District 51 in the Oregon Legislature, filling the seat left vacant by former Representative Christine Drazan. As a lifelong Oregonian with deep roots in this district, it’s been a privilege to step into this role and serve the people of Sandy, Estacada, Canby, and the unincorporated communities that make Clackamas County so special.

Since being sworn in, I’ve hit the ground running. I’ve been visiting with constituents, meeting with local businesses and community leaders, and getting to work in Salem. I’m proud to serve on several key committees that align with our district’s priorities, including Labor and Workforce Development, the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development, the Audit Committee, and the Economic Development Committee.

As we head into the 2026 short session, I’m focused on two pieces of legislation that I believe will have a real and immediate impact on Oregon’s working families, especially those in rural and agricultural communities like ours.

I’m calling them the “Farm to Table Bills” because they’re about supporting the hardworking Oregonians who grow our food, serve it at restaurants, and keep our local economies running strong. These bills are simple, focused, and rooted in common sense.

The first proposal addresses a growing concern for our farming and ranching communities: the unintended consequences of Oregon’s agriculture worker overtime law. While the goal of that policy was to ensure fairness for workers, the reality has been far different. Many small family farms simply can’t afford to pay unlimited overtime — as a result, they’ve been forced to cut worker hours or reduce harvest windows, hurting both employers and employees.

My bill would allow for flexibility and support to ensure farms and growers can keep workers on the job — and put more money in the pockets of agricultural workers. This fix is about preserving jobs, protecting crops, and giving Oregon’s ag industry the tools they need to survive and thrive.

The second bill works hand-in-hand with that effort by removing state income taxes on tips and overtime pay — money that workers earn by going the extra mile. Under current law, Oregonians are taxed twice on that extra effort — once by the federal government, and again by the state. That’s wrong.

By continuing to align our tax code with federal exemptions for overtime and tip income, we can let workers keep more of what they earn, especially in sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and retail. In a time when the cost of living is rising and small businesses are struggling to compete, this is a common-sense way to help workers and employers alike.

Together, these bills reflect what I believe should be the focus of the Legislature: supporting hardworking people, growing our local economies, and ensuring that rural communities like those in HD 51 aren’t left behind.

Oregon is at its best when we invest in the men and women who show up early, stay late, and do the work that keeps our communities strong. Whether it’s a farmer in Estacada, a waitress in Canby, or a mechanic in Sandy, we need to make sure state policy works for them — not against them.

I’m proud to be your representative, and I’m proud to fight for policies that put workers first — from farm to table.

If you’d like to learn more about these bills or share your input, I encourage you to reach out. I’m here to serve you. Together, we can make a real difference.