Last week was dedicated to those who have sworn to serve and protect our communities. Law enforcement can be a thankless job, so I'm glad we had the chance to express our appreciation for all the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe.

Wednesday of Police Week was designated as Peace Officer Memorial Day, where we paid special tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 106 brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice in 2018 keeping our communities safe. Our prayers and gratitude are with their families and loved ones. They will never be forgotten.

HB 3117 is a bill I sponsored that would extend the time frame that victims of abuse have to file a restraining order on their perpetrator from 180 days to 2 years.

It can take time for victims to deal with the trauma of their abuse and feel comfortable coming forward. I think it's incredibly important to support the victims of abuse and provide them the opportunities they need to feel safe and deal with the trauma of their abuse.

This bill passed the Senate on Wednesday and now is off to the Governor to sign into law. Thank you to my colleagues in both chambers for recognizing the importance of this bill.

HB 3030 is another bill we passed last week now awaiting the Governor's signature. This legislation would direct the State licensing agency to issue temporary occupational licenses to spouses of service members stationed in Oregon.

This bill removes occupational barriers for families of service members while ensuring they're licensed and in good standing in their State of origin for their work, ensuring they will be high-quality additions to Oregon's workforce.

Military families tend to have to move frequently, and having to gain occupational licenses in each sate they go to puts an unnecessary regulatory burden on them. This bill removes that barrier and will help them provide for their families and contribute to the Oregon economy. I'm very excited for the support it received.

On Wednesday we passed legislation that would help protect mothers in the workplace, HB 2341. This bill requires that employers with six or more employees accommodate reasonable requests that mothers make that are related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. In addition to posting this information in a public place, the Bureau of Labor must establish training material that will be available to advise employers and employees of their rights.

I am proud to support working mothers and families as they continue to grow and adjust to their needs. Life and our families are precious, and we have a responsibility to support the careers of new mothers, as well as their and the new child's health. 

Last Thursday I carried HB 2306 on the Senate floor, which passed unanimously. This bill is designed to improve the speed in which homes are built. Local government agencies must now issue permits to allow for construction of residential homes when infrastructure updates and construction are approved and nearly completed. More efficient construction means lower home prices as builders and developers can put their product on the market more quickly. As the supply rises to meet the demand, we will see home prices stabilize. This bill is an important step for allowing responsible construction of more affordable homes. It will help us in Central Oregon with our desperate supply needs, and give us a boost in our local economy.