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Constituents, Neighbors, and Advocates -
I hope this finds you well and safe after the snowy last few weeks. In Salem this week, I received a note from a constituent that included a wonderful poem, “Hope: An Owner’s Manual” by Barbara Kingsolver, which I shared on Thursday in the Opening Ceremony of the House of Representatives on Thursday. You can watch it here.
Constituent Coffee
Join me on Saturday, March 16th for an update on the legislative session.
Mount Hood Community College Maywood Park Campus, Rm 305, 10:30am-12pm
10100 NE Prescott St, Portland, OR 97220
RSVP on Facebook and share with your neighbors and friends!
Coffee and activities for kids will be provided
Page Program Invitation
Here’s another reminder that Oregon students ages 12-17 are invited to participate as an Honorary Page in the House of Representatives during the legislative session.
As a page, you will have an action-packed day, including an official swearing-in ceremony, a classroom session about the Legislative process, working on the House chamber floor with the Legislators, observing Committee meetings, taking a tour of the capitol building, and participating in any special events happening that day. Apply and get more info here: bit.ly/2S3L6rE
Protecting Oregon renters, SB 608
This week I was proud to cast my vote in favor of SB 608, which was signed by Governor Brown on Thursday. This landmark legislation will protect renters from rent gouging and no-cause evictions, and is an important step forward in addressing Oregon's housing crisis.
Upcoming Senate Vote on Medicaid funding, HB 2010
I was honored to take a bipartisan vote in support of HB 2010 this month, which was the first step to ensure the Oregon Health Plan is fully funded. 1 in 4 Oregonians depend on OHP for health care, including 400,000 children. Now, the bill has passed the Senate and is expected to be signed by the Governor shortly.
Investing in Oregon’s public education
Over 4,000 educators, students, education professionals, and parents descended on the Capitol in a sea of red to demand sufficient and stable funding for Oregon’s public schools. I was happy to join them, and to be working to fully invest in our schools this session.
 The Joint Committee on Student Success continues to make progress within the subcommittees, which you can watch here (Early Learning, Accountability, & Revenue). They will come forth with their recommendations in the next few weeks, which will be presented to the full JCSS committee. Don’t forget to sign up for email notifications on the OLIS pages to track bills and committees that are of interest to you.
Moms Demand Action Visit
One of my favorite advocacy groups, Moms Demand Action, came to Salem to share their legislative priorities. I am thrilled that one of my priority policies, HB 2505 safe storage for firearms, is a top issue for this powerful, grassroots advocacy group. Thank you for meeting with me!
 Oregon Capitol Culture
You may have heard about issues of sexual harassment, harassment, and hostile work environments in the Capitol. The culture of the State Capitol, as a workplace, has a long way to go until it is truly a safe and inclusive place to work for everyone -- including staff, lobbyists and legislators of all backgrounds and identities. While it may be uncomfortable, I am fully committed to supporting a full culture change for this institution, and that means requiring accountability and setting high expectations for standards of behavior.
The Cindy Yuille and Steve Forsythe Act – HB 2505
With 17 co-sponsors, HB 2505 is awaiting a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. We are working on some adjustments in response to input from colleagues and advocates that will make it even better. As Speaker Kotek said in recent news coverage, this bill has a lot of momentum. If you would be interested in sharing your opinion or submitting testimony in support of this concept, please reach out to my office by phone or email.
Adi’s Act: Suicide Prevention in Oregon Schools – SB 52
I’m proud to be a Chief Sponsor on SB 52, which requires school districts to adopt suicide prevention plans for students. This important bill will be voted on in the Senate on March 5th, and then will be sent to the Governor for her signature.
Clean Energy Jobs – HB 2020
The “Clean Energy Jobs” roadshow tour is in full swing, ending with visits to The Dalles and Bend this weekend. Here is more information about the public hearings, if you are interested in getting involved. I am proud to be a supporter of this legislation and will fight to make it the strongest piece of environmental policy possible, including interim targets and allocated investments to impacted communities. You can follow the progress of the bill here.
Thank you for staying engaged in your state government. Always feel free to reach out to my office with issues you or your community are facing or to share your opinions on legislation.
 Representative Barbara Smith Warner
House District 45
email: Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1445
address: 900 Court St NE, H-286, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithwarner
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