Jeff Helfrich

By Rep. Jeff Helfrich, For The Mountain Times For years, as Oregonians we have heard the phrase, “Don’t die in Oregon.” It gets a laugh sometimes, but it’s a very real concern shared by farmers, small business owners, and families across our state. Our estate tax has become badly outdated, and more people are being caught up in it every year. For those who don’t know, Oregon taxes estates valued over $1 million — one of the lowest thresholds in the nation — even though home values, farmland,...

By Rep. Jeff Helfrich, For The Mountain Times As Oregonians get ready to vote in the upcoming primary, a lot of people are thinking about sitting this one out. “It’s just the primary.” That thinking is exactly how nothing changes. Primaries don’t just pick candidates. They decide what direction this state is going to take, long before November ever arrives. And if we’re being honest, the direction we’ve been going isn’t working. You don’t need a report to tell you that. You can feel it in...

By Jeff Helfrich, For The Mountain Times As the gavel fell on the 2026 short legislative session last week, I stood in the House chamber reflecting on what we achieved for Oregon families. In a Democrat-controlled Capitol, I had to fight hard for practical, pro-growth policies. We didn’t win every battle, but we delivered real results that protect jobs, strengthen public safety, and ease regulatory burdens. This was a session of compromise and progress — proof that working together can still...